EXCLUSIVE: Photographer stunned by NYPD officer's actions in Times Square car chase
MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- The photographer who shot video of a dramatic police chase in Times Square described the terrifying ordeal in an exclusive interview with Eyewitness News.
Kiefer Dixon, who regularly hangs out in here taking video of luxury cars, says it was a typical night in Times Square until about 11:45 p.m. Saturday.
"It was very crazy," he said.
While riding his longboard, Dixon captured with his cellphone what looked like a movie shoot, but it was the real deal.
He said a black Mercedes Benz was cruising down Seventh Avenue doing burnouts.
Police said four people were inside. As the vehicle got to 43rd Street, an NYPD officer approached and tried to stop the car but the driver wasn't having it.
(( WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW ))
*WARNING: Video contains strong language*
The officer got in front of the Mercedes, and then pulled out his weapon. The driver hit the gas, and the officer was thrown to the ground.
In an exclusive interview, Dixon said he was stunned by what the officer did.
"He just got in front of it like he was on a power trip, Dixon said. "I've seen lots of police come up to cars I'm shooting and tell them to calm down, but this cop jumped in front of the vehicle like he was on a power trip."
The Mercedes roared down Seventh Avenue. The same officer and a second one chased after the car.
Dixon was right there recording it all.
"I thought he would have gone straight down Seventh Avenue, but he hit the right and I'm like there's' no way he's going to make it out of there,'" Dixon said.
But the driver did, making an escape west on 42nd Street.
During the initial part of the chaos, Dixon said he believes the driver wasn't trying to hit the officer.
"He wasn't trying to hurt anybody," Dixon said. "He swerved his car towards me and stopped."
Dixon said the one thing he can't get out of his mind is this image of the officers running down a busy street with weapons drawn.
"If his finger just flinched and pulled the trigger, a stray bullet could have gone down Seventh Avenue," he said.
NYPD officials said they know who they're looking for in the case.
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