examiNation Baltimore: How do you feel about police arresting teens for dancing?

I can't believe our world has come to this. When there are killings no one can explain, kids who are left unwanted and a world at war, we are worried if someone "what" appears to be gifted,(if though their feet)are doing bad. For those of you that have time to think this is not right, get a grip on what is really out there, would you rather they have a weapon in hand for the next unsettling drive by. Food for thought people. Written by a lady who see dancing dated back to the "what" 1900's, has always been just a way to show what they all were able to do in their own way.Following the dancing greats of your time, it will surprise you just who stood out then too. So, sorry if I feel that yes, we all should hold a great deal of respect for the law officers of today, for they do have much more to handle in the streets today you would think,? then to have to be made to believe this too is going to kill perhaps your child that maybe be just gifted, not everyone is out to hurt just express.

The police have rights also. The policeman was called to the scene to investigate a possible crime. The young man who was feeling the need to show off interfered with that investigation. I would consider this as hindering that officer in the performance of his job which is also an arrestable offense. He was most definitely causing a distrubance which is part of Disorderly Conduct. His actions drew a crowd that now cause the police to fear for their saftey and cause undue stree to the officer trying to deal with another situation. How many of our citizens would like to do their jobs with this clown dancing the crip walk gathering a crowd around them while they are trying to work. Lets face it our citizens are not in the peril that the police officer places himself in everytime he puts his uniform on to protect us. It all lends itself the the break down of respect between individuals in our Country. Thank god for the Police and what they do for us every day the put on the uniform.

I hate these scumbags in the city as much as anyone. They are illiterate, mean, stupid, and worthless bastards . Nevertheless, you can't arrest someone for things such as this. While it might be tempting to do away with our liberal (that is small 'l' liberal) traditions in order to have some order it will hurt us in the long run. If we create a beast to destroy these animals it will, in time, turn on people like us.

Read the story before you post Back against the wall said: Guess if he was slam dancin'(where the "good kids" jump from the stage of a rock concert and are passed around above the crowd) it would be ok. Welcome to America. What's next, arrest an 8 yr old sitting on a miniture dirt bike?

They should have tasered the gang-related "Crip Walk" dancer.Then arrest him. I don't need people like that in my town.

Guess if he was slam dancin'(where the "good kids" jump from the stage of a rock concert and are passed around above the crowd) it would be ok. Welcome to America. What's next, arrest an 8 yr old sitting on a miniture dirt bike?

I have never heard anything about this.This is going to be a slow weekend with a stupid question like this

since when it is a crime to dance in public?

What kind of question is "Should police arrest people for dancing?" Of course police should not arrest people simply for dancing. However, that is not what happened in this incident. The "dance" was a gang related movement that was directed at the police officer in disrespect. Furthermore, the "dance" was meant to stir people up and attract a crowd in order to intimidate the officer. I applaud the officer for having the guts to take on this thug. In the good old days, this idiot kid would not have been arrested. He would have gotten a "wood shampoo" and have been sent home to his parent. He is lucky that the days of street justice being meted out by the police are by and large over.

I so agree. And he should be charged.

Except this gangbanger was not dancing he was taunting and using gang signs. we need to stop treating these criminals like law abiding citizens. I wish we had some of the penalties that Singapore has because there would be no repeat offenders. Hold the parents responsible for their teens behavior start prosecuting these criminals and let life in prison mean life in prison. I am sick of these criminals and these laws protecting them and the papers making them sound like victims.

So, according to you it's ok to taunt a police officer when he/she is on duty and legitimately doing his/her job? Interesting. Come on people... there was no arrest for dancing but an arrest for flashing gang signs and taunting an officer on duty. This guy shouldn't get charged but this guy definitely should have gotten some discipline for messing with an officer on duty.

Another prime example of the Baltimore City Police Department going to far...there was no crime committed so there was no reason for an arrest. What a waste of time and money

Sounds like the Examiner was pulling a bait and switch on the facts behind the story...

this cop had courage to face down this teen thug. good for him. too bad the charges against him were dropped. the kid needs to learn a lesson or two about life.