Harvard professor arrested for breaking into his own home - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

tricky_ab · 07-21-2009, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Harvard professor Gates arrested at Cambridge home

By Tracy Jan, Globe Staff

Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., one of the nation's pre-eminent African-American scholars, was arrested Thursday afternoon at his home by Cambridge police investigating a possible break-in. The incident raised concerns among some Harvard faculty that Gates was a victim of racial profiling.

Police arrived at Gates’s Ware Street home near Harvard Square at 12:44 p.m. to question him. Gates, director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research at Harvard, had trouble unlocking his door after it became jammed.

He was booked for disorderly conduct after “exhibiting loud and tumultuous behavior,” according to a police report. Gates accused the investigating officer of being a racist and told him he had "no idea who he was messing with,'' the report said.

Gates told the officer that he was being targeted because "I'm a black man in America.''

Friends of Gates said he was already in his home when police arrived. He showed his driver’s license and Harvard identification card, but was handcuffed and taken into police custody for several hours last Thursday, they said.

The police report said Gates was arrested after he yelled at the investigating officer repeatedly inside the residence then followed the officer outside, where Gates continued to upbraid him. "It was at that time that I informed Professor Gates that he was under arrest,'' the officer wrote in the report.

Gates, 58, declined to comment today when reached by phone.

The arrest of such a prominent scholar under what some described as dubious circumstances shook some members of the black Harvard community.

“He and I both raised the question of if he had been a white professor, whether this kind of thing would have happened to him, that they arrested him without any corroborating evidence,” said S. Allen Counter, a Harvard Medical School professor who spoke with Gates about the incident Friday. “I am deeply concerned about the way he was treated, and called him to express my deepest sadness and sympathy.”

Counter, who had called Gates from the Nobel Institute in Sweden, where Counter is on sabbatical, said that Gates was “shaken” and “horrified” by his arrest.

Counter has faced a similar situation himself. The well-known neuroscience professor, who is also black, was stopped by two Harvard police officers in 2004 after being mistaken for a robbery suspect as he crossed Harvard Yard. They threatened to arrest him when he could not produce identification.

That incident was among several that ignited criticism from black students and faculty, highlighting the prejudices that many black students say they continue to face at Harvard.

“This is very disturbing that this could happen to anyone, and not just to a person of such distinction,” Counter said. “He was just shocked that this had happened, at 12:44 in the afternoon, in broad daylight. It brings up the question of whether black males are being targeted by Cambridge police for harassment.”

Cambridge police would not comment on the arrest, citing an investigation into the incident by Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone Jr. A spokesman for Leone said Gates is scheduled to be arraigned on Aug. 26 and said the office could not provide details on the arrest until that time.

Gates is being represented by Harvard Law School professor Charles Ogletree, who has taken on previous cases with racial implications.

Don't really know what to say about this one. Was it Dave Chapelle who opined about this very scenario?

http://www.boston.com/news/local/bre...7/harvard.html

Police report:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/bre...t_redacted.pdf

HyperTek · 07-21-2009, 01:36 PM

he was arrested because he yelled at the cops, im sure they warned him to tone his voice down *ive had this warning before*...

I know a few people who would act the same way,.. facing years of racial profiling from cops will change your whole look on them. Im sure thats what he was thinking. Sucks tho. Cops should have just investigated the report and confirmed that he was the resident and nothing else.

Maybe he threw his ID at them or something.. even a racist cop i cant imagine would just arrest someone.

OptionZero · 07-21-2009, 01:39 PM

Wouldn't even be a story if he weren't a harvard professor.

mrflip69 · 07-21-2009, 01:39 PM

Would be funny if Obama got arrested during a visit to some hick shit area.

Typical, there probably weren't any repercussions for the police. Just an internal "investigation" and paid leave

Brian · 07-21-2009, 01:42 PM

"CHANGE"

"HOPE"

etc.

ronmcdon · 07-21-2009, 01:49 PM

Charge was "exhibiting loud and tumultuous behavior".
Seems reasonable to me.

