Detective Patrick Cherry, who attained worldwide viral video fame after losing his shit in an obscenity-laced xenophobic tirade against an Uber driver, has apologized. During his first on-camera appearance since his infamous meltdown, Cherry told NBC NY, "I apologize. I sincerely apologize." He also explained the circumstances which culminated in his interplanetary fulmination:
Cherry said that the video, which shows him cursing at the driver and screaming, “How long have you been in this country?” misses what prompted the confrontation. He tells NBC 4 New York the Uber driver pulled up fast behind him as he was trying to park his unmarked patrol car on a West Village street Monday and gestured wildly in his direction, yelling. Cherry says he pulled the Uber driver over to "clarify the problem;” the driver “got smart” when Cherry asked for the man’s license and registration and refused to give it to him, the detective said. That's when he says he lost his temper.
"When I walked up, I was uptight. I wanted to know what the problem was. What did I do that was so wrong that I had to get chastised?" Cherry said. "I felt his driving actions were discourteous and impolite and when he stopped he said, 'I'm not going to give you anything."'
“I was upset that he refused to give me his license and registration and I yelled inappropriately," Cherry added. "That's not who I am, that's not who I've been and that's not how I conducted myself as an officer in New York City," he added.
That's sweet, but this isn't over until we get a YouTube video of Cherry and the Uber driver kicking off their shoes and sharing a doobie together in Sheep Meadow. In the meantime, the NYPD detectives' union isn't about to roll over. After NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton apologized for Cherry's conduct and confiscated his gun and badge, Detectives Endowment Association boss Michael Palladino went on the offensive.
"This is neither Ferguson nor Staten Island, but it is receiving equal attention," Palladino told DNAinfo. Indeed, Uber Lives Matter protesters have already shut down the FDR and Holland Tunnel several times today, and President Obama is expected to address the nation on the Cherry Crisis this evening. Palladino is right: any time a cop does something offensive or discourteous, we should all just be grateful he didn't kill anyone.
Here, again, is the video. As you can see, Detective Cherry doesn't shoot or choke anyone to death. America should be applauding his restraint. De Blasio must resign.
