Last night, I had my radio scanner on, set to the local police frequency. I listen to police radio often, it's interesting sometimes. Anyway, I heard something about a flag being on fire at the high school 3 houses down from me. Police had already responded, and everything was under control, etc. I was bored, and mildly interested to see what was happening, considering it was just a short stroll up the street. I assumed it would be in this lower parking lot area of the school, which is fairly removed from the street... I could just pass by on the sidewalk without getting near anything happening.
After walking up towards this bridge directly in front of the school, I realized the cops were actually right on the street, right across the bridge. Just a few cars, flashing lights weren't on. I would have just turned around, but I was at a point where doing so would appear highly suspicious. I was pretty sure one of the officers saw me, and I knew they were looking for the people who set the flag on fire, so I didn't want to instantly turn around and act as if I needed to avoid the police. I decided I'd continue on the sidewalk, and calmly walk past them.
As I got to the end of the bridge, an officer shined a light on me from across the street. I looked up, and this officer ran across the road toward me.
"Hey, you? What's your name?!" she had a highly confrontational tone.
I politely replied.
"Where are we comin' from, tonight, Henry?" In that sarcastic, "you punk" kind of manner.
I told her I lived right down the street.
"You got anything to do with burning this flag?"
"No..."
Then she asked where I was heading, and unfortunately I hadn't thought ahead to come up with something in advance. I was honest and told her I saw activity up here, and was wondering what was going on (Didn't mention the scanner).
Referring to the flag, she remarked "Pretty rotten thing to do, don't you think? Pretty disrespectful."
"Uh, yeah... I don't, um, support it or anything", and it pretty much ended right there... I went back on my way.
Now, this whole time she was shining this bright light in my face. I understand that's a common procedure, but I couldn't see who I was talking to, and it's weird and annoying to have to talk to a blinding light. She wasn't so uptite towards the end, but was fairly rude to me overall. I wasn't doing anything wrong, there was no reason to believe I was. There were no flashing lights, and it wasn't clear that anything I should have stayed away from was happening. I had every right to walk up the street, and I don't think I deserved the kind of scrutiny or accusational tone I received.
This town has way too many police for its size.
