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I guess you would like being handcuffed and led away from your own home for no apparent reason. You realize that this is AFTER he showed the Cambridge Polizei identification that proved that he lived in the house he is being led out of. Nearly 70 years ago relatives of mine were similarly led away from their homes. I understand that they went quietly. You would have been pleased.

The above has to be one of the stupidest and most offensive replies I have ever seen posted.

You obviously have some bias against police officers which is clouding your judgement. You are also crazy if you think there is any connection between the actions of people in Cambridge, Massachusetts -- what may be the most liberal city in the USA -- and the actions of evil fascists(which is what I presume you are referring to "70 years ago").

I have had first hand experience with the Cambridge police department, and in fact have been present on two occasions where I called them to report what appeared to be a break-in in progress. In one instance they entered the premises with their firearms drawn. In the other I was walking with them into the building when I heard holster snaps being released behind me, and decided to move to the back of the group since I was unarmed.

In the first instance they emerged with a very nervous looking plumber, with cuffs on - who I knew, but didn't know had been given the key to work in the neighboring apartment. I vouched for him, and they released him, with profuse apologies.

By contrast, Prof. Gates got treated with kid gloves. I'm sure if he hadn't been yelling up a storm at the police officers that nothing at all would have happened. He wasn't handcuffed for "no apparent reason". You can see the reason in the photograph -- no need to even believe or not believe the statements of the various parties.

I have also seen police officers in Cambridge MA do things that they shouldn't. But your view on the situation with Prof. Gates' arrest is simply wrong. Based on my own first hand experience, if anything, Gates received preferential treatment in the initial encounter - perhaps because of his age, or his race, or the fact that he looks more like a Harvard professor than a burglar.

He got arrested because he hollered so much and created a disturbance. His statements that he was just trying to get the officer to identify himself and give his badge number is ridiculous -- you can get that information by just looking at the police in Cambridge. Also, as news reports noted, the Cambridge police called the Harvard University police to the scene. Perhaps you don't understand the significance of that.

Harvard is a very powerful institution in Cambridge. They have their own police department - not just a bunch of private security guys like many smaller colleges. In general, the Harvard police act as advocates for Harvard students and staff who have problems off campus. If the Cambridge police were trying to pick on some guy why would they call his employer's own police force to the scene? I can assure you that the Harvard University police on the scene would have no trouble getting the names, badge numbers, and whatever else they wanted from the Cambridge police whenever they wanted it.