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Originally Posted by nfotiu
I think the racial profiling thing is a bit over played in this case. I have a hard time seeing where the cops did anything wrong before the point where they arrested him. At that point they knew he lived there. I can't see any good reason why they arrested him though.
Sounds like Gates was acting like a jerk though, and should have probably been more understanding that the cops should do some level of due diligence considering he did have to force his door open.
You have the right to be a jerk though, and doesn't seem right to get arrested for it. At least there was not tasing or beating involved.
There are huge race issues in this country, but this doesn't seem like a very good example of the problem.
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Due diligence is definitely important, I agree. However, he did provide ID, and based on the available evidence never seems to have left his own porch, in spite of a police report that claims that he followed the cops out to their car.
His crime seems to be that the police officer didn't like the way he was being talked to--and as you say, being a jerk is a right. I guess my question follows from fatso's: can you imagine an elderly, well-dressed white male being led from his own house in handcuffs after a break and enter call?
There are other questions. Why did the officer enter the house without Gates' permission? Why did he refuse to comply with Gates' request to give his name and badge number? If Gates was creating a public nuisance, why was he arrested on his own porch?