The cyclist captured on video being barged from his bike by a police officer during a Critical Mass rally in New York last year is suing the New York Police Department for $1.5m.

The ex-police officer, Patrick Pogan who was caught on camera last year body slamming cyclist Christopher Long to the floor during the Critical Mass rally last year. After knocking Long, 30, from his bike Pogan who had only been on the force a matter of weeks arrested him for assault, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest – claiming in his reports that Long had been weaving through traffic and had refused to stop. The truth was only revealed when the case got to court and Long’s defence lawyers produced the video – showing the truth to be very different.

Pogan was dismissed from the NYPD in February for making false police reports – Long’s lawyers are now suing the police over these reports – citing the psychological trauma he suffered as a result. Long now lives and works on a farm in rural Wisconsin.