“When cops are resisted, bad things can and do happen sometimes.
How would cops know this man hadn’t just committed a murder down the street? Or, that he had a reason not to be arrested.”
I saw the video. Hands up, no aggression of any kind, deliberately avoids touching police, backing toward a wall. Excitedly (but politely) pleading to get out of arrest.
My question is... With the NY legal system overwhelmed and years behind in hearing serious cases, why was he being arrested anyway? What is the fine for selling 1 cigarette (a $0.65 item in NY)? Isn’t that citation material? Unless they were looking to harass him, shouldn’t they just have ticketed him for such a minor offense and been on their way?
No wonder they don’t trust cops!
Look, he was a cig seller and tax evader in NY.
They’d had enough, in fact he was a 4x cig seller and failed to pay up, obey and comply.
Add up all those cig dollars over a few years and someone’s pension in the NY government could be affected. That is not tolerated and they have muscle to force payment.
It’s simple, do as you’re told...Pay up, and comply.
Otherwise ya might get your legs broken....Or worse.
Interesting questions. It appears that Hizzoner DeBlasio has designated ‘lost revenue’ from bootleg tobacco sales as at the top of the list for criminal activities the NYPD is supposed to go after. Hizzoner has become particularly incensed at the losey salesmen he encounters almost everywhere in Gotham and the other boroughs. He takes it as a personal affront and has made PC Bratton just how unhappy he is about and how he considers such open sales evidence that the NYPD is derelict in enforcing the law and just maybe contemptuous of the Dear and Glorious Leader. So NYPD operations at precinct level are feeling the heat to show lots of pro-activity and get those arrest stats up for the crime of losey selling.