The other side of the story… (written by his lawyer)
Professor Gates was driven to his home by a driver for a local car company. Professor Gates attempted to enter his front door, but the door was damaged. Professor Gates then entered his rear door with his key, turned off his alarm, and again attempted to open the front door. With the help of his driver they were able to force the front door open, and then the driver carried Professor Gates’ luggage into his home.
Professor Gates immediately called the Harvard Real Estate office to report the damage to his door and requested that it be repaired immediately. As he was talking to the Harvard Real Estate office on his portable phone in his house, he observed a uniformed officer on his front porch. When Professor Gates opened the door, the officer immediately asked him to step outside. Professor Gates remained inside his home and asked the officer why he was there. The officer indicated that he was responding to a 911 call about a breaking and entering in progress at this address. Professor Gates informed the officer that he lived there and was a faculty member at Harvard University. The officer then asked Professor Gates whether he could prove that he lived there and taught at Harvard. Professor Gates said that he could, and turned to walk into his kitchen, where he had left his wallet. The officer followed him. Professor Gates handed both his Harvard University identification and his valid Massachusetts driver’s license to the officer. Both include Professor Gates’ photograph, and the license includes his address.
Professor Gates then asked the police officer if he would give him his name and his badge number. He made this request several times. The officer did not produce any identification nor did he respond to Professor Gates’ request for this information. After an additional request by Professor Gates for the officer’s name and badge number, the officer then turned and left the kitchen of Professor Gates’ home without ever acknowledging who he was or if there were charges against Professor Gates. As Professor Gates followed the officer to his own front door, he was astonished to see several police officers gathered on his front porch. Professor Gates asked the officer’s colleagues for his name and badge number. As Professor Gates stepped onto his front porch, the officer who had been inside and who had examined his identification, said to him, ‘Thank you for accommodating my earlier request,’ and then placed Professor Gates under arrest. He was handcuffed on his own front porch.
I doubt if that is exactly the way it down. Meaning I think Professor Gates probably did get loud (Hell I would have) but when I read the arrest report this is pretty much how I saw it going. If Professor Gates was indeed on the phone there should be at the least an ear witness to some or all of the situation to corroborate this story. I certainly hope that frikkin officer loses his badge. He is an idiot.
I would agree, ‘cept for 2 words…. *strong Union*. The Cop might get a reprimand and maybe 2 weeks’ “vacation” to cool his head and maybe take a sensitivity course, but he won’t lose his job, as maybe he should
Hope the Boston PD is ready to get their asses handed to them in a lawsuit.
I’m sure this could have happened to any tenured Harvard professor.
Seriously, what an outrage.
For the record, it was the Cambridge PD, not the Boston PD.
I’m not black, but whenever I have to break into my own house, the cops come and make sure I actually live there(unless I’m really fast and no one notices that there’s a guy trying to force his way into a home).
Seems to me like the police acted entirely appropriately. Gates did not. I’m sure Gates won’t mind if I break into his house tomorrow and say it’s mine and the police take no action.
Things like this have happened to me. It’s not a racial thing. If I may be permitted a stereotype: Cops are a*sholes. They are people who spend their young lives thinking, “How can I get paid for being an as*hole? I know! I’ll be a cop! I’ll eat doughnuts, bust balls, and turn on the siren to go through red lights! Woo hoo!”
End of stereotype moment.
This was an unfortunate incident, and I hope, an anomaly.
*If* gates showed two forms of ID (MA driver’s license and Harvard ID) it should have ended right there. The cop was in his house, and that’s private property. Guy was there without a warrant.
Funny how Bill of Rights Republicans tend to be so quick to excuse excessive force and intrusion on personal property. If Gates had been packing a gun and shot the cop would that have been OK with your wing-nuts?
How could it be “appropriate” for the police to arrest Gates after he showed them a photo ID with his address on it? Is it now a criminal offense to ask for a police officer’s badge number? Tell him to calm down if he was being too aggressive, perhaps, but arrest him?
Whether this was racism or generalized bullying, there should be disciplinary action (or, failing that, a lawsuit) to deter future occurrences of it.
Wow. I agree with everything Frank said. I can’t believe it.
EXCEPT for one qualifier, and it’s important. Things like this have happened to me, too — in the early 70s, when I had long hair, dirty bell-botton jeans, and a fuck-you attitude. They certainly have not happened to me, and I’ll bet not to Frank either, since I took on a more middle-class (and middle-aged) look and lifestyle.
