What do DUers think of Carlos Figueroa?

[anigbrowl]

Just curious. He doesn't seem to be getting much discussion amid all the current excitement.

[BlooInBloo]

1. Who?

[anigbrowl]

4. He's the other cop that turned up Gates' house.

But to be honest, I posted as kind of a filter to see how many people have been paying attention to the details of that story, rather than just drawing conclusions from the headline versions.

[BlooInBloo]

5. Yah - I assumed the reason... Just didn't know the other cop's name...

Wouldn't know Crowley's either, except I've seen it so much today.

[Spazito]

2. I am not sure why you think he should?

He was not the arresting officer, Crowley was.

[anigbrowl]

3. Well, he makes for an interesting witness

Seing as how he was both present for the arrest and a person of color. I'm just a bit surprised that his testimony (which seems at least as interesting and valid as those of Crowley and Gates) has gotten so little attention.

[Spazito]

6. His report differs from the arresting officer....

as he was not in attendance at all times. It is Crowley's report that contains the 'reasons' for the arrest. As to Officer Figueroa being a person of color, if indeed he is I have no idea, I am not clear as to why you believe that should influence the discussion.

[anigbrowl]

7. I would have thought it was obvious

a) he's Latino
b) people of color are likely to have first-hand experience of bias, being a minority, and thus officer Figueroa has a foot in both camps.

you are quite right that he was not there the whole time, but his report indicates that he had arrived by the time officer Crowley suggested Gates was behaving in a disorderly fashion - he turned up before any arrest took place.

[Spazito]

8. It seems neither report meet the requirements to make the arrest..

a 'good' one as all charges have been dropped and an official investigation is about to begin.

[anigbrowl]

9. That's politics. I didn't really expected charges to be brought in any case.

My point is not reall to work out who's right between Gates and Crowley (personally, I think they both share responsibility for the situation) but to see how many people have paid close attention to the details of the case. I got tired o seeing multiple threads based on people's imagination of what must have happened and thought I'd post one to see who had done their reading first. So you win one internet at least :-)

[Spazito]

10. I disagree with your contention "that's politics" but I did LOL on ....

my "win" for reading before posting!

Have a good night or, more accurately, have a good day, lol.

[MajorChode]

11. His report is shorter, but contains much of the same information

The reason for the arrest is included in both reports.

Officer Figueroa's report is significant because everything in it backs up Crowley's report, and both of which are in direct conflict with Gates' version of events. So in order to believe Gates, you must believe that at least two police officers lied on their official report. Crowley reports that more officers and at least one witness was present during the arrest, so it's possible (and probable) that more statements exist from one or more of them as well.

As far as Officer Figueroa being a person of color (as his surname suggests) and whether that should influence the discussion, I would say that it should influence the discussion to the same extent that Crowley's race and/or color should influence the discussion.