A freelance reporter for the NY Daily news named JB Nicholas is accusing Roger Goodell’s personal bodyguard of attacking him. Thomas Crowe is the head of the NFL security for the NY offices and also the personal bodyguard to Roger Goodell. Nicholas claims that he was riding his bicycle when Crowe, who was in an SUV, pinned him against a parked car and later actually knocked him off the bicycle.
A second incident happened, but this time there was a witness. Joshua Holland was walking his dog nearby says he saw the whole thing and describes the scene.
“The driver pulled the photography off his bike, wrestled him to the ground in the median, and punched him in the face once. Then he was on top of him holding him down with an arm bar, a forearm jammed into his neck,” Holland says. “He was freaking out and shouting ‘I’m a cop! I’m a cop!’ I was like, does this guy have a gun? I was a little worried about that.”
When police arrived at the scene, things didn’t get any better for Nicholas.
“…New York City police arrived and charged Nicholas, the photographer, with second degree assault, as well as third degree assault and criminal mischief. Nicholas was charged with allegedly punching the SUV driver, throwing his bike at the driver, and keying the SUV.”
Here is the caveat. Crowe is apparently former NYPD. Nicholas says that when cops arrived, they were very chummy with Crowe even though the eye witness, Holland, told the police that Crowe was the one who attacked Nicholas. On top of that, Nicholas was convicted of manslaughter in 1990, so prosecutors used that to request $20K bail.
The NY Daily News is standing by Nicholas and has hired an attorney on his behalf. Meanwhile, the next hearing in this case won’t happen until December 1st.
[h/t USA Today]