Obama

[Gemini Cricket]

But it wasn't just that Gates was yelling at Crowley and nothing else happened. There are other factors involved. If I were the police officer, I would be wondering why someone who has apparently done nothing wrong is acting out so much. Also, after showing the ID the cop should have left IF there was nothing more to the situation. But Gates kept going, yelling etc which is still disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct. I can't imagine a cop leaving a situation where the person he has interacted with is still yelling and screaming. That is an unresolved situation, imho.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

yelling etc which is still disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct

You said this before, but per Massachusetts law the behavior we all seem to agree happened is not disorderly conduct in the criminal sense (and thus the charges being dropped). Being obnoxious to a police officer is not criminal disorderly conduct. Refusing to provide identification when asked is not against the law. Refusing to come out of your own home when asked is not against the law. Calling police officers names is not against the law.

They're all very, very annoying for a police officer to have to deal with. But that also is not against the law.

Sure, Gates overreacting and being a douche (if he was -- they both claim the other one was overreacting and only one of those is obviously true) may raise suspicions that something else must be going on. But that also is not against the law and is not itself justification for an arrest.

Even in the most obnoxious version of Gates behavior nothing remotely illegal has been offered up to justify an arrest beyond "well, that's what happens when you annoy a cop."