After seeing the video from another thread here of the assault, I have some observations I would like to share. Here is the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiradcejA6oRev Yearwood repeatedly asked why the police were questioning him. They claimed he cut in line or somehow his place in line was illegitimate. The Reverend said to ask witnesses nearby who said he was standing in line. The police then started talking about arrest because the Reverend was not following their illegitimate orders. So, the Reverend repeatedly asked, "Arrest me for what?" I could hear no response from the police in the video. Don't they have to tell you charges or something?
At around 1:31 in the video things really pick up. The Reverend starts walking away (looks like toward the line) saying, "No, no, you're not going to arrest me." It was a statement like 'this doesn't make any sense' not like 'I am going to run away.' The police officer behind the Reverend then grabbed him not too aggressively. You can see this at 1:40 in the video.
At that point, the Reverend freaked out saying again, "No, no, you're not going to arrest me" and moving all about in fear of irrational, illegal, authoritarian behavior of the police. He was surrounded by these irrational control freaks who would not listen to reason putting their hands all over him. Then, it stepped up within a second and they all took him down.