This is what cops are supposed to do. If they respond to a 911 call they better make sure the guys are who they say they are. The cop was fine doing that. It sounds like Mr Gates’ arrogance got him into trouble. As stated above, cops are a**holes. Best to not inflame a situation as it looks Mr Gates did. More times than not, it’ll create more headaches than it’s worth.
Verdict: both parties share some responsibility for this ridiculous and unnecessary incident.
Two sides to every story –
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/gates_incident_report_redacted.pdf
Sorry, Bruce …
I was arrested last year and the year before by cops who had apparently been raised on Hill Street Blues [remember that one ?]
But, I must confess, except for the bell bottoms, I haven’t changed since the 70’s . Slightly shorter – and, of course, whiter – hair. Still have a fuck-you attitude.
Heh.
Right up to the point when the cop found out he was talking to the rightful occupant of the house. The proper action at that point- REGARDLESS of anything Gates said or did not say- was to back off, apologize and GET THE FUCK OUT OF THERE. At that point there was no longer probable cause to believe a crime was committed and the cop therefore had no legal right to be there anymore.
Seriously, even an idiot should be able to understand this.
P.S. And anybody who doesn’t realize that a certain kind of cop will go apeshit when you ask for his name and badge # knows jack shit about cops. This is ALL about cop ego.
Here’s a little refresher course for people who are, or pretend to be, naive about cops.
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/51196597.html?
I worked in the Cornell English Dept. mail room one summer, back when “Skip” Gates was a prof there. Nice guy, very dignified, no way in heck you’d ever mistake him for a perp. Once he gives him the two forms of ID, even if he’s yelling at the cop, you don’t get a free arrest for disorderly conduct. Of course, the SC has ruled previously that police can arrest someone for virtually anything. But I expect a profuse apology will be forthcoming, since without the university crowd, Cambridge wouldn’t have much going for it. They can’t afford to piss off Harvard.
Actually, they LIKE pissing off Harvard- town-gown relations there have always been terrible (and I hasten to add that the fault is by no means primarily on Cambridge’s side.) This case will be different, though, because it has the obvious potential to cost the city a crapload of money.
Gates whole reason of existence is to whine about racism. He will lie through his teeth to make his point. I was in his class. He is a total racist himself. He is a one sided black man, who is a disgrace. Professor indeed !! Probably scammed his way through college.
I am sure Mr. Gates yelled at the officer, and he had every right to! Once the officer was satisfied that Gates did indeed live there, he should have apologized and left the premises. This arrest will live in infamy forever.
I don’t think many of us here are in a position to judge the behavior of a 60 year old black man when confronted (once again) by the police asking him what business he has being in his own home.
I’ve met Professor Gates, he is a soft-spoken, well-dressed, middle-aged man – hardly the stereotypical “angry black man.” There is no way he could be mistaken for a burglar. Once he identified himself the cop should have apologized and left. Period.
For what its worth, I don’t think the cop is racist. But he did over-react, and the arrest was probably more about his own embarrassment than Professor Gates’ behavior. Under Massachusetts law, yelling at a cop – even outside in full view of the pubic – is not sufficient to be charged with Disturbing the Peace.
A couple of years ago a sheriff’s deputy told me he was going to frisk me after I was cited for a seat belt violation. I told him he wasn’t (Terry v. Ohio SCOTUS 1968) and I took off my shirt, then pulled my pants down to my knees. The deputy’s object had been to humiliate me, but I turned the tables, and when my two passengers and the other cop started laughing at him, he just about cried.
Then I took the seat belt citation to court, where I called the CHP officer who had pulled me over a liar, because he was, and was gratified when the judge agreed. “Officer XXXX, I do not find your testimony credible.”
My criminal attorney friends couldn’t believe a naif like me could beat a cop in a court as rigged against me as a traffic court.
“Prosecutors have dropped a disorderly conduct charge against prominent black Harvard University scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr., who was arrested at his home after a reported break-in.
.
“The city of Cambridge issued a statement Tuesday saying the arrest “was regrettable and unfortunate.” The statement said the police and Gates agreed dropping the charge was a just resolution.”
- Boston Herald Online
He is in his own home. he shows id that proves it. he didnt hit the cop or threaten him physically.
the cop agrees that is what happened.
what else is there to know?
so what if he yelled at the officer? He is a 58-year-old guy in his own home, trying to deal with a broken door.
why was he arrested? There was a sergeant there, so perhaps that idiot can get busted to patrolman. nice supervision.
