President Al Sharpton

[florige]

I would tend to believe that myself. It seems that the friend of Obama are instigators of racial actions anyway. I just wouldn't bet anything of value on it.

I'm just shocked that Obama played the race card too. If he found it necessary to critisize the officer would had been one thing. But there was no need for him to bring up the race card thing period. Especially without knowing what really happened. Obama should apologize to that officer if it comes out that his boy was a and got himself arrested.

[Winehole23]

Obama should apologize to that officer if it comes out that his boy was a and got himself arrested.

Is it really an arrestable offense to be a ? I mean really. It's not immoral. it probably isn't even unethical to be a , unless it is accompanied by dangerous or disorderly behavior.

Rly?

They can arrest you just for being a , in your own house, when no other crime is happening? That's what they're trained to do?

Numerous posters seem to be suggesting that was the right thing for the Cambridge PD to do. Arrest a man in his own house, for being a when he's done nothing wrong. Unless it is now a crime to break into your own house.


Wow.


Rly?

[Wild Cobra]

Numerous posters seem to be suggesting that was the right thing for the Cambridge PD to do. Arrest a man in his own house, for being a when he's done nothing wrong. Unless it is now a crime to break into your own house.

Problem is, how do you balance probable causer with the 4th amendment. If the officer asked him for ID and he decided to be an ass instead of showing he lived there... What if the officer then left, and it really was a break in?

This is not an easy (excuse the pun) black and white issue.

Like I said. Without being there, I will not take a solid side... unless one side says something showing they were in the wrong.

[florige]

Is it really an arrestable offense to be a ? I mean really. It's not immoral. it probably isn't even unethical to be a , unless it is accompanied by dangerous or disorderly behavior.

Rly?

They can arrest you just for being a , in your own house, when no other crime is happening? That's what they're trained to do?

Numerous posters seem to be suggesting that was the right thing for the Cambridge PD to do. Arrest a man in his own house, for being a when he's done nothing wrong. Unless it is now a crime to break into your own house.


Wow.


Rly?

Say if I came to your house and I don't know if it is your house or not, and I see you trying to break into it. You tell me that it is your house and to basically off. It is my duty as an officer to demand to see ID whether or not you want to or not just for verification. Now if you showed me ID and it showed that you lived there and I still tried to take you in, then that is a different story. My whole thing was that the facts are still unclear as to what actually happened. Unless Obama knew the FACTS yesterday from several witnesess or something. You have to realize man what officers go thru and the bs that we have to contend with daily.

[Winehole23]

Say if I came to your house and I don't know if it is your house or not, and I see you trying to break into it. You tell me that it is your house and to basically off. It is my duty as an officer to demand to see ID whether or not you want to or not just for verification. Now if you showed me ID and it showed that you lived there and I still tried to take you in, then that is a different story.

This is the case, I think.

At some point, Dr. Gates established his right to be there, though it appears he did not do so promptly. It also appears he was a about it. I think that is allowed; you apparently, do not.

My whole thing was that the facts are still unclear as to what actually happened. Unless Obama knew the FACTS yesterday from several witnesess or something. You have to realize man what officers go thru and the bs that we have to contend with daily

.Obama's remarks were impolitic and ill-considered. I doubt he did his homework, and I don't carry his brief. He stood up for his buddy, without really thinking it through. US officials shouldn't do that.

[LnGrrrR]

I think WH23 has the genreal facts of the case right. Eventually, he established his ID, and the guy radioed (sp?) it in, but then he was arrested anyways. Seems off to me.

Also, I don't think the whole "have to show ID" thing to a cop is completely settled by law on whether it's Cons utional to demand such. Last I checked, the only precedent is that a person, when pulled over by a cop, must give at least his name. Any board lawyers want to clarify?

[Wild Cobra]

He stood up for his buddy, without really thinking it through. US officials shouldn't do that.

Shows his lack of leadership rather well if you ask me. (I know... You didn't...)

[Wild Cobra]

Also, I don't think the whole "have to show ID" thing to a cop is completely settled by law on whether it's Cons utional to demand such. Last I checked, the only precedent is that a person, when pulled over by a cop, must give at least his name. Any board lawyers want to clarify?

