Quote:
Originally Posted by gwidomains
How can someone be disorderly in their own house? It's an amazing concept when you think about it. It seems the police officers wanted to arrest Gates for not being thankful they came out to look at the house. While I think Gates should have been glad for the service -- there is simply no reason you should be FORCED to be grateful for some government intrusion in an area where he was not breaking the law.
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Gates was non-compliant with the officer from the minute the officer showed up and started race-baiting from the minute the police officer asked him to step onto the porch.
Imagine being an officer approaching a potential scene of a crime and encountering someone who not only refused to comply, but issued a racial accusation in response.
Remember at that point the officer did not know anything about Gates or who he was.
Then the officer asks for ID and again the person refuses. That is, until the matter is pressed and the person finally shows ID.
The officer then proceeds to ask another question, but his request is denied yet again.
A threat is then issued to the police officer and his badge number and name is requested. the officer replies - twice, but the person is so heated that the officer decides to leave.
Seeing a crowd gathered and probably feeling that he couldn't be "touched" at this point the person continues to berate the officer and steps out on the porch. At this point, seeing a potential scene, the disorderly individual is taken into custody.
Simple.
But Gates knows that the perceptions are stacked in his favor and everyone will cite every example they can, from slavery to Rodney King to Jena to back him. He's no dummy. Just a professor with a chip on his shoulder who lost control in this particular incident.