Originally Posted by
flyerguy88
Character evidence is generally prohibited for exactly this reason: people introduce it, extrapolate, and come to ludicrous conclusions.
I think the conclusion is totally legitimate. The moral outrage brigade is ignoring the various signs that point to this guy acting in a bizarre and unhinged fashion. The personal background is merely an explanation for why this guy's behavior was off.
People live such sheltered lives. Guess what, this guy didn't get especially rough treatment. If the cops had given him a good kicking while on the ground, I'd be the first to scream police brutality. But if someone wedged in a difficult to access position 'plays dead', he's asking to be dragged off. You do what you gotta do to get the guy moving. You don't stand there and offer the guy some extra cash or negotiate for hours. Life has to go on and it will go on even if you have to be carried off.