I would prolly react the same way if I were in my own home and cops came, and ignored my ID information.
All charges have now been dropped against Gates, who says he’s satisfied with the apology he has received. Normally, they would have gotten away with this bullshit arrest and it’s nice to see them get called on it for once.
I made the mistake of asking for a cops name & badge number after he pulled a gun on a friend who was peacefully complying. We were at a party in a nice upscale neighborhood. Our crime: shooting off fireworks. Until the guns came out everybody had been EXTREMELY POLITE & HELPFUL. The gun came out because my friend went inside to get his wallet as per the request (and with the permission) of the gun-cop’s partner.
I was thrown face-first into a brick wall and the entire sleeve of my shirt was ripped off. Next thing I knew I was handcuffed and on my way to jail for “resisting detention of an officer.” Apparently that’s the charge for demanding names & badge numbers.
I think the cop did everything right, up until he refused his badge number and arrested Gates. However, I have not read the officer’s side of the story and therefore don’t know why Gates was arrested.
But for the most part I think the cop handled himself well. If you were a cop and got a report of a breaking & entering, and saw a broken door, wouldn’t you be extremely circumspect around anyone who was in the house? I’m surprised the cop followed Gates into the kitchen. That’s an easy way to get ambushed.
The cop did his due diligence and that would have been it. I don’t understand why Gates asked for the badge number.
One further point to consider: If a criminal broke into the house with the family home and saw the police arrive, the criminal could easily retreat to a back bedroom with a hostage (child) and instruct the parent to get rid of the police.
These are scenarios that police are trained to look for and handle. Gates should consider that.
You know, I don’t believe that anyone who calls himself “Obamalama” and says “his whole reason OF existence” was ever in a Harvard class on any subject.
In other words, dude, I think you’re lying.
Just think, If Texas fruitcake Joe Horn ever moves next to you. And, if you ever forget your house key, don’t attempt to open a window;to enter your home. Joe Horn will shoot you in your back!
It is an unwritten rule (among police officers) that talking back to a cop, which includes asking the cop questions such as his/her name and badge number, is an arrestable and jailable offense. The cop admitted in the complaint that he knew Professor Gates was a resident of the house, but that he arrested him for “disorderly conduct.” (see NY Times) This is typical, petty tyrant, police officer BS (and you commenters above know it). The Cambridge PD needs to train and discipline its officers to stop this sort of thing. Too bad they don’t seem to.
By the way, there was of course no problem with the officer investigating in the first place — that’s a red herring. But he and his fellows were not entitled to abuse their authority and arrest Gates, and to put him in jail, just because of their pique at being asked who they were.
The cop’s own story (remember, he has a motive to bend the truth) doesn’t help him much:
“Gates became visibly upset, according to the report, when the officer said he was responding to a report of a break-in. “Why,” Gates asked, according to the report, “because I’m a black man in America?’’
““Gates then turned to me and told me that I had no idea who I was ‘messing’ with and that I had not heard the last of it,’’ the report said. “While I was led to believe that Gates was lawfully in the residence, I was quite surprised and confused with the behavior he exhibited toward me.’’
“When the officer repeatedly told Gates he would speak with him outside, the normally mild-mannered professor shouted, “Ya, I’ll speak with your mama outside,’’ according to the report.
Gates was arrested after “exhibiting loud and tumultuous behavior’’ toward the officer who questioned him, the report said. He was led away in handcuffs.”
By the way, if something happens inside a house, it may not be “disorderly conduct” at all. Wonder why the cop asked him out?
“sounds like Mr Gates’ arrogance got him into trouble” Yeah, sounds like he was getting uppity.
What you racist knuckleheads don’t understand is that if Professor Gates was not a Harvard professor living in Cambridge, and had been a working black mother in Mattapan or Dorchester, the cops would have never shown up to a B&E call, and if they did, they would have told her to move to a “safer” neighborhood.
Still have a fuck-you attitude.
Heh.
That’s a feature, not a bug.
Is it just me, or does it seem that fewer and fewer cops actually know what the rights of US citizens are?
You’re in my house, I think I deserve to know whom I ‘m dealing with. Name and badge number please.
Also, whoever called it in is an idiot. Two guys pull up in a limo and bust open the door so they can carry stuff in.
