New York Police Department officers were armed with a photo of an unidentified black man when they slammed tennis star James Blake to the ground outside of his hotel, according to the New York Daily News.
Turns out, the unnamed man was also innocent, the News writes, stating, “The mystery man’s skin appears to be a shade darker than Blake’s and there is some resemblance” to the retired tennis star. But the man is not considered a suspect, the report says.
The photo, obtained by the News and TMZ Sports, was provided to police by a company that conducted its own probe into a ring of thieves who used stolen credit cards to purchase high-end footwear. The company found the image online and gave it to police.
Armed with the image, police officers conducted a stakeout Wednesday outside of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan. After receiving a tip from a courier delivering the stolen goods and guided by the photo, Officer James Frascatore tackled Blake, police say. The officer has been stripped of his gun and badge while the department conducts an internal investigation of the incident.
Read more at the New York Daily News.