I don't recall anyone pulling Gates out of his house... The facts as they've presented show just the opposite. He went outside of his own free will.
Perhaps 'pulling' was an inapproriate word.
Yes, he's investigated because a call was placed... Had he, as any reasonable person done, said, "Oh, Hello Officer, I'm the owner of this house, and here's my ID to prove it. Thanks for coming by and checking."
My understanding is that is EXACTLY what occurred. Crowley had Gates' id, was aware he was the lawful occupant, yet he proceeded to press him further, AND to call for even more police officers onto the scene. Crowley knew very early on who he was, but he continued to escalate the situation by calling for more verification, as well as additional law enforcement.
Officer Lashely who was present also stated that it wasn't until additional officers were sent INTO Gates' home, did Gates' become agitated. Prior to that indignity, Gates was as calm as a cucumber. Further, it was only after Gates informed Crowley that he was going to file charges on Crowley, did the problems really start to occur.
I think a lesson to be learned here is if you intend to file charges on a cop, ...don't let them know in advance.
Then he wouldn't have had this issue in the first place... I guess the cop could have just ignored the call and let whomever it was, just have free run, and then had it not been Gates, had his house completely ransacked... That would have avoided it as well.
Gates provided id... Crowley entered his home with neither a warrant, nor an invitation to do so.
Investigating a "possible break in", ...especially one wherein the caller states "I don't know if it even is a break in, the guy might live there"... would dictate a certain degree of discretion when approaching a person of interest. Making a warrantless entry without probable cause, refusing to provide your name & bage #, and threatening to arrest him in his own home, violates Gates' 4th Amendment rights, as well as his dignity as a man. To actually effect the arrest is just going to compound the situation further.
If I'm the Cambridge police department, the next time I get a call about his address... I'm a little busy and take a little longer to get there.
That would be compounding a stupid mistake, ...with an even stupider mistake!
BTW - Did you see
Crash? If not, ...go rent it. It was a fabulous movie by Paul Haggis, a great Canadian director.