Posted on 07/24/2009 12:55:19 PM PDT by James H. Shott
There is plenty to criticize in the strange case of the arrest of Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates at his home by Cambridge, Mass. police.
When police responded to a call that two men were apparently breaking into a residence, they found Mr. Gates had broken into his own home because he didn’t have his keys. That should have been enough to satisfy the police that Mr. Gates was not a burglar and the police then would have gone about their business. But, alas, things often turn out to not be as simple as they ought to be.
Read the rest at Annuit Coeptis
Um, perhaps you have a link to the police report? I haven’t been able to find one, or any consistent story.
If you can help, please do. Otherwise, buzz off.
re: But, alas, things often turn out to not be as simple as they ought to be.
Or even as you portray them! Officer Crowley was attacked at the first moment of contact with an unknown male in a house about which a burglary in progress call had been made to 911. He did exactly what he was supposed to do, followed protocol, and his own extensive experience, to the letter. It was not him, or his actions, that led to the sudden escalation of the situation. He is on a front porch responding to a legitimate assignment after being told not one but TWO black men were attempting to force their way into the house. He sees one black man inside but has no idea where the other one is. He simply asks the man inside to identify himself, not an unreasonable request in view of the eye witness 911 call and evidence the front door had been forced. When the man inside became belligerent and directly refused to comply with his request he asked him to come out of the house. He has no idea if there is another man in the house and if so where he is and what he’s doing. In addition, the man inside could have a weapon hidden in a couch or drawer or closet, etc. The officer is completely in the dark at this point and his life is literally on the line until he can satisfy himself otherwise. Had he drawn his weapon at this point and shot the man through the closed door or a window then he could certainly be said to have escalated the situation. But he didn’t. It was the man inside who took the situation to the next level, and the next and the next. And so on until the officer, and others also present, decided it was necessary to arrest the man.
What passes for journalism is these days is nothing short of pathetic.
All officer Crowley knew at the moment he first encountered Gates was that a caller had reported two men trying to force their way into the house, and that the front door he was standing right next to showed evidence of attempted forced entry. The situation has to be evaluated in terms of what each person knew at the time, not later when more is known.
I disagree. I think it depends on the cop. This one should have just left once he was assured Gates wasn’t a burglar. Was Gates mouthing off like an idiot? Of course, and probably a white person would have been arrested too. But the issue is, is such conduct “disorderly conduct.” Gates was on his porch, he was no danger to anybody, and the cops knew it. They were just teaching him a lesson not to spout off to cops.
parsy, who notes such “lessons” constitute false arrest
Thanks to Jen for the Police Report link.
After reading the police report, I maintain the assertion that the arrest was not called for.
Remember that even though the police did not know Gates’ identity, he was in his own home, and therefore not a criminal. He told the police who he was, and showed an ID.
Gates acted like a punk and an idiot, but did nothing warranting arrest, as everything he did was on his own property. It is not illegal to be rude, crude, and even profane toward any individual when you are on your own property, even to police officers. If acting like an idiot was all that is required to be arrested, we’d need more jails.
And, if the arrest was warranted, the charge would not have been dropped.
WRONG! Gates is an arrogant, self-righteous, phony professor (like African studies is a true exercise in intellectual prowess) who figures he is just WAY too important to be on the same globe with a lowly plebeian cop, never mind be questioned by him. Therefore is was his birthright to harass and harangue the cop, refer to his mother and use any other language those genius level profs of black studies are famous for flinging in the face of their “attackers.” He should have been arrested. And Obama made the mistake of letting his racist mask slip on national TV! Perhaps we should thank this clown professor. A great many people learned more about our acting president through Gates’s arrogant outburst than they ever found out in the MSM!
Read the policeman's own report. He doesn't say anything about observing evidence of forced entry.
ML/NJ
I note that you’re new here. I also see that you have no clue.
I want to be polite, so I will try to be easy on you and simply say, “You suck”.
Now, have a nice day and for goodness sake, do not give up your day job.
And, you have just proven you do not understand the concept of diffusing a situation.
Dropping the charge, a misdemeanor warranting not much more than a slap on the wrist ticket, makes perfect sense under the circumstances.
However, while hindsight is always 20/20, maybe not dropping the charges would have been more prudent in order to get it through some thick skulls that not all charges against a person of color by a white police officer is immediate grounds for charges of racism.
Gates was wrong, Obama was wrong, you are wrong, and Crowley was correct.
MAYBE?
I would note that Gates did have a key.
And how do you know that?
FWIW Mr. Apologetica, this whole stupid incident could have been averted had Mr. Stupid immediately produced the requested ID and not copped the typical black "your a racist" attitude.
I suspect that the underlying reason that Mr. Stupid Elitist Harvard Liberal Prick was really pissed off was because the officers did not recognize him as being the frequent guest of Oprah or the personal friend of "The One" and failed to bow in reverence to his own vision of self importance. To them he was just another yet unidentified thug trying to break into a home as reported by a concerned neighbor..........
And in case you ask, YES, I have been in an identical situation as the Holy Esteemed Professor! Only it wasn't my house and the outcome was totally the opposite of the Holy one's because I greeted the arriving officers with respect, answered all their questions with respect and produced the requested ID on their demand...........
I sincerely hope not.
Let me ask you Jimbo, at what point in the entire confrontation did Mr. Stupid Elitist Harvard Professor Prick finally produce the requested ID and how much uncalled for verbal abuse was he throwing at the officer up until that time?
Was he beaten? Was he harmed? Was he verbally abused in return? So many unanswered questions by you and the media........
Instead of arresting the Stupid Elitist Harvard Professor Prick, the officer should have been allowed to offer a hard slap upside da head of the Stupid Elitist Harvard Professor Prick............But that's just me.
Recognizing I have no tolerance for thugs, ignorant fools nor race baiters, I decided that law enforcement would not suit my calm demeanor.........
Someone made a factually incorrect statement, and I pointed it out. Isn't that what FR is all about? Or do you think we need to have our own craftily created version of truth here?
ML/NJ
Who was that and what was the statement? I merely questioned the legitimacy of your own statement that MAYBE the Stupid Elitist Harvard Professor Prick found a key around back...........
You seem to have the problem my friend.
Tell you what, answer my initial question and I will be your friend........
Gates is to blame for behaving in a disorderly manner and disturbing the peace.
Obama is to blame for making his own racist leap of logic and for opening his mouth with prejudice but without facts.
Crowley did that for which he is paid...keeping the peace.
If you don't get it maybe you are posting to the wrong crowd.
I'm not the one with a problem, or an alternate reality.
ML/NJ
Yet you write and post a screed that presumes to judge everyone's actions (btw...a tiny bit of research would lead you right to it).
"If you can help, please do. Otherwise, buzz off"
Arrogant little prick, aren't you.
Silly me. I was assuming you would have a basic grasp of how to operate Google.
1) Go to www.google.com
2) Type in: “police report” Gates
I stand corrected. Does that change what the officer did as regards to following protocol?
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