Prof was probably making racket trying to get back into his house.
Cop came (neighbors complained?), and he yells at the cops.
Do ppl seriously expect to yell at cops, try to intimidate them (because you're some college professor), and get away with it?
Damn college professors can be pretty arrogant (regardless of race), and loose touch with reality, so it doesn't surprise me.

There might have been a case for police brutality, if the cops using unreasonable force.
I.e. - smacking the prof's face with baton as soon as the 'yelling' began.

I also see no evidence of 'Racism' here.
No names were called.
No support for any form of profiling in the process.
Even if the cop was being rude, that doesn't necessarily prove he was a bigot.

*DALAZ_68* · 07-21-2009, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrflip69

Would be funny if Obama got arrested during a visit to some hick shit area.

Typical, there probably weren't any repercussions for the police. Just an internal "investigation" and paid leave

being a cop must be awesome, u get in trouble so u dont get to go to work, AND, u get payed...

*!Zar!* · 07-21-2009, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronmcdon

Charge was "exhibiting loud and tumultuous behavior".
Seems reasonable to me.

Prof was probably making racket trying to get back into his house.
Cop came (neighbors complained?), and he yells at the cops.
Do ppl seriously expect to yell at cops, try to intimidate them (because you're some college professor), and get away with it?
Damn college professors can be pretty arrogant (regardless of race), and loose touch with reality, so it doesn't surprise me.

There might have been a case for police brutality, if the cops using unreasonable force.
I.e. - smacking the prof's face with baton as soon as the 'yelling' began.

I also see no evidence of 'Racism' here.
No names were called.
No support for any form of profiling in the process.
Even if the cop was being rude, that doesn't necessarily prove he was a bigot.

Easy said.

Dude was locked out of his house, has to first deal with that drama.

As to where he finally gets in only to have the police hounding him and treating him like a criminal.

People don't like being accused for things they are not guilty of.

It's funny how people didn't side with the cop who hung up and arrested the girl for screaming at him over 911 (here)

It's easy for people to reason and say what should have been done only because they have had time to reflect as well as think with a clear head.

Did he assault or attack the cop? No.

Knowing how cops perform, I know they didn't just walk up to the door with smiles and happiness.

**Phlip** · 07-21-2009, 02:14 PM

He wasn't even locked out of his house, the front door was jammed, he went in through the back door, turned off the alarm and was trying to get the sumbitch open when nosy neighbor bitch apparently can't recognize her damned neighbors and calls the cops because "2 black men in backpacks are breaking into the house."
He was in the house when the cop came, the cop sees identification and should have called it a fucking day. He doesn't do this, instead he continues to ask him to come outside, to which he -- well within his rights -- questioned and asked for a name and badge number... Cop, feeling like this uppity Harvard negro is disrespecting him, arrests him when he should have called it a damned day and apologized when he saw proper identification, but instead arrests...

There is no way in hell this cop was within his rights here, and that is why the charges were dropped.

I also love how this had nothing to do with Obama, yet in true internet fashion, 2 motherfuckers have managed to take it there, either blatantly or indirectly.

*DALAZ_68* · 07-21-2009, 02:21 PM

man, if the cop himself was black, im pretty sure this would be no where near a big deal as its turned out...

FrankDukes · 07-21-2009, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHLIP

He wasn't even locked out of his house, the front door was jammed, he went in through the back door, turned off the alarm and was trying to get the sumbitch open when nosy neighbor apparently can't recognize her damned neighbors.
He was in the house when the cop came, the cop sees identification and should have called it a fucking day. He doesn't do this, instead he continues to ask him to come outside, to which he -- well within his rights -- questioned. Cop, feeling like this uppity Harvard negro is disrespecting him, arrests him when he should have called it a damned day and apologized when he saw proper identification, but instead arrests...

There is no way in hell this cop was within his rights here, and that is why the charges were dropped.

That is ridiculous! He was arrested for yelling at a cop in and on his property? WTF? I thought you could shoot people who were on your property.

Here is how I believe it went down:

Cop: "FREEZE black guy!!!!!!!!"
Gates: "This is my house, false alarm!!!"
Cop: "Drop the gun! step away from the house!"
Gates: "WTF? this is my house, what GUN?
Cop: "I need backup here, suspect is being belligerant."
Cop: "Can I see you I.D. sir!"
Gates: " I am a professor at Cambridge!"
Cop: "10-4, I've seen this before, this black guy broke into this home and hung up pictures of his family."

