You can be an ass on the street but not so much on a plane.

But you're right, not taking into account someone's possible physical state could have made things much worse. But what could they have done? Taken an on-the-spot medical history to decide? Asked him if he would prefer to stay because of some medical problem?

The police no doubt did not expect him to react the way he did. Things got worse very quickly.

I think this was more of a perfect storm than a sign of fascism/racism/authoritarianism/corporate overlords/class warfare/{insert bad thing here}.

A lamentable situation likely caused by UA and a passenger who freaked out about it. It's a recipe that no one wants a taste of.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."
Leonard Cohen, Anthem (1992)[/center][/font][hr]