The problem with a picture id is that all black folks look the same to white folks so how could the cop be sure unless he arrested Gates and took him downtown for finger printing etc. I guess as an alternative he could have called a black cop to look at the id.
Oliver, thanks for posting the statement from HLG’s lawyer. Makes the Cambridge PD’s comportment look even more outrageous. By way of possibly useful comparison, I lived in Cambridge from 2000-2006 and once had to break into my own apartment on Hawthorn St. One of my neighbors called the cops when he saw me clamber into a side window (I have no problem with that). Two cops climbed through the same window while I was showering (I’d just returned from a long bike ride), marched into the bathroom, and yanked open the shower curtain. I was startled, but we had a reasonably friendly chat, notwithstanding the fact I was naked as a trout, and one cop ultimately told me I was too calm to be a burglar and told me to thank my neighbor, and then they split. The only salient difference I can see between Gates’ unhappy experience and my own merely comical one is that I’m white. Seems to me that the good professor (whom I’ve met once or twice and is about as non-threatening as a middle-aged man with a limp can be) could hold out for a lot more than an apology, if he’d a mind to.
Shorter “Obamalama”: “why won’t these n***ers stop oppressing me with these accounts of their repression?”
I really get tired of the apologists for the police in cases like this.
Is it reasonable to ask for ID? Yes. Is it reasonable to refuse to provide badge number? No. Is it reasonable to arrest the man who has already shown his ID? Hell no!
A lot of policemen are constantly on authority trips. And that’s what this officer was doing when he refused to provide his badge number and when he decided to retaliate by arresting the professor.
Most of the jerks who say that Gates should have behaved himself in the presence of the police –that is, acted deferential and courteous– are idiots: It is not a crime to yell at someone who is inside your own house or on your own property. Jeez, everyone has the right to be dyspeptic, even if it is ill-advised. It is not a hanging offense.
You’re right, Duros. The last time the police “asked” if they could enter my house to look around, I answered in my most sarcastic tone, “Could I stop you?” They didn’t even seem to get it. Maybe they were very cool – or very dense.
Just because I can’t stop you from coming in my house, doesn’t mean I’m going to pretend I’m OK with it.
Also, whoever called it in is an idiot. Two guys pull up in a limo and bust open the door so they can carry stuff in.
How do we know that’s what the caller saw? Maybe she just saw a man forcing the door open and didn’t know that he just came out of the car (probably not a limo) parked nearby. According to Gates statement, he went to the back door first, not directly from the car, and there is no mention of carrying anything in.
Point being, there are a lot of assumptions as to what actually happened when we don’t have all the facts, just two sides of the story. There’s no indication that Gates deserved to be arrested, but there’s also no indication that the cop decided to arrest him because he was black. My own hunch is that the cop got annoyed at being asked for his badge number when he thought he was just confirming that the guy who broke into the house actually lived there. Maybe he was more sensitive about a black man making demands of him, but we have no way of knowing what he was thinking or whether he consciously or subconsciously considered the race of the man in front of him before deciding to arrest him. We may all have our own hunches based on personal experience, but we should recognize that they are hunches and not accept as indisputable fact that this is a case of unequal treatment based on race.
They always ask you to “step outside” cuz then they can arrest you.
NEVER step outside.
NEVER let them into your house
NEVER agree to a search of your car –or anything else
That cop report is written in the BS way they write as a a part of their CYA training.
Note the use of various legalized jargon about “I was surprised and confused” “I needed him outside to stop the echo and the loud noises in the kitchen” etc.
That Professor is god at Harvard, and a man’s home is his castle.
That pig was acting like a pig.
Whispers, I don’t think most people are apologizing for the police, we just don’t see evidence that their inappropriate behavior is due to racism. I agree with all of your points, but none of them prove that race was a factor in the decision to arrest Gates.
I was also taught by Skip Gats (though at Cornell). Another thing that is left unmentioned in this article is that Gates walks with a cane. Did the cop really think this 60-year-old-plus man walking with a cane was actually breaking and entering a home in Cambridge?
Please.
I hope Gates makes a colossal, expensive stink. Even with corrupt police unions, a record of this asshole’s conduct may put him ahead in line to get RIFFed and have his pension docked as the municipality tries to shed the worst of its dimbulb loser gunshoes. Local budget constraints are the only check on the burgeoning police state, which is still suppurating all the authoritarian pus of the last eight years.
