James Blake Tackled and Handcuffed By Police Over Mistaken Identity [UPDATE]

Former American Tennis pro James Blake was tackled and handcuffed by five police officers outside his hotel in Manhattan, in case of mistaken identity. Officers believed he met the description of someone running an identity theft ring.

"Blake said he had just answered a few questions from a writer for a tennis magazine and was texting when he looked up and saw someone in shorts and a T-shirt charging at him, splitting the doorman outside the Hyatt, an official hotel for the U.S. Tennis Association. “Maybe I’m naïve, but I just assumed it was someone I went to high school with or something who was running at me to give me a big hug, so I smiled at the guy,” Blake said. Blake said the officer, who he said was not wearing a badge, picked him up and threw him down on the sidewalk, yelled at him to roll over on his face and said, “Don’t say a word.”"

Blake is African-American. But, we’re sure that sort of thing happens to John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors all the time.

UPDATE: The NYPD has released the following statement about the incident:

“Today James Blake was detained by police in midtown Manhattan in regards to an ongoing investigation into fraudulently purchased cell phones, after being misidentified by a cooperating witness. Once Blake was properly identified and found to have no connection to the investigation, he was released from police custody immediately. In regards to the alleged improper use of force, the Police Commissioner directed the internal affairs bureau to investigate.”

[Getty]