Cambridge Police Officer To Obama: Butt Out of My Arrest

[SP01715]

Originally Posted by VRM

Don't be so sure Mike,
The cop arrested him for being a jerk (not exactly against the law), but even the scuttlebutt in gool old liberal MA is that Gates is a rascist jackass. Lots of radio play for the 911 call, and other things. A lot of people have said that they just would have wanted to hit him (Gates). This is big news up here, and is proving quite entertaining.

The media will do whatever sells.

Steve

Actually what gates did would be against the law in California (where I was a cop), and it seems it is also against the law in Mass. as well. If I am on a call, and somebody delays me in my duties (yelling at me, not will to I.D. himself etc...) they can be arrested for a misdemeanor. If this was an illegal arrest Gates would have filed a lawsuit.

[VRM]

Originally Posted by SP01715

Actually what gates did would be against the law in California (where I was a cop), and it seems it is also against the law in Mass. as well. If I am on a call, and somebody delays me in my duties (yelling at me, not will to I.D. himself etc...) they can be arrested for a misdemeanor. If this was an illegal arrest Gates would have filed a lawsuit.

Nothing Gates did was against the law in MA. Stupid, yes, but not against the law.
He is not obligated to give any id unless he is detained, and he showed his ID before he was detained. The cop, under MA law, is required to show his ID if asked.
Making a disorderly conduct charge stick in MA is tough enough, doing it on your own property is going to be damn near impossible.

Steve

[SP01715]

Originally Posted by VRM

Nothing Gates did was against the law in MA. Stupid, yes, but not against the law.
He is not obligated to give any id unless he is detained, and he showed his ID before he was detained. The cop, under MA law, is required to show his ID if asked.
Making a disorderly conduct charge stick in MA is tough enough, doing it on your own property is going to be damn near impossible.

Steve

I have not seen the report, but from what I have heard the officer was trying to I.D. Gates to verify if he lived there, but Gates refused. That, along with Gates yelling and uncooperative actions could get you arrested where I worked.

Like I said above, if this was not a lawful arrest a lawsuit would have been filed. I have heard Gates has backed away from that so I am guessing it was a lawful arrest. Prosecuting an arrest like that is a different story. The prosecutors I dealt with could care less for the most part about a crime like this, and they always drop charges.

As far as the officer showing identification, where I worked you only had to provide your last name and I.D.#. The officer told gates it would be on the arrest report after he attempted to give Gates the info but was ignored.