Cop in Bike Bodyslam Video Claims Self-Defense

Patrick Pogan

Former cop Patrick Pogan—who was caught on video slamming a cyclist off his bike during a 2008 Critical Mass ride—took the stand today to defend himself against charges of misdemeanor assault and falsifying a police report. At times, the testimony defied reality—at least, reality as it appears on the videotape, which depicts Pogan shoving cyclist Christopher Long to the pavement in a seemingly unprovoked attack. But Pogan insists he was just doing what he had to do to defend himself from Long:

The cyclist came at me—and I had to stop him from hurting me. I thought he ran through a red light. He had his hands in the air... He had up what I perceived to be a middle finger. I told him to stop. We locked eyes. I saw him going toward the sidewalk. He's either going there to go around me or he's going there to stop. I took a walk to the side. I see him rise up on his bike. I see him crouch down his shoulder as he's coming toward me... at this point I know he's going to try to use that shoulder against me.

Long testified that he turned his shoulder toward Pogan at the last minute, to brace himself, but from Pogan's point of view, Long was trying to "scare me or use that shoulder to come through me." And according to Pogan, taxpayers should be grateful for his restraint. "I could have used my mace but that would have cost the city more than $65,000," Pogan told jurors. ($65K is the amount Long received in his settlement.)

"Maybe I'll use my baton," Pogan said he wondered, in the moment before he slammed Long to the curb. "But the baton was useless at that point. There was no way I could have used any of the tools at my disposal. I prepared myself for a hit. He was coming toward me. I braced for impact. I lowered my shoulder. There was a collision. I used my arms to get that bicycle away from me." Pogan initially claimed in the police report that Long had knocked him to the ground, but today he conceded that was inaccurate: "It's not true; I did not go down at that moment. I went down two later times in that incident." Pogan also testified that he "never intended to lie at any point" in his report.

Yesterday Pogan's former NYPD superior, Sergeant Eric Perez, testified that Pogan, a rookie with just 11 days on the job, had been instructed to observe the more experienced officers, and was in Times Square "as backup, not to actually engage and stop." But today Pogan insisted a captain told him, "Do what you have to do to stop them." Ironically, he was also warned that the Critical Mass cyclists could be carrying cameras, and told jurors today, "Have that in the back of your mind, that whatever actions you take, you will be on camera."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on April 23, 2010 3:13 PM

Comments [rss]

twentyfive25

That photo just screams "I'm a dumb redneck f*ck".

DanielJ

Looks like he went a little overboard with those eyebrow tweezers.

inoyourider

Fuck that, send this piggy to jail.

And Logan didn't deserve a 65k settlement either- he stole that from our pockets.

horseplay

I think its a good thing that when our pig department fucks up, and boy do they always, we pay for it. Because most people in nyc dont give a shit about police brutality if it doesnt effect them personally or phisically, and as we know in most cases, some people actually like that police brutality usually happens to people of a certain race (black or hispanic). So in a funny way, it kinda forces those people to care who normally wouldnt care in other cases.. so do we as a city, stand up to this disgusting pig department? Or do we incourage them to continue to do so, but in a way where it doesnt effect our taxes?

inoyourider

I'm all for punishing the guilty- in this case the cop.

But not at the expense of the rest of us who weren't involved.

Especially since no one was seriously injured.

horseplay

Whats everyone so suprised about? These are normal and usual nypd training sessions. It was his nypd initiation. My only supprise is, where's that fat ass pat lynch? U know, the fat ass who's always talking tough when someone defends themselves against pigs like this. Why isnt Ray Kerik defending one of his goons?

FakeHipster

I would play the video and ask Pogan to explain how his testimony matches what he sees on the tape.

jaycjay

Just curious... did the entire gallery break into laughter during his testimony?

Surely there had to be some chuckles on that "never intended to lie" line.

jt10000

Why can't he frickin man up and take his punishment.

felldownthewell

Oh I get it, so the guy with a gun, mace, a baton, and a kevlar vest is afraid he will get injured by a stoned army vet on a 20lb bike riding 5 ft off to the side.

Sidenote: this guy's picture remind anyone of Farva from super troopers? Someone get that man a liter of cola!

nicemarmot

The whole incident reminds me of Farva if Farva was from Long Island.

JacqueMehoff

oh yes, he's the injured party here.

damn, I must admit they're doing all they can to confuse and muddle the case.

from rise up, crouch, shoulder block, scrimmage, go around. you'd think he was getting ready for football which I'm sure he played in HS.

and I want to thank mr. long for only settling for 65K.

ReligiousWacko

Maybe he's trying out for role on Jersey Shore?

JenChungsBaby

There was an earthquake, a terrible flood, my car got a flat tire, I had to help a friend get to the airport...

With just 11 days on the job this guy knows how to falsify police reports and lie on the witness stand. He would have made Inspector by his 30th birthday if the NYPD hadn't fired him for some inexplicable reason.

jibbly

Blues Brothers reference FTW!

Pogan is toast...cuz his pants combusted into flames.

chuzzlewit

holy shit that's a riot - what a CUR!!

Guest

...uhm, self-defense? hahahahahahahahaha

please take my advice: fire your lawyer and get a new one. right now.

just saying

Liar, liar--pants on fire.

echo

What a douche! Only a douche would react to a bicycle coming at him by shoving the biker. Most non-douchey people would step back or stay still and let them go by. Or wince or something. But shove?!? No. That's not a natural reaction. But then again, look at that pic. Kind of explains everything...

Rocknrope

This guy's got balls the size of Staten Island to claim self-defense with that video evidence.

kleinpeter

Quite the opposite. 1. If he had balls, he wouldn't of had tried to be a tough macho man with a badge, and 2. If he had the balls, he'd fess up and apologize.

Lying is a cowardly act, and this guy is one hell of a weakling.