Uber Driver Abused by NYPD Cop on Major Power Trip

Recently, when a headline begins with “Uber Driver”, what often follows is something like “attacks” or “is accused of”. This story is a little bit different. This t...
Uber Driver Abused by NYPD Cop on Major Power Trip
Written by Josh Wolford
  • Recently, when a headline begins with “Uber Driver”, what often follows is something like “attacks” or “is accused of”. This story is a little bit different.

    This time it’s the Uber driver taking the abuse, and not from an unruly passenger – but from an apparent plainclothes New York City Police officer.

    The passengers caught the whole incident on video, and it shows an obviously agitated man berating what appears to be a frightened and apologetic Uber driver. According to the video’s description, here’s what went down shortly before the cameras turned on:

    Police abuse of Uber driver in New York City. In an unmarked car, the policeman was allegedly attempting to park without using his blinker at a green light. (His reverse lights weren’t on. Likely double parked without hazards on.) The Uber driver pulled around and gestured that he should use his blinker, casually and non-offensively, and kept driving us. The policeman aggressively pulls up behind us and this is what happens.

    According to the uploader, Sanjay Seth, this all occurred on Monday just before 2pm on the West side of Manhattan.

    In the video, you hear the cop begin by asking “You understand me, you understand me!?”

    The driver interjects, “Yes, I understand.”

    The officer continues: “Stop it with your mouth, stop it with your ‘for what sir, for what sir’ – stop it with that bullshit…I don’t know what fucking planet you think we’re on right now.”

    “I’m not planning, I’m here sir,” says the driver.

    “Planning? I said planet,” says the cop before slamming the door.

    The passengers attempt to console the driver, telling him “sorry, it sucks. Picked the wrong guy to honk at, obviously.” They tell him it’s best to just play it cool and continue with the “yes sirs”. Things only get worse from there, eventually culminating in the damning “how long have you been in this country” remark. Check it out:

    Here’s some more context, from Seth:

    Our Uber driver, Humayun, was abused by a police officer today in New York. The rage, door slamming, throwing items into…

    Posted by Sanjay Seth on Monday, March 30, 2015

    According to the New York Daily News, the The NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau is aware of the video and has begun an investigation.

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