A basketball player in Staten Island was caught on camera taking an amazing leap over an NYPD patrol car and landing a slam dunk — bringing cops and residents together amid tensions over the controversial death of Eric Garner.
New York City police officers and Staten Islanders took part in the “Under the Lights” basketball tournament Friday at the Berry Houses in Dongan Hills, the Staten Island Advance reports.
The tournament’s dunk contest was in full effect when onlookers spotted the NYPD patrol car cruising onto the court with its lights and sirens flashing.
Little did they know that organizers with the tournament league had asked cops in the area if they would take part in the competition by letting a player dunk over a patrol car.
Brian Hogan-Gary, 20, was on the court with ball in hand as the officer made his way over to the hoop, parking the car directly under the basket.
Before taking flight, Hogan-Gary surprisingly removed his basketball jersey, showing off an “R.I.P. Eric Garner” T-shirt he had created, with the words “Justice” and “Peace” written on the back, according to the Advance.
A few bounces later and the player took off, soared over the front of the patrol car and slammed the ball home as the crowd went wild.
Video of the amazing feat quickly surfaced on the Internet, with many giving the cops credit for joining in on the fun.
The NYPD even got in on the social media excitement, tweeting:
“NYPD & dunking- not dunkin! MT @NYPD122Pct: Dunk contest #underthelights @berryhomes. #122pct Awesome slam!”
Dunk contest #underthelights basketball tournament @berryhomes. #122pct #statenisland. Awesome slam! pic.twitter.com/NepfaR1PTN
— NYPD 122nd Precinct (@NYPD122Pct) July 26, 2014
“People were really surprised the cops wanted to be a part of it,” said Joel Soto, one of the league’s founders.
“It definitely brought down a little of the tension between police and the community.”
Fierce criticism of the NYPD has been sweeping Staten Island as community members and activists have publicly protested the July 17 death of Eric Garner.
The tragic death sparked controversy after video of the incident was released showing NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo putting the 43-year-old into an alleged chokehold as Garner repeatedly said he couldn’t breathe.
“The cops definitely wanted to use this as a way to get a good relationship between them and civilians, but besides that, it felt real — they were just as into it as everyone else there,” Soto added.
“It was good for both sides.”