How I Ended Up in Solitary After Calling 911 for Help

THIS is why you don't talk to cops. Remember all those people that said "what if you're not the person they're looking for? What if you see an accident?"

This is what happened. Do you understand yet? If you have to talk to cops, despite everything you've now read or heard, then talk to them as little as possible. Follow their orders and get the hell away. The cop told him to leave. He should have left. His civic duty was done at that point.

It'd be great if we could hammer down the officers/departments that conduct themselves in this way by firing and charging the officers in question, but there's no political appetite for it. The complaints process isn't going to accomplish anything-- I think the author knows that very well by now.

I suggest complaining to the mayor or trying to round up some sort of political action campaign flush with cash. Donate to candidates who campaign on being tough on cops. Make it a campaign issue.

It's either that, or be left with this infuriating feeling of helplessness and disgust.

Lots of talking to cops here. Don't talk to cops.

Lots of rights-demanding. We don't know how aggressive he was with it. If the cops think you are a threat, then who is going to change their mind?

Several counts of not doing what a cop says. Do what a cop says.

Just saying he could have saved himself a lot of grief.

The solution to the situation presented to the author of this article was, of course, simple: do whatever the people with guns say. Don't talk back. Don't make eye contact. Wait until it's over and hope it doesn't get worse.

But maybe sometimes I won't do that. And maybe then this will happen to me.

That is something I had not considered. But what can you do about it?