First, the guy is apparently a drug dealer, preying on and destroying addicted souls for his own financial benefit. I hope he's convicted and sentenced appropriately.

Now, regarding "general description" and searches. We agree that the police have probably covered themselves here. They've got a good story, and they've got an arrest of a bad guy.

But... how many other times have they stopped, hassled, and patted down the other residents or visitors to that street who "probably matched the 'general description'?" When there isn't an arrest, the excuse that "he fits the description of someone we are supposed to be looking out for" is a very convenient and difficult to dispute way to profile and hassle anybody you feel like hassling. And don't think it's not done.

IF THAT JOKER WOULD SELL THEM DRUGS TO ONE OF YOUR KIDS WITH FATAL RESULTS WOULD YOU STILL FEEL BAD FOR HIM? BESIDES HE'S TOO DUMB TO BE OUT.

Don't misunderstand. I don't feel bad for this guy at all. HE got what was coming to him.

I feel bad for the untold number of innocent, harmless, people who are hassled just because the officer can do it, and feels like doing it. How many people are stopped, patted down, and NOT arrested? This is a favorite "reason" to justify the stop. And then the LEO acts like he's doing the "suspected perp" a favor by letting him go ( i.e. without provoking a confrontation or just plain making up a reason to arrest the person he illegally searched.)

I agree police make up reasons to stop people and do illegal searches all the time. And if the person protests too much they will charge them with some made up charge, such as, disorderly conduct. The police then have a "bargaining chip" as in dismiss the disorderly conduct charge for the citizens silence. Right or wrong? End justifies the means? As you get older the world and issues becomes more gray.

But if you are going to protest do it from a position of advantage. Don't protest on the street, do it later with a lawyer. Now this is easier to do for some people than others. Money, appearance, lack of criminal record, knowledge of the system all play a part.

Is the style of policing different in a ghetto area vs. a middle class or up scale area. Sure it is and if an officer brings "ghetto policing tactics" to an upscale area he will be called on the carpet very quickly by his superiors. And if an officer brings up scale neighborhood policing tactics to the ghetto he will be ineffective if not dead or injured. Right or wrong? As I said the world is shades of gray.

Right or wrong? I'm not sure. Maybe right. But does that mean we need different constitutions for different levels of our society? I really don't know the answer, but I hope not.

World is gray. Yep. The ability and willingness to break the law with impunity and without remorse is what makes the worst criminals... and the worst law enforcement officers.