NYPD probing video of purported plainclothes cop's xenophobic rant to Uber driver

NEW YORK, March 31 (UPI) -- The New York Police Department is investigating an on-camera xenophobic rant directed at an Uber driver by a man who claimed to be a police officer.

Sanjay Seth, one of two passengers in the backseat of the car during the Monday incident, said on YouTube the man pulled up behind the Uber car "aggressively" after the driver attempted to "casually and non-offensively" signal to the man that he should use his blinker while trying to park at a green light.

"I don't know where you're coming from, where you think you're appropriate in doing that; that's not the way it works. How long have you been in this country?" the man asks the Uber driver in the video.

The man uses profanity and xenophobic language in berating the Uber driver and repeatedly mocks his accent and broken English during the exchange.

The man, who identifies himself as "police" during the exchange but does not give a name or badge number, says the only reason he isn't arresting the driver is because he's "not important enough."

Seth said the incident took place on Manhattan's west side, under the jurisdiction of police precinct 6.

"We are aware of the incident and video and it is under review with the department's Internal Affairs Bureau," the New York Police Department said in a statement to the New York Daily News.

Police said investigators are working to determine whether the man was a plainclothes NYPD officer or a member of a different law enforcement agency.

Uber spokesman Matt Wing said the company is standing by the driver.

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

Warning: Video contains strong language