"The moral is--be nice to the police if you are beng arrested, and hope someone is there as a witness."
Sure, be nice to the police, I agree with that. But
"hope omeone is there as a witness?" That is absurd. The video tape provided by the police was edited. That is just straight up fraud.
I got arrested (as a youth) for drinking in public. I wasn't drinking in public. I was with friends who were. In any case, the prosecuting attorney tried to get me to plea out to some very minor charge. I refused. the policeman testified that I WAS drinking in public. I called my friend to the stand who said I was not drinking in public. Not guilty, case closed.
In this case the police lied and the DA was a snake. It's something to be expected. Mind your manners and if you have have a case that proves you are innocent, justice should prevail.