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Grand Hyatt Sued After Failing to Give Up Video of James Blake Arrest

By Gwynne Hogan | October 1, 2015 10:23am
 James Blake at the 2013 US Open in the Flushing, Queens.
James Blake at the 2013 US Open in the Flushing, Queens.
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Getty Images/ Clive Brunskill

MIDTOWN — An NYPD watchdog was forced to sue the Grand Hyatt New York to get video footage of the controversial body-slam and arrest of former tennis star James Blake for their investigation, according to court documents and a spokeswoman for the board.

The Citizens Complaint Review Board served the hotel with a subpoena a day after the infamous Sept. 9 take-down, asking for contact information of employees who had witnessed the arrest and video footage from the incident, according to court documents.

Weeks later, the CCRB hadn't heard anything from the hotel and asked for a judge to order management to turn over the records, according to court documents filed on Sept. 24 in Manhattan Supreme Court.

"Now we have their attention," said Linda Sachs, a spokeswoman for the CCRB, who said that the hotel had finally agreed to cooperate. "We’re working with them to resolve the matter and get the video and the witnesses."

 

On Sept. 9 Blake, who was waiting outside the hotel at 109 E. 42nd St. for a car to take him to the U.S. Open, was suddenly approached by officer Officer James Frascatore, thrown to the ground and then briefly detained by NYPD detectives.

Blake was mistaken for an identity theft suspect, according to officials. 

Police already released a video of the take-down.

The Grand Hyatt did not respond to a request for comment.