Police: Photos of injured Black man are being misrepresented
Video released to dispute post implying that force was used on crash victim
City police released a video of a crash on Broadway in response to a Facebook post that insinuated Saratoga police had something to do with an unidentified Black man who, in posted photos, looked to be in the hospital with head injuries.
In a statement Monday, the Saratoga Springs police said the man was involved in a crash that took place in the early morning hours of June 24. The video showed that the crash, near the corner of Church Street, involved a motorcycle slamming into the rear of a SUV. The video footage was caught on downtown surveillance cameras.
"In order to be as transparent as is permitted at this time, we are releasing a video clip of the accident that this person was involved in on our department Facebook page," the statement read. "Officers responded to the scene and rendered aid until the Saratoga Springs Fire Department arrived on scene. At no time
during this incident was force used by the Saratoga Springs Police Department."
The woman who posted the photos of the injured man on Facebook, along with the statement "Saratoga police, we want answers now," did not respond to a Times Union request to answers questions about the post.
The Facebook post, which has been widely commented upon, coincides with the police being criticized
for comments made about an uptick in violence in the city, which they have blamed on Albany "gangs," Black Lives Matter protesters, and criminal justice reforms, as well as city bars.
Black Lives Matter leaders will host a press conference on Tuesday afternoon in front of City Hall to address police claims that they are, in part, to blame for a stabbing and gun shots fired on Saturday, June 26.