Black Man in Alameda Arrested for Dancing in the Street

[ketch89]

No, sorry, the "exerciser" was obstructionist, and then tried to flee. All the officer asked was "Do you feel like hurting yourself today?" Why didn't he just answer the question?


Please focus on real racism (obviously not this incident), and stop giving right-wingers more fodder to dismiss legitimate issues with police use of force.

[ssmaster]

This idea that doing a “safety check” obligates someone to talk to the police is absurd. The constitution says you do not have to talk to police.

I can see the police in court now. “ I told the suspected drug dealer he had to talk to me because it was a “safety check”even after he stated he did not want to talk to the police I then arrested him for drug dealing”
You have a constitutional right to remain silent and if not being detained walk away. If you are detained say only you want a lawyer.it is your legal right

[ketch89]

Originally Posted by ssmaster

if not being detained

They told him he was being detained.

[matzoman]

Lame. No crime was being committed. Cop did not even need get out of his car. Just a drive by and a 'Everthingallright Bud" would have been fine.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by ketch89

No, sorry, the "exerciser" was obstructionist, and then tried to flee. All the officer asked was "Do you feel like hurting yourself today?" Why didn't he just answer the question?


Please focus on real racism (obviously not this incident), and stop giving right-wingers more fodder to dismiss legitimate issues with police use of force.

How was he supposed to answer a question like that? It was a prevocational question. What does it even mean, objectively? And how was the dancer "obstructionist"? What was he obstructing? Apparently, he'd been using the section of street in front of his house for dance practice on a regular basis, for quite some time, and no one felt he was obstructing anything; not traffic, not justice, nor pedestrians.

I used to play kick-ball in the street in front of my house with the neighbor kids. No one ever called a cop to do a "wellness check" on me, and no one felt we were obstructing anything.

[DeanoSF]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

How was he supposed to answer a question like that? It was a prevocational question. What does it even mean, objectively? And how was the dancer "obstructionist"? What was he obstructing? Apparently, he'd been using the section of street in front of his house for dance practice on a regular basis, for quite some time, and no one felt he was obstructing anything; not traffic, not justice, nor pedestrians.

I used to play kick-ball in the street in front of my house with the neighbor kids. No one ever called a cop to do a "wellness check" on me, and no one felt we were obstructing anything.

I used to build ramps with my friends to jump our bikes. We often DID hurt ourselves. No one ever said a word to us...

[President Donald Frog]

maybe cops dont like spinning and dancing in this city. nothing to do with his color.

everybody talkn bout Footloose

[davdaven]

Since somebody brought this thread back from the dead, here's an update: https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2020/07...e-is-retiring/

[golgi1]

The man tried to walk away after being told he was detained, as the officers continued to question the man in order to gain a full picture of the situation.

The officers had to restrain him to prevent him from doing that.

They were going to frisk him as a result of his attempt to walk away, and after he was being restrained. Likely for the officer's safety and as a matter of procedure.

He then clearly resisted as he was being restrained and moved to the car to be frisked. That's where the man's problem really began.

The officers were within their rights and responsibilities, and anyone crying racism over this incident is going to dilute the meaning of the accusation. You aren't permitted to walk away from Police Officers if they tell you that you are detained, period. No one is above that. You also aren't permitted to resist restraint, and would be endangering yourself and the officers.

The man may have been within his rights, or he may have been exhibiting strange behavior over time that may have been inidcative of something more (if only a danger to himself, as after all he was in the street).

The officers were assessing the stiaution when the man began to walk. That's their job.

If he had stood still, or asked to sit down while answering the questions, he likely would have been allowed to continue where the officers assessed he was permitted to (the street, sidewalk, local park etc). The man chose, instead, to walk away against the officer's detainment. That's his fault, not racism.

The body cam footage doesn't show everything that the officers saw, and like it or not they are police officers responsible for enforcing the law and assuring public safety, including yours and that of your neighbors, and you are not.

[ssmaster]

Originally Posted by golgi1

The man tried to walk away after being told he was detained, as the officers continued to question the man in order to gain a full picture of the situation.

The officers had to restrain him to prevent him from doing that.

They were going to frisk him as a result of his attempt to walk away, and after he was being restrained. Likely for the officer's safety and as a matter of procedure.

He then clearly resisted as he was being restrained and moved to the car to be frisked. That's where the man's problem really began.

The officers were within their rights and responsibilities, and anyone crying racism over this incident is going to dilute the meaning of the accusation. You aren't permitted to walk away from Police Officers if they tell you that you are detained, period. No one is above that. You also aren't permitted to resist restraint, and would be endangering yourself and the officers.

The man may have been within his rights, or he may have been exhibiting strange behavior over time that may have been inidcative of something more (if only a danger to himself, as after all he was in the street).

The officers were assessing the stiaution when the man began to walk. That's their job.

If he had stood still, or asked to sit down while answering the questions, he likely would have been allowed to continue where the officers assessed he was permitted to (the street, sidewalk, local park etc). The man chose, instead, to walk away against the officer's detainment. That's his fault, not racism.

The body cam footage doesn't show everything that the officers saw, and like it or not they are police officers responsible for enforcing the law and assuring public safety, including yours and that of your neighbors, and you are not.

Are you a lawyer? The DA disagreed with you completely.


Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley will not press charges against a Alameda man who was arrested in May while exercising and dancing in the street. Mali Watkins, a black man and resident of Alameda, was charged for resisting arrest on May 23.

O’Malley also found the two arresting Alameda police officers at the scene did not have sufficient probable cause to detain Watkins and failed to follow protocols for engagement.

https://www.alamedaca.gov/files/asse...tter.pdf%C2%A0