Controversy surrounding the arrest of Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. continued on Thursday with Sergeant James Crowley, the arresting officer, stating he was disappointed by the president’s reaction Wednesday night.
“Well of course he is the president of the United States … I support the president … too a point, I guess. I think it is disappointing that he waded into what is a local issue and something that plays out here [in Cambridge],” said Crowley on the morning Boston radio show, Dennis and Callahan.
“As he himself said at the beginning of that press conference, he didn’t know all the facts … he certainly doesn’t based on those comments.”
During a White House Press Conference Wednesday night, President Obama said, “The Cambridge Police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home.”
Gates was arrested Tuesday for disorderly conduct and released shortly.
Crowley, an on-duty Cambridge police officer was responding to reports of a burglary taking place in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a neighborhood close to Harvard University.
As confirmed by the Cambridge Police report, Crowley spoke with the witness who made the 911 call, a white female who said she saw two African American males with backpacks. She said one of the two appeared to be “wedging” his shouldering into the front door.
As Crowley approached the house, Gates had already entered. Crowley then asked Gates if he could step outside. Gates refused.
Crowley then identified himself as a police officer for Cambridge Police Department.
According to the report, Crowley had confirmed with Gates that he was a Harvard professor and the likely homeowner. Gates, continued making comments about racism and racial profiling, as reported by several witnesses. Crowley eventually arrested the Harvard professor after several warnings.
White House spokesperson, Robert Gibbs, amid President Obama’s trip to Cleveland to garner support for his health care plan, said upon confirmation of Gates being the homeowner, “Cooler heads on all sides should have prevailed.”
Gates has demanded an apology. Yet despite the spotlight, Crowley said he has no plans to apologize.
“I know what I did was right ... I have nothing to apologize for.”
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