James Blake meets with NYC mayor, police commissioner after arrest
Former No. 4 tennis player in the world James Blake met with New York City mayor Bill de Blasio and police commissioner William Bratton on Monday to discuss his mistaken arrest from Sept. 9.
Blake, who was waiting for a ride to the U.S. Open outside of his hotel in Midtown, was tackled to the ground, handcuffed and detained by police after they mistook him for a suspect in an identity theft case.
The officer who tackled Blake, James Frascatore, has since been placed on desk duty.
Blake's meeting with de Blasio and Bratton on Monday was in an effort to make a “long-lasting impact” concerning the relationship between law enforcement and civilians.
“I feel like we made a lot of progress and we were all pleasantly surprised,” Blake told reporters at City Hall after the meeting. “We’re not looking for a quick lawsuit.”
• James Blake: NYPD Officer who tackled me should be fired
Following the meeting, the mayor added that New York City is in the midst of making “fundamental reforms in the relationship between police and community.”
Watch the video of Blake's mistaken arrest below:
- Kayla Lombardo
