According to her statement, her conversation was already done, so the "crime" was over.
The only decision on the cop's part is whether or not a crime was committed.
If there was a crime then he should have already arrested her and i would support that.
If there was no crime committed then he should drop it and leave her alone.
But instead of deciding what to do based on the law and his observations, he apparently decided what to do based upon either his emotional reaction to the woman not cowtowing to his opinion about the "crime" or perhaps because he was already prepared to illegally ignore the crime provided that she cowtowed enough to suit him. Neither rationale is acceptable.
It's the exact same thing that happened on a much larger scale with the macho raid on the "Waco Compound." In Idaho, what should Randy Weaver's wife have done?
Rudeness is not a crime. "Having an attitude" is not a crime. This policeman probably missed actual crimes being committed in that station because of the energy he wasted on this.
I am disgusted with the wholesale willingness of many commenting here to carte blanche defend the police over a citizen when there is not very much evidence of any crime other than possible rudeness. Rather than accepting a little disorder for the sake of freedom the prevailing sentiment seems to be in favor of a police state.
It is perfectly possible to respect policemen and the law without agreeing with their actions on matters like this.
No crime committed?
She was charged with two misdemeanors: "disorderly manner that disturbed the public peace" and resisting arrest
She was swearing loudly into a cell phone which is "disturbing the peace". Granted it can be interpreted rather leniently, but that's the way it is.
Obviously, the officer had asked her to quiet down and would have let her be if she had merely complied. However, she decided to inform the cops of her rights and I am sure in a most profane manner.
He had no choice at this point. And I see nothing wrong with what he did.
Should a cop just ignore someone screaming profanities in a public place because no real crime has been commited, or as you put it "the crime was over". That argument doesn't work for bank robbers either.
Quit being a dumbass, it just makes life harder.