Here are some excerpts from the police report which has since disappeared from the Boston Globe web site:

On Thursday July 16, 2009, Henry Gates, Jr. - -, of Ware Street, Cambridge, MA) was placed under arrest at Ware Street, after being observed exhibiting loud and tumultuous behavior, in a public place, directed at a uniformed police officer who was present investigating a report of a crime in progress. These actions on the behalf of Gates served no legitimate purpose and caused citizens passing by this location to stop and take notice while appearing surprised and alarmed.

…When I arrived at Ware Street I radioed ECC and asked that they have the caller meet me at the front door to this residence. I was told that the caller was already outside. As I was getting this information, I climbed the porch stairs toward the front door. As [reached the door, a female voice called out to me. I looked in the direction of the voice and observed a white female, later identified {} who was standing on the sidewalk in front of the residence, held a wireless telephone in her hand arid told me that it was she who called. She went on to tell me that she observed what appeared to be two black males with backpacks on the porch of• Ware Street. She told me that her suspicions were aroused when she observed one of the men wedging his shoulder into the door as if he was trying to force entry. Since I was the only police officer on location and had my back to the front door as I spoke with her, I asked that she wait for other responding officers while I investigated further.

As I turned and faced the door, I could see an older black male standing in the foyer of {} Ware Street. I made this observation through the glass paned front door. As I stood in plain view of this man, later identified as Gates, I asked if he would step out onto the porch and speak with me. He replied “no I will not”. He then demanded to know who I was. I told him that I was “Sgt. Crowley from the Cambridge Police” and that I was “investigating a report of a break in progress” at the residence. While I was making this statement, Gates opened the front door and exclaimed “why, because I’m a black man in America?”. I then asked Gates if there was anyone else in the residence. While yelling, he told me that it was none of my business and accused me of being a racist police officer. I assured Gates that I was responding to a citizen’s call to the Cambridge Police and that the caller was outside as we spoke. Gates seemed to ignore me and picked up a cordless telephone and dialed an unknown telephone number. As he did so, I radioed on channel I that I was off in the residence with someone who appeared to be a resident but very uncooperative. I then overheard Gates asking the person on the other end of his telephone call to “get the chief’ and “whats the chiefs name?’. Gates was telling the person on the other end of the call that he was dealing with a racist police officer in his home. 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. 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. I asked Gates to provide me with photo identification so that I could verify that he resided at Ware Street and so that I could radio my findings to ECC. Gates initially refused, demanding that I show him identification but then did supply me with a Harvard University identification card. Upon learning that Gates was affiliated with Harvard, I radioed and requested the presence of the Harvard University Police.

With the Harvard University identification in hand, I radioed my findings to ECC on channel two and prepared to leave. Gates again asked for my name which I began to provide. Gates began to yell over my spoken words by accusing me of being a racist police officer and leveling threats that he wasn’t someone to mess with. At some point during this exchange, I became aware that Off. Carlos Figueroa was standing behind me. When Gates asked a third time for my name, I explained to him that I had provided it at his request two separate times. Gates continued to yell at me. I told Gates that I was leaving his residence and that if he had any other questions regarding the matter, I would speak with him outside of the residence.

As I began walking through the foyer toward the front door, I could hear Gates agai,n demanding my name. I again told Gates that I would speak with him outside. My reason for wanting to leave the residence was that Gates was yelling very loud and the acoustics of the kitchen and foyer were making it difficult for me to transmit pertinent information to ECC or other responding units. His reply was “ya, I’ll speak with your mama outside”. When I left the residence, I noted that there were several Cambridge and Harvard University police officers assembled on the sidewalk in front of the residence. Additionally, the caller, md at least seven unidentified passers-by were looking in the direction of Gates, who had followed me outside of the residence.

As I descended the stairs to the sidewalk, Gates continued to yell at me, accusing me of racial bias and continued to tell me that I had not heard the last of him. Due to the tumultuous manner Gates had exhibited in his residence as well as his continued tumultuous behavior outside the residence, in view of the public, I warned Gates that he was becoming disorderly. Gates ignored my warning and continued to yell, which drew the attention of both the police officers and citizens, who appeared surprised and alarmed by Gates’s outburst. For a second time I warned Gates to calm down while I withdrew my department issued handcuffs from their carrying case. Gates again ignored my warning and continued to yell at me. It was at this time that I informed Gates that he was under arrest. I then stepped up the stairs, onto the porch and attempted to place handcuffs on Gates. Gates initially resisted my attempt to handcuff him, yelling that he was “disabled” and would fall without his cane. After the handcuffs were property applied, Gates complained that they were too tight. I ordered Off. Ivey, who was among the responding officers, to handcuff Gates with his arms in front of him for his comfort while I secured a cane for Gates from within the residence. I then asked Gates if he would like an officer to take possession of his house key and secure his front door, which he left wide open. Gates told me that the door was un securable due to a previous break attempt at the residence. Shortly thereafter, a Harvard University maintenance person arrived on scene and appeared familiar with Gates. I asked Gates if he was comfortable with this Harvard University maintenance person securing his residence. He told me that he was.

Seems like we should talk to the witnesses to get their version of events, since Gibbs and the Officer offer two dramatically different versions of events.

I think the President was out of line saying the police acted “stupidly” when he admits he doesnt have all the facts, or maybe he just doesnt care about the facts.

You have covered this story twice on Conversation about Race. Now the big O speaks up and we have to go over this article and case again. Sure there is a long history we know that, but is it still as bad as it used to be? How can we even measure something like that?

