Officer who tackled James Blake sues for defamation

“Blake’s defamatory statements about Officer Frascatore were circulated to millions of readers and viewers in print, on-line, and through mobile and social media,” the lawsuit says.

Police believed Blake was a suspect in a credit card fraud ring. He was tackled by Frascatore and handcuffed, but let go after officers realized their mistake.

The police commissioner at the time and the mayor apologized publicly to Blake. Frascatore was brought up on departmental misconduct charges, and police watchdog lawyers recommended he lose 10 vacation days as punishment for excessive force. Blake has called for Frascatore to be fired. The police commissioner makes the ultimate decision.

Blake’s mother is white, and his father is black; Frascatore is white. Blake has said he thought the incident was mostly about excessive force, but also about how communities of colour are generally treated. But the defamation lawsuit argues that Frascatore was actually the victim of discrimination based on race, because he was cast as a racist.

“Plaintiff has been cast as a racist and a goon,” the lawsuit says. “Though this characterization could not be farther from the truth, this public perception has not only led to his family fleeing their home in fear as a result of public threats to their safety, it has ruined a good man’s career, name and reputation.”

The lawsuit is seeking damages of $75,000.

“Mr. Blake will respond to this attack on his character with the same grace and dignity that has characterized his response to the attack on his person,” said Blake’s lawyer, Kevin Marino.

The city’s law department said it would review the complaint but couldn’t comment while proceedings were pending.

The police watchdog group, the Civilian Complaint Review Board, declined to comment.

Colleen Long, The Associated Press

by Canadian Press

Officer who tackled James Blake sues for defamation

Our Community