Then the Sheriff showed up and insisted they be arrested...
Everything was fine until one person who didn't get it, who happened to be in charge, showed up.
Reading only ever so slightly between the lines, it's clear that he probably did get it, just that he either wanted to swing his dick around for its own sake, or, more likely it seems from the dedcription in the article, resented that he was kept out of the loop on "his turf".
> the cops showed up, held the guys
> they showed them their letter that they were authorized
> the cops called the references on the letter
> Then the Sheriff showed up and insisted they be arrested...
and your response is:
> Per the legal system, arrested is probably safe course of action until they could verify the authenticity of the letter.
?
This is the equivalent of a phishing email providing you a phone number.
I think that arrest was warranted until thy could independently confirm the phone numbers…
Your premise is correct, you conclusion is stupid. "hey jon, pull out your phone, is this the same number listed on the county webpage for this office?" - "yeah jack sure is" - "hey thanks for your patience guys, and thanks for your help protecting the court house from the baddies"
Even if you couldn't do that, and couldn't hold them on site. Sure, transport them back to hold while you have the person on the phone drive down to the police station with id. There was NO reason to charge and arraign them.
Doesn't say they called the "numbers on the letter" anywhere?
Also that wasn't even the point the sheriff made:
> He said the Dallas County Courthouse was under his jurisdiction and he hadn’t authorized any such intrusion.
He was upset at the idea of higher authority overriding his authority, he was power tripping. Seems so arbitrary to decide for you to bootlick his authority in particular, just because he is a cop?
How would that even work? How could you possibly establish probable cause in that situation? It's certainly not credible that there'd be an above 50% chance someone presenting such a letter is a criminal.