From what I can read, he was prying his door open. How is that in the house first of all, and second of all, he would be accusing the police of "not helping him" if they hadn't stopped an intruder doing the same thing.

What if the man hid inside the house and was waiting with a knife? Then they didn't do their job to PROTECT THEIR CITIZENS.

Same way I get yelled at for driving across my own parking lot (which I own) by the cops, I'm not going to go yelling at them for finding out whats up just because they didn't know it was mine.

Why would you get yelled at for driving across your own parking lot? What business is it of anyone else, so long as you are not injuring them?

I don't have a problem with the officer responding to the call to see "what's up?" That is their job. Once he realized that the professor lived and owned the home, that should have been it.

I guess I am more concerned as to why the neighbor "assumed" he was an intruder.

For driving "across" the spaces after close. They came up with their sticks out and flashlights shining in my face, and called in the information just like they should have. The professor was creating a scene rather than just giving them his ID and moving on. If I had started screaming at them that I owned the place, I probably would have been cuffed before they called it in. If I continued you bet your ass I would have gotten a disorderly charge. Its called being slightly intelligent and doing what the cop says.

Cops have to deal with all kinds of variables, creeps, surprises and people intending to harm them. They don't know Gates or his intentions. They can only deal with the information that they have available. At a minimum a person who is not cooperating.

They don't know what they are getting into. So when someone says no and refuses to answer questions, it's not any easier for them to handle the situation.

Common sense tells one to cooperate, remain calm, answer questions.

What harm would that cause?

This is so simple.

From what I know about criminal procedure, I dont know if they had probable cause to even stop you. Did you violate a city ordinance or something when you crossed the spaces? I am very particular about the law. Just because they are in uniform doesn't give them carte blanche authority to stop you.

First thing out of his mouth when doing his first interview:
"I just finished making my new documentary series for PBS called “Faces of America.” It was a glorious week in Shanghai and Ningbo and Beijing, and on my trip, I took my daughter along. After we finished working in Ningbo we went to Beijing and had three glorious days as tourists. It was great fun."

He is obviously a very smart man. He was nationally unknown. He saw an opportunity for his 15 minutes of fame and he took it. He will now make LOTS more money. I just hope he doesn't find issues with people constantly looking into his life. Privacy is nice, being in the public eye is not.

He does not strike me as someone that would try to capitalize on this to get fame/money for 15 minutes. He has class and that would be below him. I think he just made a mistake and started down a path that he can't reverse - it might be especially challenging for him to admit a mistake now.

If I'm right however, it could be a great opportunity to expand the discussion about race that includes mistakes by both parties. He is an excellent story teller as well, it could be a real opportunity to help educate anyone interested in the topic.

Well, it was 11 PM and dark out... And I looked like a hellraising youth. sounds similar, no? Only I didn't start spouting off about age profiling, etc etc.

FIRST thing I noticed. I can't decide if its a plug or a change of subject more!