A rookie cop has been indicted on charges of viciously knocking a cyclist off his bike during a Times Square demonstration last July, law enforcement sources said today.
Patrick Pogan, 22, the son of a highly respected New York City detective, was indicted last week on charges of assault and filing a false report in the July 25 attack on Christopher Long, 29, of Bloomfield, N.J., the sources said.
Pogan, who had been on the force only three weeks when the incident occurred, is expected to surrender today in Manhattan Criminal Court.
His lawyer, Stuart London, declined to comment.
Long’s attorney, David Rankin, confirmed the indictment.
“We’re obviously very excited that the district attorney has taken this matter seriously and chosen this course of action,” he said.
Asked if Long planned to sue the NYPD or the city, the lawyer would only say, “We’re anticipating doing further legal action,” but did not elaborate.
Rankin said his client was on a bike trip from Florida to New Orleans and unavailable for comment.
Long was riding in the monthly “cyclist rights” protest held by the group Critical Mass when he was shoulder-tackled by Pogan, 22, who claimed the bicyclist was recklessly weaving in and out of traffic and creating a dangerous situation.
Long spent 26 hours behind bars on charges of attempted assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct before a YouTube video showed Pogan viciously attacking the cyclist.
The cop was stripped of his badge and gun and placed on desk duty while Internal Affairs investigated charges of assault and filing a false report.