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news
Video: US cops handcuff black teen and confiscate bikes … for pulling wheelies
A New Jersey city is reviewing local laws that require cyclists to licence their bicycles after footage was posted online of police officers handcuffing a black teenager and confiscating his bike, and others belonging to his friends, after they pulled wheelies while riding.
The incident took place earlier this month in Perth Amboy, a city that lies across the Arthur Kill channel from Staten Island and forms part of the New York metropolitan area.
Posting the footage to YouTube on Sunday, Christian Orozco said: “This video speaks for itself, all I really have to say is that cops abuse their powers and that I’m glad everyone got their bikes back and everyone is safe, including the one kid who got arrested … for wheeling … crazy man.”
Referring to a local law that requires cyclists to display licence plates on their bikes, William A. Petrick, president of Perth Amboy City Council, said: “We are going to review our ordinance.” He did not elaborate further, reports Insider.com.
However, in a statement Yolanda Ciccone, prosecutor for Middlesex County, which the city lies within, said: “The facts and circumstances of this incident are being reviewed by the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office in conjunction with the Perth Amboy Police Chief Roman McKeon and other law enforcement officials from the City of Perth Amboy.
“Every juvenile being taken into custody by law enforcement in Middlesex County is of the utmost concern to Prosecutor Ciccone and this young person is no different.
“What occurred before, during and after the incident depicted is under review.”
It happened ahead of a week when tensions between the black community and law enforcement agencies in the United States were particularly heightened ahead of police officer Derek Chauvin being convicted of the murder of George Floyd, whose death last year sparked nationwide protests.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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14 comments
These lads were just messing about. They did not pose a danger. At least the first cop said they should be a bit more careful. But then the others stepped in and seized the bikes and arrested a black lad. I'd say that's an awful lot of police effort for something pretty trivial. The US has a frighteningly high level of violent crime and murders. You'd think the cops would have more important things to do than making a strong case to some lads that the cops are racist and anti cyclist.
Used to do this with my mates on our BMXs in the 80s.
They're kids, it's a bit of benign fun, no one got hurt.
The police just created a new group of cop-haters.
Give us a break from the race-baiting. This is just cops punishing ASB, nothing more.
bang on, theyre riding like d**ks on the wrong side of the road and weaving about. What did they expect to happen ?
They're kids..... Kids don't expect anything, they don't have the foresight or experience. Cuffing and arresting over a trivial matter seems to be smack of lack of imagination and overreaction on the part of the coppers.
I suppose they were lucky that they weren't shot....
From what I've gathered American police aren't trained in de-escalation (although some forces are now piloting new techniques), but dominating the environment by force and fire power - there is only one way to go and that is ratchet up the tension until you win. This inevitably ends in some cases in arrests, injuries, and fatalities, and the police fall back on blaming the untrained unpredictable public for blame when things "go wrong" - as a policy it stinks.
It happens in this country too, but to a much lesser extent due in part to the principle of policing by consent, as opposed to the US principle of enforcement of the law.
But they're a menace, innit.
Then why wasnt an antisocial behaviour ordinance used? Granted the kids are a little bit arsey in their behaviour - but what kids arent?
Given the state of policing in the US at the moment perhaps we *should* be assuming there is a racial component until shown otherwise? The US police have shown distinct racial biases in numerous situations up until this point maybe its time to call out the potential of it until it can be proven to have stopped?
Doesnt staying silent about it or denying even *the potential* of its existence make you part of the problem?
The US doesn't really have the concept of an ASBO. The only way someone could get given an order the equivalent of a UK ASBO would be to be tried and convicted of something, then such an order could be part of their sentence or parole terms.
I'm quite sure that there are some decent, humane police officers out there, but they really don't help themselves, do they? This looks like a variation of the classic 'driving while black' pull over.
Notice that the one they handcuffed was the black guy. None of the others.
I listened to a bit by my irony meter broke when he said they would have to confiscate the bikes if they posed a danger.
It's a miracle the cops didn't just shoot them they're black after all.
Would they rather these kids were doing something else to have fun? Not enough care for the youth these days. This is criminalising the young for wanting freedom. Literally eff all they can get away with anymore.