James Blake tackled, handcuffed by NYPD after being mistaken as suspect

Former fourth-ranked tennis player James Blake was the victim of a terrifying incident Wednesday when he has was tackled to the ground and handcuffed by NYPD officers after being mistaken for a suspect in an identify theft ring.

"It was definitely scary and definitely crazy," said Blake, who sustained minor injuries to his left elbow and left leg as a result.

The 35-year-old was at the Grand Hyatt hotel waiting for a car to take him to Flushing Meadows, where he was scheduled to make corporate appearances for Time Warner Cable, when a plainclothes officer charged at him.

"Maybe I'm naive, but I just assumed it was someone I went to high school with or something who was running at me to give me a big hug, so I smiled at the guy," Blake described, adding that after the officer threw him down onto the sidewalk he was told, "Don't say a word."

Four other officers arrived on the scene and after spending 15 minutes in handcuffs, Blake was released after they realized he was not the suspect. The original officer who tackled him did not apologize for the incident.

The NYPD released this statement regarding the incident later Wednesday.

Blake, who is biracial, did not consider the incident an example of racial profiling, simply saying, "there's no reason for anybody to do that to anybody."

"It's hard to believe this can still be happening."

Blake won 10 singles titles in the ATP and was named ATP Humanitarian of the Year in 2008 for his philanthropic work.