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Will Cyclist's Pot Passion Get Lying, Shoving Cop Off the Hook?
By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 21, 2010
Modified Apr 21, 2010
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By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 21, 2010
Modified Apr 21, 2010
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Yesterday we shared a new video showing more of the arrest of cyclist Christopher Long during a 2008 Critical Mass bike ride through Times Square. Arresting Officer Patrick Pogan faces a misdemeanor assault charge for knocking Long off his bike, seemingly without provocation, plus a felony charge of filing a false report, which carries a maximum sentence of four years in jail. But with the second video further undermining Pogan's claim that Long was trying to hit him with his bike, defense lawyers desperately tried to win the jury over with a stoner defense: If Long smoked grass, you must give Pogan a pass.
And there was too much information. In proudly testifying about his daily marijuana consumption yesterday (4/20!), Long revealed, "I like to smoke while I defecate in the morning." Objection? "Would it be fair to say you like to get stoned?" asked Stuart London, Pogan's lawyer. "That would be a fair assessment." Well, that's that—forget about those incriminating videos; this hippie obviously baited that poor rookie police officer into shoving him just so he could sue the city! (Long settled for $65K.)
More details about Long emerged during cross-examination: He is currently living in a small room in a communal home with 35 other people in Bushwick. When asked if he is anti-police, Long replied, "As an armed organization, I would say yes. But not as individuals." He's also anti-government, because "it’s too far gone to be reformed." Long also admitted that "he struck and killed an elderly man who crossed a four-lane highway in North Carolina, though he was not faulted for the accident," the Times reports. Wow, that sounds an awful lot like that one time Long almost struck and killed a brave NYPD officer while biking through Times Square, eh? No further questions, your Honor.
Indeed, it was a damning day of testimony, and it now seems clear that the jury will have no choice but to convict Long on a laundry list of charges, including marijuana consumption on the toilet, criticizing Big Government, and living in Bushwick.
Tagged
christopher long
critical mass
cyclist
patrick pogan
trial
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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