Can anyone explain precisely why Gerard cuffs Royce and tosses his mobile phone in the river? I understand, per Gerard's subordinate's comment, that the team determined Royce had withheld info from them, but I don't follow the segue. I know it is relatively cryptic, but can someone lay it out for me? Thanks.
shareThe mobile phone thing was surely a mini act of retribution/intimidation on Gerard's part, showing Royce who's in charge. The cuffs are another thing altogether and a sign of the sloppy attention to detail at points in this film.
When the scene takes place, the purpose is clearly to expose the Sunglass Escape Technique™. With the other Marshals freely admitting they have never seen the SET before, and Gerard's knowing "I have", I thought that he had figured out (as the rest of the ruddy audience had) that Snipes was DSS-trained. However this clue is swiftly shelved until later, when Gerard & co. see the CCTV footage, where all of a sudden it is a revelation that our Wes is a spook.
Also, it is a sign that Downey, Jr.'s character is quite a handy operator, despite his initially cocky persona.
All that the previous poster said with showing the DSS handcuff trick and giving the underling hint that Mark Warren/Roberts/Sheridan isn't just any random fugitive but a trained former agent.
But also what Gerard said in the film he was arrested for withholding evidence as well.