Other cops arrives: "Let's sprinkle some crack on him and let's get outta here."

Brian · 07-21-2009, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHLIP

I also love how this had nothing to do with Obama, yet in true internet fashion, 2 motherfuckers have managed to take it there, either blatantly or indirectly.

Hey Phlip. Good work as a moderator.
Thanks for calling me a motherfucker.

Good work.
What a way to be a shining example for the site.

Good work though, really.
Sorry for being a motherfucker.

VROOOM · 07-21-2009, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by !Zar!

Easy said.

Dude was locked out of his house, has to first deal with that drama.

As to where he finally gets in only to have the police hounding him and treating him like a criminal.

People don't like being accused for things they are not guilty of.

It's funny how people didn't side with the cop who hung up and arrested the girl for screaming at him over 911 (here)

It's easy for people to reason and say what should have been done only because they have had time to reflect as well as think with a clear head.

Did he assault or attack the cop? No.

Knowing how cops perform, I know they didn't just walk up to the door with smiles and happiness.

the 911 call was totally different that was a cop not doing his job and someones life depending on him doing his job.

im sure the cops could have done a better job on this call, but im also sure the professor could have as well.

***Future240*** · 07-21-2009, 02:25 PM

If you take out the fact he is black it still is not right. Look at phlip's post and take out the word negro. If he had been white it still would have been wrong for the officer to arrest him.

Now whether or not it was racist that depends a on your point of view. It may have been, but it just as easily could not have been. The only fact here is the officer was out of line.

*DALAZ_68* · 07-21-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian

Hey Philip. Good work as a moderator.
Thanks for calling me a motherfucker.

Good work.
What a way to be a shining example for the site.

Good work though, really.
Sorry for being a motherfucker.

LOL .... ohh jesus... ***playing the worlds smallest violin for Brian***

FrankDukes · 07-21-2009, 02:28 PM

Story would have been awesome if they found the Cambridge professor illegally drifting in his 240sx.

**Phlip** · 07-21-2009, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankDukes

I've seen this before, this black guy broke into this home and hung up pictures of his family."

Other cops arrives: "Let's sprinkle some crack on him and let's get outta here."

Okay, so I was not the only one who thought of that.

Also noteworthy is that he (Gates) was supposedly sick from his just-ended trip to China and has been walking with a cane for a LONG time.

HyperTek · 07-21-2009, 02:32 PM

^now it sounds like a martin lawrence movie lol

Guys please try to leave the Obama references out, someone always brings it up in these types of threads. It can be offending.

Brian · 07-21-2009, 02:37 PM

I'm offended because Phlip obviously called me and another member "motherfuckers".

Please knock that off. There is no need for that kind of behavior.

Keep it on topic.

In reference to the story - The man may have been "targeted" because he was black.
The police may have targeted him. The neighbor may have targeted him. It's wrong to focus on somebody because of their race. Is any of it able to be proven? Probably not.

*DALAZ_68* · 07-21-2009, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian

I'm offended because Phlip obviously called me and another member "motherfuckers".

Please knock that off. There is no need for that kind of behavior.

Keep it on topic.

uhhh...B...u were the one who posted

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian

"CHANGE"

"HOPE"

etc.

therefore taking it out off topic urself...to sound like my 5 yr old cuzin

Youuuuuu started it!

lol

BTW the proffessor looks like that Dean Kane from How High...lol

FrankDukes · 07-21-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian

I'm offended because Phlip obviously called me and another member "motherfuckers".

Please knock that off. There is no need for that kind of behavior.

Keep it on topic.

In reference to the story - The man may have been "targeted" because he was black.
The police may have targeted him. The neighbor may have targeted him. It's wrong to focus on somebody because of their race. Is any of it able to be proven? Probably not.

Dude, it's not a big deal. I'd love to be a motherfucker, but there aren't many Milfs that I could find, nor any rich ones anyway.

You can lable me a motherfucker as well, I'd take it as a compliment.
I guess it's a force of habit, people say MOFO and the N word just out of habbit and isn't personal.

