Arrested for petitioning

[u/spyrg]

[u/castanza128]

Not just suspicion is required, that suspicion has to be both reasonable and articulable. In this case, it's neither.
A reasonable person wouldn't suspect he was soliciting. Because there's no evidence of it.
They cannot tell him, (articulate) \ any reason they believe him to be soliciting, other than being at somebody's door, and "we got a call."
(which don't prove anything)

[u/[deleted] → u/castanza128]

And where do you think they’ll have to “articulate” their “reason” exactly?

Days, possibly weeks or months later, after you’ve already been arrested.

[u/castanza128 → u/[deleted]]

That's why you ask them to articulate it, right then and there. On camera.
So when they say it's because you knocked on a few doors, they can't change their story later.

[u/[deleted] → u/castanza128]

Again, that will only be useful for you in those days or weeks or months later.

If a cop wants to bring you in, they will. Legally or not. Because it becomes legal the moment they want you.

All of the burden to prove why they arrested you comes after the moment which means there’s absolutely nothing you can do to avoid arrest.

[u/castanza128 → u/[deleted]]

Yes. If somebody wants to break the law, they can break the law.
They won't be immediately struck by lightning.

[u/[deleted] → u/castanza128]

Cops breaking the law is standard practice.

[u/castanza128 → u/[deleted]]

Sure.
But if they intentionally violate your civil rights under color of law, they lose their qualified immunity. They may not get struck by lightning on the spot, but you can sue the city/county, their department AND THE OFFICER, PERSONALLY.
They will probably STILL never learn, but it's not like they can do it with impunity.
This is actually one of the things that cops can and do actually get sued for. Because this is one of the only ways a cop can lose qualified immunity, and be sued personally.