# Kissing your husband while black? Not if the LAPD can help it. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 14, 2014, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492 "2014-09-14T19:21:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 39
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/761 "2014-09-17T16:36:57Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > According to the [St. Paul City attorney](http://blogs.mprnews.org/newscut/2014/09/city-attorney-fnb-seats-in-skyway-are-public/), the skyway in question is public property. That’s not what she said. She said it was a “public area”. That does not mean the same thing as public property. > [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > [It was in a skyway area of Minneapolis.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minneapolis_Skyway_System) There is no signage that the area was reserved for employees or anyone else. And the [public](http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site569/2014/0903/20140903__9-3SkywayLounge.jpg) routinely sit on the [couches that](http://stmedia.startribune.com/images/2Lollie090514.JPG)are there to seat people. The area is designated for the building’s employees. Sign or no sign, the guy should have moved along when building security told him to move. That’s what most normal people, black or white, would do. > [@](#): > > Why didn’t the cops just arrest him as soon as they saw him, if he was truly trespassing? Instead, they hounded him for his name and then tazed him when he refused to give it to them. You’re objecting to asking for someone’s name but saying they should have arrested him? I would think the former is the less confrontational approach. This guy chose to make a confrontation about it. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/762 "2014-09-17T16:37:07Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Per Minnesota law, one who “trespasses on the premises of another and, without claim of right, refuses to depart from the premises on demand of the lawful possessor” is guilty of trespassing regardless of whether any signs are posted. He was not on the premises of another – he was in a public place. The Minnesota Skyways are public places, not privately owned premises. You are factually incorrect here (yet again). ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/763 "2014-09-17T16:37:38Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > So the detained man was not trespassing, and was acting lawfully. So the detained man was loitering, and was acting unlawfully. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaptics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Sinaptics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaptics)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/764 "2014-09-17T16:37:48Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > You’ve missed the point that he was legally entitled to ask for her ID and detain her. > > ['Django Unchained' Actress Detained By Police Following Public Display Of Affection - CBS Los Angeles](http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/09/14/django-unchained-actress-daniele-watts-accosted-by-police-following-public-display-of-affection/) Detain her for what reason? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/765 "2014-09-17T16:41:08Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > That’s not what she said. She said it was a “public area”. That does not mean the same thing as public property. Huh? Nowhere does it say in the article or the [Pioneer Press report](http://www.twincities.com/crime/ci_26462438/st-paul-man-arrested-skyway-was-public-area) that he was on private property when the police arrived. > [@](#): > > The area is designated for the building’s employees. Sign or no sign, the guy should have moved along when building security told him to move. That’s what most normal people, black or white, would do. According to the Pioneer Press article, he moved out of the “employees” area into the public area of the skyway at some point after the security guard asked him to, and was in the public (rather than the “employees”) area when police arrived. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/766 "2014-09-17T16:42:09Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > So the detained man was loitering, and was acting unlawfully. No, he was not loitering. He was waiting for his kids in a public place – that’s not loitering. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/767 "2014-09-17T16:42:22Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > That’s not what she said. She said it was a “public area”. That does not mean the same thing as public property. For the purposes of defining what does and does not constitute trespassing, all that matters is that he was in a “public area” and his presence in that area was lawful. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/768 "2014-09-17T16:42:28Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > [It was in a skyway area of Minneapolis.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minneapolis_Skyway_System) BTW, according to this cite; > [@](#): > > The skyways are owned by individual buildings in Minneapolis, and as such they do not have uniform opening and closing times. The building management certainly think they own the skyway, and Wikipedia and its source agree with them. On what basis is the city attorney saying they don’t? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/769 "2014-09-17T16:44:21Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > For the purposes of defining what does and does not constitute trespassing, all that matters is that he was in a “public area” and his presence in that area was lawful. It’s quite possible to trespass in a public area. ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/770 "2014-09-17T16:45:58Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > Ha ha! But, the cop is racist, don’t you see that? > > What a couple of fucking douchebags (Watts and dipshit boyfriend). I’m ashamed to say I had to read the word “bongoing” several times before I figured out how it needed to be parsed out. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/771 "2014-09-17T16:46:49Z")
