Black Harvard Professor arrested after breaking into his own home?

Crowley reported that Gates said "[Crowley] had no idea who he was messing with and that he had not heard the last of it"

The last portion of the sentence is a clear threat of a future action against Crowley. Crowley mentions that Gates said this to him multiple times, on top of already accusing Crowley of being a racist.

 

The Commisioner came out and endorsed Crowley's actions. The black officer that was at the scene said that he supported Crowley's actions 100% and that he would've arrested Gates. According to you, all three have exhibited bad judgment.

 

I just read the report: Based on this, he was acting disorderly in public. He was outside of his residence, and there were people gathered outside - non-cops. So he was guilty of disorderly conduct.

He got his ass arrested for that. This has nothing to do with race. Everything to do with Gates acting like he did.

 

Sweet Lou 4 2, thanks for posting that, it seems Gates was going through a power trip of his own, I'm with the cop on this one.

 

yeah but its not abusive, not threatening, and not a reason to be arrested unless he actually broke the law..

the gates was areested and charged for public disorderly conduct / yelling outside of his house. he wouldn't have been arrested if he didn't follow the cop outside..

 

A cop's duty is to protect the public. Crowley was trying to protect his authority over Gates in the conversation. Gates posed no physical threat to him or anyone else. There was no criminal activity. It appears to me that the situation could have been resolved without an arrest being made. The officer just needed to put his ego aside and resolve the situation without force (handcuffing a citizen is a show of force, I don't care how sweet his words were while he did it).

But then, I'm of the opinion that a citizen should not be arrested for telling a cop to F off. Maybe that's just me.

 

While this sounds nice in theory, does it really work in real life? If the police cannot do anything unless someone poses a physical threat to him, then they'd be abused constantly due to their line of work.

I dislike the police and their egos as much as anyone, but verbally abusing a police officer has to be off limits if you want ANYONE to actually take this job. Their work is difficult as it is without citizens flipping them off everywhere they go.

 

I think its a slippery slope when officers can arrest someone for talking back at them. I'd prefer they not be given that power, but realistically I get they'll have that authority. I think its their duty to use that power with great care.

 

I just read somewhere that officer crowley was the same cop that tried to resuscitation Reggie Lewis, the former Celtics draft pick, as he was dying. I did not know that.

 

Of course not. That would make the officer look like less of a racist.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090726/ap_on_re_us/us_harvard_scholar_disorderly
Gates says it's time to 'move on' from his arrest

First, let me say that I am a bit understanding of his "whitey is out to get me" mentality w/out knowing why the officer was there in the first place, but this guys STILL does not concede that this was his fault and basically insisting the officer was being racist, or at the very least, profiling. The color of his skin had NOTHING to do with why the officer was at his house and his arrest had nothing to do with his skin either.

Race relations have greatly improved over the last 50 years due to people putting aside their differences and accepting that having prejudices is not acceptable. Race relations will not continue to improve if, as a society, we continue to let people walk around falsely playing the victim card.

 

It has been mentioned several times in the thread.

 

I haven't read the whole thread, too much crap in it

 

Gates was looking for trouble

Obama was just playing community agitator. He needs to start playing president.

 

No, just less homicidal, and more competent at his job. Would a racist lifeguard let a black guy drown?

 

Ooh, I love new racial euphemisms. This is almost as good as "outside intelopers."

 

That'll teach Gates to look for trouble in his own living room. That dirty rat!

 

So you're saying this wasn't the time and place to use that authority? The guy was yelling racism in front of the yard causing a scene with the neighbors. Seems to me there was a pretty big scene. And letting it go would likely undermine the authority of the police there.

I think if everything took place inside the house, none of this would've happened. But the fact that the professor came out and continued to be belligerent is more or less asking to be arrested.

 

Judging by the police report it sounds like the officer in question didn't like being disrespected in front of his fellow officers and civilians. The arrest was about his manhood and not the law. Otherwise, the charges would not have been dropped almost instantly.

Gates screwed up but you shouldn't be arrested for being a jerk especially when you're being a jerk for being accused of breaking into your own home.

 

The fact that you even think like this is disturbing.

 

yep people have not broken any law and complain about possible racism in front of their own porch should always be arrested or else it undermines the authority of the cops

what if the guy was complaining about abuse of power or police brutality does this apply as well?