Consider this.

A police officer catches a burger breaking into your house. The burglar says "but it's my house." So the police officer walks away saying "try not to lock your keys in the house again." You come home with all your valuables taken. Would you fault the cop?

[Winehole23]

Shows his lack of leadership rather well if you ask me. (I know... You didn't...)

You're welcome to think that, Wild Flaco. It doesn't bother me so much.

[Winehole23]

All charges against Gates were eventually withdrawn, eh?

[Winehole23]

A police officer catches a burger breaking into your house. The burglar says "but it's my house." So the police officer walks away saying "try not to lock your keys in the house again." You come home with all your valuables taken. Would you fault the cop?

Of course there is some highly contrived, completely counterfactual yet somehow plausible scenario, that justifies your preformed conclusion to a tee.

Of course there would be.

[Pistons < Spurs]

[Winehole23]

They were protecting Dr. Gates from his own ill-advised actions, no doubt.

[ChumpDumper]

Great, now every thief who is caught in a home is going to say he teaches at Harvard.

[Winehole23]

Ostensibly, Cambridge PD was protecting Dr.Gates from the serious consequences of being a . But it turns out the charges against the Harvard Don weren't so serious after all. Cambridge set them aside.

I don't guess it has been determined that Gates's detainment was either erroneous or irregular, if we grant you may be arrested in your own home for mere ish banter, when no other crime is taking place.

[Winehole23]

Basically if LE ever feels insulted, arrest is discretionary. Even though danger and disorder be nowhere close.

[Jacob1983]

The guy was an idiot. You should always treat cops with respect and don't talk to them. That's common sense. Cops have guns and hand cuffs. They will arrest your ass for anything especially if you're a to them and piss them off.

[Winehole23]

The guy was an idiot. You should always treat cops with respect and don't talk to them. That's common sense. Cops have guns and hand cuffs. They will arrest your ass for anything especially if you're a to them and piss them off.

You can still assert yourself civilly. You don't have to be nasty. You just ask straightforward questions. And you don't let em lean into your car.

Why did you pull me over, officer (Texas DPS are troopers)?

I don't consent to any searches.

Are you detaining me, officer/trooper or am I free to go?

[Winehole23]

On topic:

Are you detaining me in my own house, Sir, or am I free to go now?

And also,

please leave my property now, Sir.

[LnGrrrR]

Consider this.

A police officer catches a burger breaking into your house. The burglar says "but it's my house." So the police officer walks away saying "try not to lock your keys in the house again." You come home with all your valuables taken. Would you fault the cop?

Uhm... how would I find out that the cop was even there? Do I have a videocamera on my house, or am I psychic?

[LnGrrrR]

Being a , even to law enforcement, is not a crime.

Due to the ishness of many police officers, the majority of society thinks it is.

[doobs]

Read the police report.

It's pretty clear.

[resistanze]

Why were the charges dropped?

[Spurminator]

1. Obama shouldn't have commented on this matter.

2. Once ID was established, that should have been the end of it.

3. This story is going to be way overblown and where people will side is going to be as predictable as the end of a Sandra Bullock romantic comedy.

[sam1617]

I think WH23 has the genreal facts of the case right. Eventually, he established his ID, and the guy radioed (sp?) it in, but then he was arrested anyways. Seems off to me.

Also, I don't think the whole "have to show ID" thing to a cop is completely settled by law on whether it's Cons utional to demand such. Last I checked, the only precedent is that a person, when pulled over by a cop, must give at least his name. Any board lawyers want to clarify?

He wasn't arrested for being obnoxious in his house. If you actually read the police report, you would see that he was arrested for disturbing the peace after he went outside, continuing to scream at the officer.

And if he doesn't show his ID, how exactly are they supposed to know that it is really him in the house? Its not like the police know anything beyond that the guy gave the appropriate name, if he was a thief, he could have found that information anywhere from the mailbox, to paperwork inside. I would think the guy would have been perfectly capable of settling this quickly and calmly, if he had just provided the ID, explained the situation, and waited patiently.