Since Barack Obama weighed in on the arrest of Henry Louis Gates, we thought it was worthwhile to do a close reading of the law and the arrest report to see just how stupid the Cambridge Police Department was.
Despite all charges being dropped in the case, people are still talking about the arrest of Henry Louis Gates, so we thought it might be interesting to share some insight we received from a veteran cop on the matter.
Harvard's star African-American studies professor Henry Louis Gates got hauled to jail by the cops for breaking into his own house because the lock was broken. That's racist. So is the lady who called them, who also works for Harvard.
The most silent victims of crime busts: dogs. Poor pups get executed by rabid cops who shoot first, bark questions last. Now, Maryland cops have to report to the governor's office whenever they kill a pooch. [Daily Beast]
Chrissie Brodigan was victimized once, when her pug dog threw up on the L train. She was victimized again when she was arrested for the puking incident. Now she may lose her job.
Why did NYPD Commissioner Kelly have to throw the heavy hammer of discipline down on his former partner today? Tragically, adorable Pugs and Chasids aren't involved. But: a massive lacking in organization and the potential endangerment of cops' lives are!
Was puking pug dog owner Chrissie Brodigan roughed up by the NYPD simply for tending to her dog, and its throwup? The most powerful cop in New York is now involved in the case. Read between the lines, people.
Yesterday, Chrissie Brodigan said she was manhandled by a cop and arrested just because her pug dog threw up on the L train. But the cop says she's a raving anti-Semite! Let's explore this breathtakingly minor controversy.
The 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago was a hellish haze of violent street battles between self-righteous Commie bastards and self-righteous violent pigs. Forty-one years later, both groups are still self-righteous!
For reasons that we cannot fathom, bouncers and cops in the UK are now using a device to ensure that people who sniff coke don't get into nightclubs. What?
And in yet more shitty news from New York, a white cop shot a black cop dead. He was in plain clothes and had drawn his gun, but he was carrying his shield. It is "unclear if Edwards identified himself," which probably means he didn't have time to. [NYDN]
The Way We Live Now: Blingy. The new dynasty of the American auto (one day) is over! Nations and companies alike are falling. The barter system is returning. Grab the gold and run!
The father of nine-year-old Slumdog Millionaire star Rubina Ali will not be charged with any crime for allegedly trying to sell her to undercover reporters for $300,000. Indian police couldn't track down the reporters.
All this hippie wanted was to cast off his wizard's robe and be nude and free and happy at Coachella. The cops weren't convinced. So they Tasered him. Police still fear wizard wang. [Animal NY]
Yesterday we reported that the NYPD was booting the New York media out of One Police Plaza. Last night, commissioner Ray Kelly relented, telling papers they can have a filing center in the building.
A newspaper's most basic function, one could argue, is to keep tabs on crime. For decades, New York newspapers have done this out of the "police shack," but the NYPD is now kicking them out.
A few months ago two Fashion Institute of Technology students were arrested for dealing coke, and they laughed about it, and were subsequently crucified in the tabloids. Now they're blaming hardworking, cock-referencing undercover police!
Law-abiding citizens, tremble in fear: the NYPD is no longer secretly patrolling the hooker ads on Craigslist. Are we safe without undercover cops trying to lure horny men into motel rooms and arrest them?
Today, there's another video of a college kid wailing while being arrested. We never thought it would come to this, but we're officially sympathizing with cops. Let's review the concept of "Police brutality," kids:
Everybody say goodbye to NYPD officer Patrick Pogan, famous for shoving a rider off his bike for no good reason—he's been fired. He'd probably make a better Benedictine monk, anyhow. Pogan's classic moment below: