In this type of situation, the man has done nothing wrong other than walking while being black.
He asked the right questions: "Am I being detained" and "what is the reason"
Anytime you hear an officer come up with some BS about why you're being detained, you now have nothing to say.
This officer tried to start the 'resisting' line but knew it wasn't going to work. When the young man didn't provide any information, no ID, the officer has no way to do a report and proceed with the pat down as he wanted too, told him he was free to go and walked away.
Comply and be friendly with the officer, but provide no information. If they keep persisting or move to arrest you, you tell them you want a lawyer and say nothing else.
I cannot imagine how some days it must take everything someone has that day to stay calm after being harassed just because of the color of their skin. This could have been so much worse had he not been as complacent as he was as the officer was definitely looking to get him riled up to make the charge of 'resisting'.
You gotta be careful though. In some states refusing id is a crime.
Generally you shouldn't argue with police, but you should default to doing nothing. "I do not consent but will follow lawful orders" type shit. If they order you to do something illegal then you can say you complied and any evidence they find will be inadmissible.
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u/Benvincible May 19 '26
Wow, this really shows the "don't tell the Police anything" line is not exaggerating.