James Blake was violently treated by police as he was mistakenly arrested in New York City, reports the *New York Daily News*.
According to the newspaper, Blake was pushed on the ground and put in handcuffs as he was taken into custody by five officers, coming away with a cut on his elbow and a bruised leg.
Blake described the incident as "definitely scary and definitely crazy."
The African-American was apparently mistaken for an identify theft suspect, with police arresting him in front of his hotel as he was on his way to Flushing Meadows.
The former world No. 4 was asked if he saw it as racial profiling. "I don't know if it's as simple as that. To me it's as simple as unnecessary police force, no matter what my race is. In my mind there's probably a race factor involved, but no matter what there's no reason for anybody to do that to anybody," he said, adding that it was "blatantly unnecessary. You would think at some point they would get the memo that this isn't okay, but it seems that there's no stopping it."
Blake said the officer who threw him to the ground was in regular clothing and not wearing a badge, ordering, "Don't say a word." He was said to be joined by other officers, and then told why he was being taken into custody.
Said Blake, "You'd think they could say, 'Hey, we want to talk to you. We are looking into something.' I was just standing there. I wasn't running."
It took fifteen minutes for Blake to be released, according to the the 35-year-old, who said one officer apologized to him.
A native of neighboring Connecticut, Blake decided to speak publicly to bring attention to the problem of excessive police violence.
"I have resources to get to the bottom of this. I have a voice," Blake said. "The real problem is that I was tackled for no reason and that happens to a lot of people."
Blake has requested an apology and disciplinary action against those involved.