Officer Leaves NYPD After YouTube Hit

A New York City police officer has left the NYPD after being featured in a YouTube video hit that showed him knocking a bicyclist to the ground.

Local news channel New York 1 reported that Patrick Pogan's attorney said the officer resigned, but the NYPD said he was dismissed.

Pogan, 23, was captured on video knocking a bicyclist to the ground during a demonstration in July.

An anonymous bystander posted the 70-second video on YouTube, and it was viewed more than 260,000 times during the next two days. The video showed bicycle riders in Critical Mass pedaling through the streets of Times Square first in real time, then in slow motion.

The officer stood in the street as some cyclists passed by, then walked briskly toward the sidewalk as another cyclist approached. The bicyclist attempted to swerve out of the officer's way but the officer slammed into him, sending the bicyclist crashing to the ground.

The person who shot the video appeared to be about 30 feet away and, although the sound of the bicycle crashing was clear, the video did not pick up any verbal exchange between the officer and the bicyclist.

Police arrested Christopher Long, of Hoboken, N.J., for attempted assault and disorderly conduct and said he provoked the incident. Once the video surfaced, authorities dismissed the charges against Long and placed Pogan desk duty pending an investigation.

Critical Mass is a group that rides through city streets monthly in protest of unfriendly bicycling policies and conditions. The rides take place in cities around the world. New York City police frequently clash with members of the group, who often videotape their rides.