I don’t know Professor Gates and I have no idea how he speaks, but the cop’s report puts a lot of tough street talk in his mouth, and I have a hard time believing that a man with Prof. Gates’ education descends to that level of discourse, even under provocation.
I can see “GTF out of my house!” but “yo’ mama” is too much of a stretch and a stereotype. The cop seems to have left out any mention of an inquiry as to his name and badge number. I say the cop is a LYARR.
I think that it is wonderful that a man of Prof. Gates’ caliber is training his intellect and passion on a subject that could use a little illumination.
If a cop can taser you for not signing a ticket fast enough for his tastes or general “noncompliance” of orders, can we taser a “cop” for noncompliance if he doesn’t give his name and badge number when asked?
Hell, for all I know, that could’ve been an impersonator on the porch. If a cop refuses to do his duty and produce a badge, he should be treated as something other than a law enforcement authority.
The last time the police “asked” if they could enter my house to look around, I answered in my most sarcastic tone, “Could I stop you?”
But you could. Unless they have probable cause (whatever that means), you do have the right to refuse.
Maybe she just saw a man forcing the door open and didn’t know that he just came out of the car (probably not a limo) parked nearby. According to Gates statement, he went to the back door first, not directly from the car, and there is no mention of carrying anything in.
O rlly?
Most car companies use black Crown Vics or Lincoln Town cars. Not a stretch limo, but reasonable to be called a limo.
“I needed him outside to stop the echo and the loud noises in the kitchen” etc.
LOUD NOISES!!! OMFG, make it stop!
He should have never came out of his house. While inside, the officers would have needed a warrant to arrest, if I recall correctly, whereas outside they have much more authority to act without a warrant.
“Professor Gates then asked the police officer if he would give him his name and his badge number. He made this request several times.”
Up to that point everything the cops did was perfectly legal, and by the book. Then Gates becomes a schmuck.
It’s race vs class. Which side do you choose?
Neither.
But you can carry your open fucking suitcase over the door of your own house.
Gates got arrested for disorderly conduct..
You can look at the picture of him and see it was acting very uncoopertive mouth open..yelling…
if gates would have acted like gentlemen and not class yelled and acted stupid..it would have been over and done with.
no where did I see the police in that report do one thing wrong..
possible break in..I sure hope they investigate it..
someone acted belligerent and yelling and and disorderly..that why we have disorderly conduct in the law..
Gates screwed up big time and he is trying to blame others for his classlessnes
A clear case of racial profiling
The good professor is indeed guilty of racial profiling. He assumed since Crowley was a cop and is white that it automatically means he responded to the break in call because he is a racist cop that is out to harass the professor who was innocently breaking into his own home.
If that isn’t racial profiling I don’t know what is.
Absolutely NOT racial profiling. The officer did not drive by and see a black guy trying to get in the house and decide to stop him. He was investigating a potential burglary that was called into the police by someone else.
Gates, like many blacks, think everything that happens to them is about their race. I can imagine he is constantly looking for “racism” in every aspect of everything he does.
Most people would understand the police have a job to do and if he had cooperated and not been such a angry person the officer would have done his due diligence and left. But no. It can’t be that easy. Gates has to accuse the office of racism and yell at him.
Gates got what he deserved and it had nothing to do with his race and everything to do with his behavior.
Seth, Scott, and Sam,
Did you miss the part where the officer refused to provide his name and badge number? I.E. violated Prof. Gates’ rights as a US citizen? By all accounts, Gates didn’t get agitated until this happened.
Whether Gates misattributed his treatment to racism or not is beside the point. His rights were violated by that officer, and that harm was never redressed.
The officer’s name was JIM CROWley. That about sums it up.
I hope most of these comments were made before the facts came out. The facts have shown that the officer has an exemplary record. They have also shown the officer acted in a professional manner at all times. Gates, however, acted unlike any professional scholar I’ve ever been around. He acted more like an angry idiot with a chip on his shoulder. Hopefully some of the owners of the kneejerk comments on here can rethink their opinions and come to a more common sense conclusion. Gates conduct was disorderly, and fittingly enough he was arrested for disorderly conduct.
Police are required to where name tags with there first initial and full last name and a badge with a number. How is this still an issue? When people get belligerent like that, like this elitist ’scholar’ did, they love to say give me your name and badge number to intimidate police in a way to indicate to them they know people in high places and they’ll get you fired.