From: pschleif@speakeasy.org

On Sun, 3 Aug 2014 23:48:20 +0000 (UTC), "Adam H. Kerman"
 wrote:

>Peter Schleifer   wrote:

>>Now the emphasis is on going after people who are actually committing
>>crimes, even minor ones, which has led to the current controversy over
>>someone who was selling untaxed cigarettes dying while being
>>restrained by police using a choke hold (which is against department
>>policy).
>
>I don't even get how a civil matter like municipal taxes got redefined
>as a crime. Couldn't they have mailed the guy a summons? Why were the
>police there at all?

He was selling loose cigarettes on the street, an act for which he had
been previously summonsed multiple times.  He got somewhat belligerent
when approached by the police, and one sure way to get arrested in NYC
is to be non-cooperative when being issued a summons.

This article has the latest on the aftermath of the incident as well
as links to the earlier stories:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/04/nyregion/after-recording-eric-
arner-chokehold-ramsey-orta-gets-charged-with-gun-possession.htm
?emc=edit_ur_20140804&nl=nyregion&nlid=4279&_r=0
--
Peter Schleifer
"Ignorance is easy and you get it for free"

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