Prof. Gates should publicly apologize to the responding officer and then, thank the neighbor lady who witnessed what she thought was a break-in and called Police.
Yes, I would be very greatful to have neighbors that call police if they see someone trying to jimmy my door.
A cop stopped me in the mall parking lot as I was trying to use a coat hanger to get in my car. Locked keys inside. I showed him my license. That was the end of it. He got his slimjim out of his car and helped me. Then told me to have a nice day.
Of course he was cautious at first. He saw a guy trying to break in a car. I proved I owned the car and that was that. Had I been disruptive... Had I screamed at him.... Things could have been quite different.