Leave it be.

**Phlip** · 07-21-2009, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HyperTek

^now it sounds like a martin lawrence movie lol

Chappelle standup, actually.

Another funny fact about this all is that it took place in broad daylight.

**ThatGuy** · 07-21-2009, 02:48 PM

Funny thing...

My wife just read the story and commented "I could see you getting arrested, just like he did." Because I would have been highly upset at the situation.

Guess what, I'm a pale white guy. Behavior dictates action.

Am I saying Mr. Cop is completely guilt free? Nope

Am I saying "Havard negro", as it was so eloquently put earlier, is completely guilt free? Nope

But I am saying that no one here was there to witness this incident. So everybody back down off their high horses, and calm down. Everyone here is a screen name, red, blue, black, purple, whatever. We're just names. RELAX.

HyperTek · 07-21-2009, 02:49 PM

if his home alarm went off.. that could make the cops a lil antsy.

*DALAZ_68* · 07-21-2009, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatGuy

Funny thing...

My wife just read the story and commented "I could see you getting arrested, just like he did." Because I would have been highly upset at the situation.

Guess what, I'm a pale white guy. Behavior dictates action.

Am I saying Mr. Cop is completely guilt free? Nope

Am I saying "Havard negro", as it was so eloquently put earlier, is completely guilt free? Nope

But I am saying that no one here was there to witness this incident. So everybody back down off their high horses, and calm down. Everyone here is a screen name, red, blue, black, purple, whatever. We're just names. RELAX.

true...but like i stated earlier, this wouldnt be making headlines if the officer was black, and still took same actions...sucks but true...

HyperTek · 07-21-2009, 02:52 PM

if its a reported burglery , cops will arrive on spot pretty fast, if his home alarm was goin off and he perhaps had too many things on his mind while cops where at the door and hes tryin to put in his alarm code, who knows..

tricky_ab · 07-21-2009, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHLIP

Chappelle standup, actually.

"Oh my god. Open and shut case, Johnson. I saw this once when I was a rookie. Apparently this blackman broke in and put up pictures of his family everywhere."

Anyways...The issue I have with this is accusing a police officer of being racist is apparently disorderly conduct? I don't see how that was threatening, engaging in violence, or intending to cause public unrest. The man was raising concern about the fact that a police officer was asking him to step out of his own house after having provided papers of identification. As far as I see it, such claims were suitably related to the issue at hand, and were not with intent to cause duress.

***Future240*** · 07-21-2009, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DALAZ_68

true...but like i stated earlier, this wouldnt be making headlines if the officer was black, and still took same actions...sucks but true...

Agreed. Though depending on where you stay (the south not so much) I agree with icecube on some black cops

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ice Cube

But don't let it be a black and a white one
Cause they'll slam ya down to the street top
Black police showin out for the white cop

Matej · 07-21-2009, 03:09 PM

Brian · 07-21-2009, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DALAZ_68

uhhh...B...u were the one who posted

therefore taking it out off topic urself...to sound like my 5 yr old cuzin

Youuuuuu started it!

lol

BTW the proffessor looks like that Dean Kane from How High...lol

keep it on topic.

07-21-2009, 01:36 PM	#2
HyperTek Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cali Posts: 13,222 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	he was arrested because he yelled at the cops, im sure they warned him to tone his voice down ive had this warning before... I know a few people who would act the same way,.. facing years of racial profiling from cops will change your whole look on them. Im sure thats what he was thinking. Sucks tho. Cops should have just investigated the report and confirmed that he was the resident and nothing else. Maybe he threw his ID at them or something.. even a racist cop i cant imagine would just arrest someone. __________________ Keep it Classy

07-21-2009, 01:42 PM	#5
Brian Post Whore! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: usa Posts: 12,840 Trader Rating: (54) Rides Gallery: Brian Feedback Score: 54 reviews	"CHANGE" "HOPE" etc. __________________ http://bhworld.wordpress.com/

