It was in late 1977 when I first saw this film on HBO and back then I couldn't understand why the cops mistreated Mike when he tried to tell them he saw the sniper. I just saw it again on Blu-ray after all these years and I figured it was because they were afraid if he told anybody, it could cause a panic.
If cops behave like that for real, that could be the reason why some in the public may be too afraid to tell the cops anything.
They didn't want him to start a panic.
I can understand their logic but also the way they handled it was not right and yes, cops do behave like that for real!
Why?
It's easier to take care of Mike and make it go away than go after the real problem.
People have told the Police hey there is a guy in that house selling drugs.
Instead of going after the guy that's selling drug, they arrest the person who reported it and if he resists which he has the right to because he is being falsely arrested, they wil charge him with resisting arrest.
Nowadays resisting arrest will also get you tasered or killed.
I've seen episode of COPS where the persons being arrested were not even resisting. If the cops don't like your answer to their questions or if your answers do not come fast enough, they place you under arrest.
You just try to step back once or pull your arm away once while they are putting their handcuffs on you, that's it.
They will wrestle you down to the ground and then said you resisted arrest and you assaulted an officer.
Most cops are not your friend nowadays.