How do you know they had no probable cause? The article said the guy was known to sell illegal cigarettes. Whether he had broken the law or not is up to others (judges, juries, etc.) to decide. But if a cop says “You are under arrest,” you have no right to resist. To do so is worse than stupid, it is criminal. The time to contest the legitimacy of the arrest is NOT out in the street.
The government created the problem in the first place. They don't give a crap about any body's health, they just want to make money off it. They didn't get their piece. Even if he had a cigarette stand on the side walk, you still can't kill the guy. No common sense was exercised here at all. How far is a 400 pound guy going to get? He had a pending court date. Why escalate it? Because some little tiny men wanted to feel big and bad by taking down the big man.
I knew a guy, who was huge like that. Big teddy bear, his crime? Took a leak on a dumpster behind a bar. Two hot shots decided that this was the crime of the century as well. The two morons would not even have seen it if they had not been in the Burger King drive through.
He did not resist, but they still had 4 units respond and a paddy wagon. He went with them. I called a lawyer and he was released immediately.
It depends. There is a right to resist unlawful arrest.
Your Right of Defense Against Unlawful Arrest
Not saying it is smart to resist, but doing so isn't per se criminal, as you intimate.