Former Tennis Star James Blake Handcuffed by NYPD in Mistaken Identity Flap, Says Force Used

Read the latest: James Blake Asks for Apology From NYPD in Interview

An NYPD officer has been placed on modified assignment following claims by former tennis professional James Blake that he was thrown to the ground and then handcuffed while mistakenly being arrested Wednesday at a Manhattan hotel, police said.

• [NATL-NY] NJ Woman Pleads Guilty in Man's Death After Penis Enlargement

Police said undercover investigators were probing a theft ring that uses fraudulent credit cards to make cellphone purchases use a deliveryman to deliver the packages, and that deliveryman has been helping law enforcement by identifying suspects in the ring.

• [NATL] 'I'm Talking About Persona': Trump Defends Fiorina Insult

On Wednesday, he pointed out Blake as a suspect in the ring as Blake was standing outside the Grand Hyatt Hotel on East 42nd Street, police said.

Local

Earthquakes 13 hours ago

Magnitude 2.9 earthquake recorded in New Jersey. Did you feel it?

Brooklyn 13 hours ago

Police investigate ‘suspicious' body found burning in Brooklyn boat

Blake, 35, was waiting for a car to take him to Flushing Meadows when the undercover officers approached him, slamming him to the ground and cuffing him, The Daily News reports.

• [NATL-NY] New York Becomes First U.S. City to Require Salt Warnings on Chain Restaurant Menus

Blake told reporters outside the hotel Wednesday evening that the officers said nothing to him as they swarmed him.

• Brandon Marshall: Race Played a Role in Reversal of Tom Brady's Suspension

Internal affairs investigators are reviewing surveillance video of the incident.

• [US&W] Pilot Who Saved Passengers From Burning Plane: 'I'm Finished Flying'

• [NATL-CT] 'Did You Hurt Mom?': New Details in Case of Missing Couple

"It shouldn't have happened. It's something we'll deal with with the police and we'll find out what they have to say internally," he said. "Hopefully there's video of it and people can see what happened."

• [NATL-NY] Cuomo Aide 'Not Doing Well'; Police Release Sketch of Man Wanted for Questioning

Blake told The Daily News he had just answered a few questions from a magazine writer and was texting when he looked up and saw someone in shorts and a T-shirt charging at him. He assumed the man was perhaps an old acquaintance who wanted to greet him, so he smiled at the man.

 [[325920921, C]]

But the man allegedly threw Blake down on the sidewalk and yelled at him to roll over, telling him, "Don't say a word," according to the Daily News. Several other officers swarmed him and told him he was identified as a suspect in an identity theft probe.

• [NATL-CHI]Wisconsin Baby Hospitalized After Accidentally Ingesting Vodka

A retired NYPD officer who was working as a security guard at the hotel recognized Blake and told the officers, "That is James Blake, the tennis player," according to the Daily News. Blake urged the officers to look at his license and his U.S. Open credentials in his pockets. 

• [NATL-CHI] 'Unimaginable': Search Continues After Child's Body Parts Found in Lagoon

That's when the officers realized their mistake. They apologized, according to the Daily News, but the first officer who tackled him never said a word. 

• Unauthorized Man Boards Empty Plane at Newark: Police

In a statement to NBC 4 New York, NYPD spokesman Peter Donald said a cooperating witness had misidentified Blake. 

• [NATL-NY] Pit Bull Rescued From 'Death Row' Attacks Daughter After Being Brought Home, Is Euthanized

"Once Blake was properly identified and found to have no connection to the investigation, he was released from police custody immediately. In regards to the alleged improper use of force, the Police Commissioner directed the internal affairs bureau to investigate," the statement said. 

• [NATL-NY]4 Hurt When Hangar Collapses at Newark Liberty International Airport: Officials

Blake, who is biracial, told the Daily News: "In my mind, there's probably a race factor involved, but no matter what there's no reason for anybody to do that to anybody."

• [NATL-NYC]Drone Crashes Into Stands During US Open Match; No Injuries

He says he wants an apology from police.

• Auxiliary Coast Guard Plane Crashes on Popular Recreational Field in New Jersey

Speaking on the NY1 cable television news station, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said Blake "has a right to be upset." Bratton vowed to aggressively address Blake's allegations.

• [NATL-DFW] Texas Woman Dies After Eating Tainted Cucumber: Officials

"It's very disturbing," Bratton said. "The nature of what he described is not what we do; it's not what we're supposed to do."

• [NATL-NY] Cuomo Aide 'Not Doing Well'; Police Release Sketch of Man Wanted for Questioning

Bratton said internal affairs detectives were sent to the hotel and have already identified "a number of witnesses." He says investigators are also looking to obtain surveillance video from the hotel that may have captured the arrest.

• [NATL] Clerk in Gay-Marriage Fight Back to Work Friday or Monday

At the peak of his tennis career, Blake was ranked No. 4 in the world. Knee problems and other injuries affected his playing and he retired from tennis after a three-set loss at the 2013 US Open. The Harvard-educated player was known for his charity work throughout his career.