Reply #19: Here's how a lot of cops (justifiably) would have handled things:

[MercutioATC]

Police respond to a complaint of a possible break-in. They approach the door and notice a mark that indicates a possible break-in (shoe print on the door). They knock and a man answers. They ask him to step outside and he refuses. They ask him for identification and he says he'll go get it...and closes the door and walks away.

The preceding is exactly what happened according to Gates' own statements. Starting from this point, the police would have been completely justified in forcing open the door and restraining Gates until ascertaining his identity. They didn't.

Yes, arresting him may have been inappropriate, but Gates' actions certainly were unwise, too.