Professor Gates, Harvard's Pride

[spudcon]

The asshat in question did do something illegal, called interfering with government adminitration and disorderly conduct. He wasn't arrested for B&E, or being a dick, he was breaking the law! How many times do you need to be told that?

[Shawnee123]

Understanding that basic fact makes it near impossible for all the boo-hooing poor pitiful me crap to go on. Facts render the unreasonably indignant mute. There's no attention in mute.

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by spudcon

The asshat in question did do something illegal, called interfering with government adminitration and disorderly conduct.

He was arrested for disorderly conduct, in his own home. It is all but impossible for that charge to stick. How would he "cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly [create] a risk thereof" in his own home?

He wasn't arrested for B&E, or being a dick, he was breaking the law! How many times do you need to be told that?

I'l wait for the first time that it's told to me when true.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

He was arrested for disorderly conduct, in his own home. It is all but impossible for that charge to stick. How would he "cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly [create] a risk thereof" in his own home?I'l wait for the first time that it's told to me when true.

No, he was arrested outside of his home, on his property, but outside the front door, which is why they could have made it stick. Well until the President of the United States thought it was a good idea to throw in his opinion on a local police matter.

[OnyxCougar]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

No, he was arrested outside of his home, on his property, but outside the front door, which is why they could have made it stick.

We agree that he was not in his house, but that he was on his own property.

I guess then, we need to determine, by local law, if private property is considered "public" or not.

His dickishness is not in question. He *was* a dick. But being a dick on your own property is *not* against the law!

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

No, he was arrested outside of his home, on his property, but outside the front door, which is why they could have made it stick.

And not just on his property, but on his porch.

Well until the President of the United States thought it was a good idea to throw in his opinion on a local police matter.

It was dismissed long before Obama said anything.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

And not just on his property, but on his porch.

Yea, in view of the public. Hence, disorderly conduct. They should have left him in jail for at least a night.

[OnyxCougar]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

Yea, in view of the public. Hence, disorderly conduct. They should have left him in jail for at least a night.

The law is written vaguely enough that it could apply, even to private property, which, IMHO, is unconstitutional. But it is a law, HM, wrong as it is.

Here is the Massachusettes statute:

Chapter 272: Section 53. Penalty for certain offenses

Section 53. Common night walkers, common street walkers, both male and female, common railers and brawlers, persons who with offensive and disorderly acts or language accost or annoy persons of the opposite sex, lewd, wanton and lascivious persons in speech or behavior, idle and disorderly persons, disturbers of the peace, keepers of noisy and disorderly houses, and persons guilty of indecent exposure may be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than six months, or by a fine of not more than two hundred dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment.