First, I am a medically retired cop courtesy of of a punk with a gun. (Cost me one of my two favorite lungs.)
Second, the Constitution does not contain any clauses to the effect of "all this goes on hold if the cop feels like it." If the cop cannot remain within the boundaries of the Constitution, then he needs to find something else to do for a living.
Third, the leading cause of death for cops is cardiovascular disease, not punks shooting at them.
The cops were pretty clearly in the wrong, especially when they started threatening the man with jail time.
BenMugged: I spent 20 years in the service protecting your right to free speech. I withdraw my gift.
BeHoldaPaleHorse => HERO.
BenMugged => ZERO.
With Liberty and Freedom FOR ALL, not just your cronies!!!
This behavior, which I have encountered from LEOs (along with being lied to my face) on more than one occassion is the reason why the vast majority of other-wise staunch conservatives cannot trust the police, any police in this nation. It's an absurd state of affairs, highlighted by the inability of a number of posters to believe that their cop family member can ever be guilty of anything like this.
I'll wager that nearly EVERY poster here that does not have a cop for a family member knows that "you must walk on eggshells around L.E. for fear that they may arrest/threaten or hassle you for nothing more than a polite remark that that the cop doesn't undersand. And heaven forbid you attempt to make a sarcastic remark to an officer."
Now I ask the other who have defended these police officers in their entirety, do you teach your children this? Do you know this to be how us serfs know we have to behave or else? I'm willing to wager your extra protection of being on the inside makes you mostly immune to this treatment. Nor will you accept my argument for why there is such a huge level of mistrust of L.E.
Not saying you will sir.