The Chief needs to make up his mind with the facts.
The guy was either stopped because he was in the middle of the street or because he had cigars in his hand.
It’s one or the other.
If it was cigars and he thought he had the suspect then protocol is to call that in.
Did he call that in???
The reports indicate it’s both...
He hollered at the young men to get out of the road and onto the sidewalk.
He continues down the street and for some reason backs up... Either the description clicks, or he sees the cigars, or both.
I don’t see how it’s mutually exclusive.
Many many many suspects have been encountered for reasons other than their larger crime. A traffic stop, jaywalking, etc. often initiates an encounter, and in the course of that encounter the officer’s suspicion is raised.
It’s not fishy and it’s not unusual.