I think you're right. The reality is, when deal with cops, I do speak to them respectfully. But that's out of fear, not so much respect. I'm polite as a matter of course when dealing with any stranger. This kid wasn't very cooperative, but he was polite, and within his rights. The only thing unusual about this story is that the exchange was caught on tape.
Maybe if we all stopped "going along to get along" we'd have a lot less of this BS, but that's human nature. It took them a long time to get us to the point of just accepting it.
I see now I jumped into this thread way late. Oh, well...