Reader: Resist Arrest and You'll Get Your Ass Kicked Even for Just Rolling a Joint

Our post featuring a video of a high school student taken to the ground by law enforcers after being seen rolling a joint found our readers divided into two camps. Some felt authorities overreacted in a major way, while a large number of others argued that the student brought the...

By Michael Roberts

February 9, 2015

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Our post featuring a video of a high school student taken to the ground by law enforcers after being seen rolling a joint found our readers divided into two camps. Some felt authorities overreacted in a major way, while a large number of others argued that the student brought the pain on himself. Here's an example from a reader who believes the latter.

c.burnett writes:

When the police asked him what he had in his hand, he hid it under his sleeve and then resisted arrest. If he had just showed them the joint and gave it to them without any hesitation, nothing probably would have happened. I am not the biggest supporters of cops nowadays neither but NEVER resist arrest or else this will happen every time.

Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.

For more memorable takes, visit our Comment of the Day archive.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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