The unapologetic cop who body-slammed tennis great James Blake outside a Midtown hotel without identifying himself as an officer allegedly tried to cover up the bogus arrest.Officer James Frascatore failed to inform his superiors that he threw Blake to the sidewalk and cuffed him in the mistaken belief that he was a wanted credit card thief, police said Thursday.It took Blake coming forward to the Daily News with accusations of being manhandled by a plainclothes cop outside the Grand Hyatt Hotel to put the incident on the NYPD’s radar.“My concern is that after the release, there’s department protocols that should have been followed but apparently were not,” Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said. “Mr. Blake has made a number of comments to the press. That’s how we became aware of the matter.”When asked what cops are supposed to do in such situations, one high-ranking source said, “Void the arrest, make notifications and say, ‘I’m sorry!’”Frascatore, a four-year NYPD veteran who in the past has been accused of using excessive force and failing to identify himself as a cop, was placed on desk duty and had his gun and badge yanked after detectives viewed the surveillance video from the hotel.“I have concerns about the takedown,” Bratton said. “The movement was a fast approach. Basically, grabbing Mr. Blake by the arm, moving him forward and then taking him down to the ground and immediately rear-cuffing him.”EXCLUSIVE: EX-TENNIS STAR JAMES BLAKE TACKLED BY WHITE COPSCop That Slammed James Blake to the Ground Has a Cloudy PastNY Daily NewsBratton later confirmed he and Mayor de Blasio apologized to Blake, who agreed to meet with him, with Internal Affairs Bureau investigators, and de Blasio.“Mr. Blake had no role or involvement in the criminal investigation that we were conducting and was totally innocent,” Bratton said.Earlier, Blake, who is black, said an apology would be appreciated, but he wants something more.“I’d like an explanation for how they conducted themselves because I think we all need to be held accountable for our actions, and police as well,” he told ABC News.The Civilian Complaint Review Board has also opened an investigation, sources said.JAMES BLAKE RESEMBLES MAN WANTED BY NYPD FOR ALLEGEDLY USING STOLEN CREDIT CARDSThe watchdog group is well-acquainted with Frascatore. As of last year, he had five complaints filed against him, according to court documents obtained by WNYC.NYC PAPERS OUT. Social media use restricted to low res file max 184 x 128 pixels and 72 dpiPrevious Next NYC PAPERS OUT. Social media use restricted to low res file max 184 x 128 pixels and 72 dpi Mayor Bill de Blasio attends the funeral of Assistant Deputy Warden Belinda Nicks at the Pleasant Grove Tabernacle on Fulton Street in Brooklyn, New York City on Wednesday, September 9 2015. (Gardiner Anderson for New York Daily News) James Blake of U.S. reacts during his match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York September 4, 2010. NYC PAPERS OUT. Social media use restricted to low res file max 184 x 128 pixels and 72 dpi NYC PAPERS OUT. Social media use restricted to low res file max 184 x 128 pixels and 72 dpi EnlargeJefferson Siegel/New York Daily NewsNYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton defended the officers who tackled James Blake.In one case, Frascatore was accused of using too much muscle and abusing his authority while arresting a man for marijuana possession. He also charged the man’s girlfriend with evidence tampering after she moved her beau’s bike following the arrest.All criminal charges were later dropped. And the CCRB recommended that Frascatore be retrained on police protocol after determining that he failed to give his name or shield number during the arrest, WNYC reported.Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch came to Frascatore’s defense.“Placing this officer on modified duty is premature and unwarranted,” he said.OFFICER WHO TACKLED JAMES BLAKE FOLLOWED ARREST PROTOCOL, BUT HE SHOULD’VE APOLOGIZED, NYPD TRAINING SPECIALIST SAYSFrascatore is white. Blake, who was once ranked the No. 4 tennis player in the world, told The News he believes there was “probably a race factor involved.”Bratton insisted race didn’t figure into the arrest.Bratton Defends Cops Who Tackled Tennis Star James BlakeNY Daily News“Sorry, race has nothing at all to do with this,” he said. “If you look at the photograph of the suspect, it looks like the twin brother of Mr. Blake. So let’s put that nonsense to rest right now.”Blake, who was on his way to a corporate appearance for Time Warner Cable at the U.S. Open, found himself in the cops’ cross hairs after he inadvertently walked into the middle of an NYPD sting operation on a Internet credit card theft ring.LUPICA: BILL BRATTON DOESN’T KNOW FOR SURE WHAT HAPPENED TO JAMES BLAKEFrascatore was one of six cops stationed outside the hotel ready to pounce on whomever showed up to pay the courier delivering some high-end designer shoes,
Source: NYPD cop who tackled James Blake covered up arrest – NY Daily News