Perspective Changes Everything

Felony Arrest Of Student Who Bought Water Riles Many In Virginia

SHOULD READ:

Gang of 6 Approach a Female Student's Car and Scare the Crap Out of Her

It's night time in a parking lot and six people approach a young lady's car and bang on the windows and shout at her. I'd be scared too.

My position is simple: Why six people?  Why plainclothes?  I'd be skeptical of anyone not recognizable as police approaching my vehicle, whether they flash "badges" in the dark of the night or not.

Maybe I've seen too many movies or read too much "Crime Blotter."

But doesn't perspective change everything? Here's a young lady buying perfectly innocent items at a grocery store - no reason at all to think she's in trouble.

So why would there be cops?  Isn't probable cause called for?  Shouldn't a cop have been present at the purchase and therefore be able to see what was being purchased?  Were they guessing, outside, in that parking lot?  There doesn't seem to be any real police work here.

Here's a young lady in a parking lot, getting into her car, after visiting a grocery store for actual groceries, around 10pm (therefore it's dark and presumably scary), and a person, or persons, approach her vehicle. Why would she think they were police? 

No uniforms? A quickly flashed badge in the dark? This sounds like how all the stories of rape and muggings and assaults begin... 

I'd get the hell out of there, too!