NYPD detective moved after tirade against Uber driver

A New York City police detective has been placed on modified duty after his videotaped verbal tirade with the driver of the Uber ride-sharing service went viral.

In the video shot by Uber passenger Sanjay Seth, the detective, reportedly with the NYPD's Joint Terrorism Task Force, is heard shouting at the driver, using profanity, hitting the car and asking the driver how long he has been in the country. It is apparent from the conversation between the passenger and the driver that the altercation took place after the detective attempted to park his car without using his turn signal and the Uber driver honked at him. Throughout the tape, the driver is heard apologizing to the detective.

"Stop interrupting me," the detective yells.

"I apologize," the driver responds. "I'm sorry."

"Every time I open my mouth, you have something to say," the detective shouts.

The detective later says, "People are allowed to park their cars on the side of the street without your interference and then your opinion about what's going on, especially when the person you do it to are the police. I don't know where you're coming from." He adds, "How long you been in this country?"

Finally, the detective tells the driver, "The only reason you're not in handcuffs going to jail is because I have things to do."

The passenger, named Sanjay Seth, posted the video on YouTube as well as Facebook and wrote: "Our Uber driver, Humayun, was abused by a police officer today in New York. The rage, door slamming, throwing items into the car, threatening arrest without cause was bad enough — but the officer's remarks at the end really took it to another level."

Seth, reached through Google Plus, gave USA TODAY permission to post the video but said he had no further comment on the incident. Seth's Facebook page identifies him as an employee of the Regional Plan Association, an urban planning research organization.

Please note that the video, posted here, includes graphic language and profanity.

Seth posted on Twitter that he testified Wednesday with New York's Civilian Complaint Review Board.

Uber, reached late Wednesday, responded with a statement.

"The behavior in the video is wrong and unacceptable and we appreciate the NYPD investigating the incident," the statement reads. "We are in touch with our driver-partner who was subjected to this terrible experience and will continue to provide any support he needs."

The NYPD press office, reached late Wednesday, said the detective had not been identified, but several news organizations - including CBS, the New York Daily News and Newsweek - have identified him as Patrick Cherry of the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

The detective has been placed on modified assignment and transferred, said NYPD Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, who called the incident "unacceptable."

Regarding the video, Bratton said, "No good cop should watch that without a wince. Because all good cops know that officer just made their jobs a little bit harder. In that kind of encounter, anger like that is unacceptable. In any encounter, discourtesy and obscene language like that is unacceptable."

The matter has been referred to Internal Affairs, he said.

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