Originally Posted by
studentff
No, I believe that a FA who was either ultra paranoid about security or on a power trip decided she wanted him removed, and exaggerated he situation to the captain. Rather than investigating the situation himself, the captain, probably also ultra security paranoid, took the FA's word and decided to remove the passenger "out of an abundance of caution"
(hate that phrase). The GA had nothing to do with it. It doesn't sound like the police did anything other than inspect the passenger's ID and probably run a warrant check. While I disagree with that action--cop had no legitimate grounds to demand papers from this passenger--the police had nothing to do with the passenger being evicted, and it doesn't sound like the police detained him for more than a few minutes.
This is my assessment, also. The FA probably has a hearing problem and misunderstood but rather than admit it she acted on what she thought she heard. People with hearing problems very often are unwilling to admit it and react with hostility towards those whose speech they don't understand, blaming them for deliberately slurring their speech.
(This is also assuming it's a real incident at all.)