How did they know him to be a known offender? I admit he had a rap sheet longer than my arm but had any of the officer on the scene ever arrested him before? Or was it just a case of "he ran so he must have done something"?
Illinois v. Wardlow
No, city cops never get to know the career criminals on their beat. I bet Freddy was so unlucky that the only times he ever made the mistake of selling drugs, and every time he encountered police, he was arrested.