New York Cops Hassle Old Man

[SoDesuKa]

New York cops are throwing their weight around already, although the Republican convention is still weeks away. Last night the T&LC cops busted 86-year old Mike Wallace as he emerged from buying his meat loaf dinner. Wallace was said to be acting "disrespectfully" and was placed under arrest.

My, aren't we turning into a Nazi society that an old man can't buy his dinner without being hassled by the cops. You can tell the Republicans are coming to town.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/08/10/wallace.arrest/index.html

[Nite Owl]

1. A hint for the protestors

maybe?

[DrWeird]

2. Get used to it...

We're going to see a lot of innocent people getting kicked in the crotch, police pepper-spraying elderly women... let alone shooting unarmed black men forty one times.

[BJ]

3. So what's his baby boy say about this?

Chris back his old man or the cops?


A face only a mother could love.

[lpbk2713]

4. They probably found out who he was right before they

were about to shove a broomstick up his ass. I think they roughed up the wrong individual this time. The cafe owner will probably have to pay for sticking up for Wallace. He will now be getting fire inspections, health dept inspections, etc, up the ying-yang. I hope Wallace raises hell about it.

[petronius]

5. Aside from the odd fact that the T&LC can actually arrest people

there are hints in the article that it may not have been all one sided. The "common criminal" comment from the restaurant owner as well as the double parking makes me think that Mr. Wallace may have been expecting (demanding?) some kid-glove, bow-to-your-master kind of treatment. Want to bet that "Do you know who I am!? I'll have your job for this!!" or something similar was uttered at some point...

[SoDesuKa]

7. TLC Cops Are Bullies

Wallace was probably remonstrating with the inspectors the way Mike Wallace does, and they interpreted it as "disrespect". Of course they interpreted it as disrespect. They're used to bullying cab drivers, who lose a day's pay to defend themselves in TLC court.

New York cab drivers provide a needed service. They are mostly economic refugees from third world countries who work 14-hour days for low wages. The Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) is full of predators who bully them.

By the way, Mike Wallace, private citizen, has every right to remonstrate with civil servants without being accused of disorderly conduct. The TLC used a police state tactic in arresting him.

[gauguin57]

6. You should put Wallace's name in your subject line

... I think people would pay more attention.

[SoDesuKa]

8. That Was Deliberate

The point of the story is that the cops arrested an old man for giving them shit. The fact that the old man is Mike Wallace is a side issue.