This whole thing about the skyway should be easily resolved instead of this back and forth. Is there a civil or criminal suit in this case? If so, what have the results been? If not…well, why not? And if it hasn’t been resolved (yet…which is my guess), then simply wait until it IS resolved in the courts to see whether the guy was trespassing and the police had the right to ask him for ID and detain him on refusal or if they didn’t have the right and were acting out of line. After all, if the police were exceeding their authority the courts will so rule…and vice versa. Right? Or am I missing something here? ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/772 "2014-09-17T16:47:30Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > It’s quite possible to trespass in a public area. I repeat: his presence in that area was lawful. Of note, the charges against him for trespassing were dropped. But please keep on insisting he was trespassing against all the evidence that says he wasn’t. Its amazing the lengths you jack boot licking idiots will take to defend horrible cops. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/773 "2014-09-17T16:47:41Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > BTW, according to this cite; > > The building management certainly think they own the skyway, and Wikipedia and its source agree with them. On what basis is the city attorney saying they don’t? According to [this source](http://www.minnpost.com/cityscape/2014/09/skyway-arrest-video-leads-talk-about-race-ids-and-skyways-unclear-publicprivate-bo), it depends on the city in Minnesota – and in St. Paul, all the skyways are publicly owned and operated. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/774 "2014-09-17T16:51:30Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > I repeat: his presence in that area was lawful. If he was asked to leave and refused, then his presence was unlawful. > [@](#): > > Of note, the charges against him for trespassing were dropped. _Entirely_ on the merits of the case and in no way because of the public fracas that the anti-law-and-order crowd stirred up. > [@](#): > > But please keep on insisting he was trespassing against all the evidence that says he wasn’t. Its amazing the lengths you jack boot licking idiots will take to defend horrible cops. He refused to depart from the premises on demand of the lawful possessor. He was trespassing. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/775 "2014-09-17T16:54:26Z")
A police officer has a million times more power over an individual than a lowly waitress. For one thing, a police officer can kill you in broad daylight, with witnesses all around, and never have to spend a single moment in jail. By virture of his badge. Which means that a citizen needs to exercise every right they are entitled to when dealing with the cops to offset that power. ETA: posted in response to something said ages ago ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/776 "2014-09-17T16:59:00Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > According to [this source](http://www.minnpost.com/cityscape/2014/09/skyway-arrest-video-leads-talk-about-race-ids-and-skyways-unclear-publicprivate-bo), it depends on the city in Minnesota – and in St. Paul, all the skyways are publicly owned and operated. According to that same source: > [@](#): > > Because they are officially public and were more carefully regulated, you would imagine that the St. Paul skyways would feel more like a public space. > > In practice, though, as the Lollie incident reveals, the rules in skyways are always unclear. No matter their legal status, these spaces exist as a gray area where the borders between public and private space bleed together into an indistinct mass. For example, in some cases, the technical right-of-way (i.e. walkway) might be public, while chairs outside shops or office building lobbies might be private. In other cases, everything is private, even though the public has de facto access. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/777 "2014-09-17T17:04:42Z")
And yet its indisputed that he was in the walkway (e.g. a public space), so what is your point? That it’s private except when it’s not? Well duh. Is it possible for you move on pass this issue and address the fact that cops tazed a man for not telling him his name? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/778 "2014-09-17T17:04:55Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > He was not on the premises of another – he was in a public place. The Minnesota Skyways are public places, not privately owned premises. You are factually incorrect here (yet again). Guys can you take this hijack about some Minnesota issue to another thread? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/779 "2014-09-17T17:05:17Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Which means that a citizen needs to exercise every right they are entitled to when dealing with the cops to offset that power. And it also means that a citizen needs to respect that fact and not piss the cops off more than they have to. An “Am I being detained or am I free to go?” will get you a lot farther than “I KNOW MY RIGHTS FUCK OFF PIG” whether you’re in the right or not. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492/780 "2014-09-17T17:06:18Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > And yet its indisputed that he was in the walkway (e.g. a public space), so what is your point? That it’s private except when it’s not? Well duh. > > Is it possible for you move on pass this issue and address the fact that cops tazed a man for not telling him his name? No, they Tased him for repeatedly trying to walk away while he was lawfully detained and for refusing to allow them to handcuff him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492.md?page=38) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-your-husband-while-black-not-if-the-lapd-can-help-it/698492.md?page=40)