Professor Gates, Harvard's Pride

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

If it wasn't a membership card to the Mickey Mouse Club. It would have to be a valid ID with sufficient information to convince the cop he belonged there.

He wasn't arrested for not belonging there; he was arrested for being tumultuous in his own home.

I also know if I act like a dick, he will act like a bigger dick, because it's imperative for his safety to maintain control of the situation.

Arresting someone for attitude is losing control, not maintaining it.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

He wasn't arrested for not belonging there; he was arrested for being tumultuous in his own home. Arresting someone for attitude is losing control, not maintaining it.

He was arrested for "being tumultuous" during a police investigation of a reported crime, where he was the prime suspect. Whether he showed sufficient evidence of his right to be there is not clear. But even if he did that doesn't end the investigation. The cop should still try to find out if the person that reported the break in, saw someone else, before the professor got there. If there was someone hiding in the house, unknown to either of them. What if the cop left and the prof was murdered?
But anyway, verbal assault on a working cop is sufficient reason for arrest, obstructing justice, interfering with a criminal investigation, and clearly racism.

He wasn't arrested for his attitude, he was arrested for his actions, and the fact that he was arrested proves the cop was in control of the situation, if not his temper.

"Being tumultuous" in the real world is risking escalated retaliation, often massive.

I still maintain they were both wrong.

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

If there was someone hiding in the house, unknown to either of them. What if the cop left and the prof was murdered?

So the cop was putting Gates in protective custody to save him from a hypothetical burglar who he offered to lock in the house behind them?

He wasn't arrested for his attitude, he was arrested for his actions, and the fact that he was arrested proves the cop was in control of the situation, if not his temper.

He needs to be in control of both. Gates' actions were displaying attitude, so actions vs attitude is a bit of a quibble.

I still maintain they were both wrong.

Sure. Gates was wrong for being an ass, and Crowley was wrong for arresting him.

Cops are supposed to deal with people who are having bad days, and if they can only handle asses by tossing them in jail, they need a new line of work. "Don't poke the bear" excuses are only appropriate if the cop is considered to be a wild animal, unable or unwilling to deescalate.