Officer Who Detained James Blake Has History of Force Complaints

Days after retired tennis player James Blake was mistakenly and forcefully arrested by a plainclothes officer working for the New York Police Department, previous complaints against Officer James Frascatore citing the use of excessive force have emerged.

According to the New York Times' Benjamin Mueller and Nate Schweber, two black men from Queens, New York, revealed that Frascatore allegedly used unnecessary force during encounters over the past three years.

One of those men is Leroy Cline, who was reportedly pulled over for driving with a broken taillight in 2012. Per Mueller and Schweber, Frascatore allegedly proceeded to open the door to Cline's car and punch him in the mouth.

Mueller and Schweber also reported that Warren Diggs sued Frascatore in 2013 after being followed home while riding his bike. Frascatore then allegedly physically assaulted Diggs in his own driveway before another officer sprayed him with mace. While Diggs was originally charged with marijuana possession and resisting arrest, both charges were reportedly dropped.

"I don’t know what that dude’s problem is, but I’m glad it finally came to somebody who someone would listen to," Diggs said, per Mueller and Schweber.

Following his wrongful detention, Blake released a statement in which he proclaimed he would use Officer Frascatore's actions as a way to improve relations between law enforcement and the community. 

"I am determined to use my voice to turn this unfortunate incident into a catalyst for change in the relationship between the police and the public they serve,” Blake said, per Mueller and Schweber. 

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner William Bratton have since apologized to Blake, whom Frascatore mistakenly arrested in the midst of a credit card fraud investigation.

"The concerns we have are, was the force used appropriate, and the initial review, we believe that it may not have been," Bratton told reporters Thursday, according to the Wall Street Journal's Pervaiz Shallwani.

The NYPD has since stripped Frascatore of his badge, and the department is reportedly investigating his use of excessive force.