"While I was led to believe that Gates was lawfully in the residence,

[warrior1]

I was quite surprised and confused with the behavior he exhibited toward me," Crowley said, according to the report.



Why the fuck did you arrest Prof. Gates then?

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/07/23/officer.gates.arrest/index.html

[Gman]

1. What did this jerk expect? A cup of coffee?

fuck him.

[MiniMe]

8. And a donut

he is an asshole

[bobburgster]

2. Wonder what group he's pandering to?

Could it be the birth certificate clan, maybe macho cops, or possibly racist white guys....

[Buzz Clik]

3. Confused? A veteran cop "confused" by a pissed off man being harrassed in his own home?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. He was expecting a different reaction

one of fear and deep respect. I'm terrified of cops, due to a childhood trauma when I was surrounded by them with guns drawn. I'm very nervous and edgy around them. I'm sure in my case they would have thought I was in the wrong--but as I'm an old white woman, I doubt if they would have arrested me.

[unblock]

7. now THERE's a story...!

i understand it must be a difficult memory, but,... what was going on that the led to you being surrounded by cops with guns drawn?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

14. domestic issue

my mother was convinced by the DA to press charges against my father for non-payment of child support. My father was wanted on other charges as well, but the non-support trumped them. Anyway, the best way to catch my father was to use me as bait. My father came to see me--and the cops surrounded the house, then burst in, guns drawn, and arrested me, then left. My paternal grandparents called, very angry, and we had to flee for our safety--the cops got what they wanted and weren't interested in protecting us. The outcome? My father made bail and was out of jail before night. He jumped bail and I never saw him again.

[unblock]

15. oy, what a messy situation!

so sorrry you had to get caught in the middle of that one.

[jberryhill]

9. He may have been expecting something along the lines of...

Thanks for responding to the burglary call and making sure nobody was robbing my house.

He was coming off of the fear that perhaps an armed burglar had broken in.

[hlthe2b]

10. re:"s I'm an old white woman, I doubt if they would have arrested me"

I wouldn't be so sure... Given the very elderly women that have been tased and even shot in warrantless raid mistakes, it appears to me that there is a simmering sense of unlimited authority in many police forces--unchecked and uncontrolled. I think there are wonderful officers across the nation, who still believe in "community policing." But, I also know that some have bought into Bush* "post-911 think" that they are authorized to do whatever it takes and the public be damned.

[seabeyond]

12. recently we have seen actions from police that contradict your assumption of arrest of an old white

woman. even you are not safe with our cops today

[lolly]

13. Not necessarily

Or more precisely, if you'd been at a Democratic fundraiser, they would have just pepper-sprayed you.

[WeDidIt]

5. Jim the Cop is a Jerk. n/t

[Bonhomme Richard]

6. Gates just got returned from China. Can you imagine the jet lag?

I just don't think he was in his normal state of mind, ie. exhausted, and said things that he would not normally say. I also believe that cops do not like their authority challenged by anyone and the situation escalated to stupidity. I don't think it was racist, per say, but an authority issue.

[Fire1]

16. That's only 1/4 of it. He came home to find his home ALREADY

BURGLARIZED, as in, ALREADY BROKEN INTO AND SHIT WAS IN SHAMBLES!!! Jet lag my ass! This man's home had been burglarized and this dip shit officer is questioning HIM!!!! Where was that prick when his house was being burglarized????

[anigbrowl]

18. What? Put down the crack pipe, or present a source.

Otherwise you are just making shit up.

[Fire1]

19. Read the fuckin articles crackhead and do your own research!

[anigbrowl]

20. I have. They don't support your claim.

The police commissioner, Robert Haas, has commented that that house has been the site of a break-in in the past.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/07/cambridge_polic_3.html

[ellie]

11. If poor Mr. Crowley

is so confused, he should find another line of work.

[BuyingThyme]

17. You're leaving out the part where he confused the onlookers.

That's a double confusion count. Probably a fellony.