07-21-2009, 02:21 PM	#10
DALAZ_68 not giving a fuck Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los angeles Age: 35 Posts: 15,080 Trader Rating: (104) Feedback Score: 104 reviews	man, if the cop himself was black, im pretty sure this would be no where near a big deal as its turned out... __________________ LOL 240... whats better than 1? 5 1's ...lol PSN & XBL GT : Wh0pp3r68 CLUB LEXUS : Wh0pp3r

07-21-2009, 02:32 PM	#18
HyperTek Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cali Posts: 13,222 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	^now it sounds like a martin lawrence movie lol Guys please try to leave the Obama references out, someone always brings it up in these types of threads. It can be offending. __________________ Keep it Classy

07-21-2009, 02:37 PM	#19
Brian Post Whore! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: usa Posts: 12,840 Trader Rating: (54) Rides Gallery: Brian Feedback Score: 54 reviews	I'm offended because Phlip obviously called me and another member "motherfuckers". Please knock that off. There is no need for that kind of behavior. Keep it on topic. In reference to the story - The man may have been "targeted" because he was black. The police may have targeted him. The neighbor may have targeted him. It's wrong to focus on somebody because of their race. Is any of it able to be proven? Probably not. __________________ http://bhworld.wordpress.com/

07-21-2009, 01:39 PM	#3
OptionZero Post Whore! Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Norcal Age: 37 Posts: 6,262 Trader Rating: (2) Rides Gallery: OptionZero Feedback Score: 2 reviews	Wouldn't even be a story if he weren't a harvard professor.

07-21-2009, 01:39 PM	#4
mrflip69 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: La Crescenta, CA Posts: 603 Trader Rating: (19) Feedback Score: 19 reviews	Would be funny if Obama got arrested during a visit to some hick shit area. Typical, there probably weren't any repercussions for the police. Just an internal "investigation" and paid leave

07-21-2009, 01:49 PM	#6
ronmcdon Post Whore! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: beverly hills Age: 86 Posts: 4,254 Trader Rating: (6) Feedback Score: 6 reviews	Charge was "exhibiting loud and tumultuous behavior". Seems reasonable to me. Prof was probably making racket trying to get back into his house. Cop came (neighbors complained?), and he yells at the cops. Do ppl seriously expect to yell at cops, try to intimidate them (because you're some college professor), and get away with it? Damn college professors can be pretty arrogant (regardless of race), and loose touch with reality, so it doesn't surprise me. There might have been a case for police brutality, if the cops using unreasonable force. I.e. - smacking the prof's face with baton as soon as the 'yelling' began. I also see no evidence of 'Racism' here. No names were called. No support for any form of profiling in the process. Even if the cop was being rude, that doesn't necessarily prove he was a bigot.

07-21-2009, 02:28 PM	#16
FrankDukes BANNED Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: 818 & 747 area. Posts: 363 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Story would have been awesome if they found the Cambridge professor illegally drifting in his 240sx.

07-21-2009, 02:48 PM	#23
ThatGuy Admin Asshole Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Retired Age: 41 Posts: 20,394 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: ThatGuy Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Funny thing... My wife just read the story and commented "I could see you getting arrested, just like he did." Because I would have been highly upset at the situation. Guess what, I'm a pale white guy. Behavior dictates action. Am I saying Mr. Cop is completely guilt free? Nope Am I saying "Havard negro", as it was so eloquently put earlier, is completely guilt free? Nope But I am saying that no one here was there to witness this incident. So everybody back down off their high horses, and calm down. Everyone here is a screen name, red, blue, black, purple, whatever. We're just names. RELAX. __________________ "Speak softly,..." -Pres. Teddy Roosevelt "Be polite, be professional, ..." -Gen. James Mattis

07-21-2009, 02:49 PM	#24
HyperTek Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cali Posts: 13,222 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	if his home alarm went off.. that could make the cops a lil antsy. __________________ Keep it Classy

07-21-2009, 02:52 PM	#26
HyperTek Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cali Posts: 13,222 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	if its a reported burglery , cops will arrive on spot pretty fast, if his home alarm was goin off and he perhaps had too many things on his mind while cops where at the door and hes tryin to put in his alarm code, who knows.. __________________ Keep it Classy

07-21-2009, 03:09 PM	#29
Matej Post Whore! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: N/A Posts: 9,423 Trader Rating: (39) Feedback Score: 39 reviews

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