New York Police arrest passer-by for "harrassing" cyclist they're ticketing +video

We’ve featured stories before of the sometimes excessive zeal with which the NYPD deals with cyclists caught riding on the sidewalk or jumping red lights – not to mention those who have done nothing wrong whatsoever. Such stories also get a lot of coverage in local media, so it's unsurprising if a passer-by might be tempted to give a bit of stick to a cyclist they see getting ticketed. After all, what’s the worse that can happen?

Well, according to this video posted to YouTube, quite a lot, such as getting surrounded by officers after back-up arrived quickly, getting stuck in handcuffs and, according to Gothamist, charged with “harassment, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest”.

The initial crime? Telling the cyclist, who was being issued with a ticket for cycling on the sidewalk, “You're a grown man, you know better than that!" Unlike the police officers, the cyclist didn’t seem too upset by the remark, replying: “I just got my training wheels off and I'm afraid of the streets!" As the Gothamist points out when it comes to cyclist harrassing the NYPD clearly take a dim view of any competition – even from people cracking harmless jokes.

The whole episode was caught on film by what seems to be local residents from their balcony, who clearly found a bit of diversion in the unscripted entertainment.