Biker Christopher Long, 29, was violently hit by a rookie police officer during a Critical Mass bike ride through Times Square on Friday night. Officer Patrick Pogan, 22, claims that he was just trying to protect the public from an out-of-control rider.

As of Tuesday evening, a video tape of the incident was viewed by about 400,000 people and there was nothing more Officer Pogan could say to defend himself. The video proves how the young cop, an all-star football player in high school, quietly took a few steps towards the biker and then hit him throwing him into the crowd gathered there to watch the mass bike ride.

Officer Pogan told a story about how Long was severely disturbing the traffic and that he was left with no choice but to crash into him. Therefore biker Christopher Long was charged with attempted assault, resisting arrest and inappropriate conduct.

Nevertheless Officer Patrick Pogan of the Midtown South Precinct has been banished to desk duty and has remained without his gun and badge since the video was posted on You Tube.

The charges against Long are likely to be dropped and officer Pogan is sure to be fired, police sources said to the NY Daily News.

We can find hundreds of similar cases which occurred during the 2004 Republican National Convention for instance. Videotaped evidence either contradicted what the policemen were saying or raised some reliability questions. The tapes were made by people involved in the protests, tourists and even police officers.