Why so much of the same, if you need some stories here are some suggestions

Lawsuit against website on racist comments - http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=6928972

Racist Note left on Doorstep of the Grand Prairie chapter of the NAACP - http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/crime/stories/wfaa090722_mo_letter.69f1956f.html

Hey here is one even close to home that you aren’t covering - Racist Zoning Claim Sparks Public forum in Belleville http://www.bnd.com/news/local/story/854788.html

Here is one that is about Latinos which would require you guys step away (just for a second) from the African American posts that dominate this blog..be careful it might hurt a bit at first - http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12884994

OR HOW ABOUT you cover the story from a different angle here is a great article about the cop that they are accusing of racism, in fact I haven’t heard anything about the cop up until this point, nice of someone to get some information about him. - http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/23/officer_at_eye_of_storm_says_he_wont_apologize/

The President says he cannot make a judgement because he doesn’t have all the facts and then proceeds to make a judgement.

This case is more about a snobby professor who thinks he is above the law than it is about race.

BTW Kurt, when is the article concerning the exchange between Barbara Boxer and Harry Alford, the Black Chamber of Commerce CEO, going to be reported?

I really appreciate when an individual stick to the facts that are know

***President Obama stated*** I don’t know, not having been there and not seeing all the facts, what role race played in that [Gates case]. …But I think it’s fair to say, number one, any of us would be pretty angry; number two, that the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home; and, number three, what I think we know separate and apart from this incident is that there’s a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately. That’s just a fact.

The facts that WERE present shows less then an intelligent decision (Thus, releasing the Professor with no charges). Any arrest that end with no charges being filed, is an arrest that was unwarranted.

I love FACTS and REASON…..something that this forum has lacked for quite sometime.

*****Boston Globe********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. I asked Gates to provide me with photo identification so that I could verify that he resided at Ware Street and so that I could radio my findings to ECC. Gates initially refused, demanding that I show him identification but then did supply me with a Harvard University identification card. Upon learning that Gates was affiliated with Harvard, I radioed and requested the presence of the Harvard University Police.

“While I was led to believe he was LAWFULLY in resident”……the “cop” should have took his butt back to serving and protecting. After reading the article that was removed from the Boston Globle I can say, THAT COP SHOULD BE FIRED!! I took the high road not know all facts but if the guy was in his home, made a phone call from his home, showed ID, and on top of that “Gates initially resisted my attempt to handcuff him, yelling that he was “disabled” and would fall without his cane.”…….he walks with a cane!

The lawful resident should not and did not have to step outside. It was no reason for him to step out. Its my home, the cop determined it was his home, and he was upset. Come outside for what? to continue to yell due to his level of anger and get arrested? This story just made my stomach turn. THAT COP SHOULD BE FIRED!

“His neighbor Ed Shagory, a retired lawyer, was less reticent. He said he has been friends with Crowley for more than 17 years, and “I think the world of him and his family.’’

Shagory said he was upset by the criticism leveled against the officer and questioned Gates’s statement that the confrontation had inspired the Harvard professor to consider making a documentary about racial profiling.

“I think the idea of him already planning a documentary is very premature, and a very unnecessary thing to say before all the facts are even in,’’ Shagory said.”

Already planning to make money off of this Gates?

Hey Moore did you read the article on the link about the cop? Just because he believed he lived there doesn’t mean he knew it for a fact yet. It is a officer’s duty to check all the facts or would you prefer shotty cops that don’t follow up? He also got him his cane and made sure he was handcuffed and held comfortably before getting the cane, yea he sounds like a monster who deserves to be fired lol. Not!

Here is the link again, http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/23/officer_at_eye_of_storm_says_he_wont_apologize/
I don’t believe this man is a racist, and I don’t think it is fair to label him as one.

We might all keep this in mind: None of us were there. So it’s a little hard to criticize anyone for having an opinion in this case on the basis that “they weren’t there” and that “they don’t have all the facts.” That hasn’t stopped any of us from having an opinion. Including the president.

Way to win the police vote Barry. They love it when people who know nothing of an incident call them stupid. The president should have passed on the question. He came off looking like a jerk.

Fact,this country has a long history of white privilege. A white “older male”
providing ID & proof from within his home that said the home is his, would no longer be thought of as a thief. Some Americans refute this history with extended reports/comments. Men of color living in America know this fact so well. Where your eyes saw Rodney King attempting to rise and strike at 7 white cops, our eyes saw an American being beaten.

Rachael I agree he probably was not racist but he seen the driver ID after the Harvard ID. If I open my home door with a key…Its not proven that its my home…..but benefit of the doubt should be taken place before you ask me to step outside to discuss the matter. He should be fired for horrible police work.

facts:

1. ID showed a lawful resident and officer asked if Proffesor would like for officer to secure home for him…..indicating that “he knew it for a fact” that he was lawful resident
2. Nothing about situation showed any break in (A house key was present)
3 The arrest was not due to the original call. It was due to the police fueled altercation.
4. Was arrested for disorderly conduct (guy was upset about the situation…the average person would be) I am in my home and you question if I should be there..I provide 2 ID’s and you still want to discuss matter..whats to discuss. Cop should have said sorry for the mix up have a nice day
5. No charges were filed
6. Police job is to cease a situation not at fuel to the fire

Officer should be fired for poor judgment and police work

Everything is speculation. For Obama to declare the police department acted “stupidly” based on his own speculation and admitted bias is total bullspit.

Hey Barack, the purpose of you camera mugging was supposed to be about healthcare. Why did you have to go and accuse law enforcement of being racists?