<p>@poetsheart - UCB is correct in what I meant. Once an officer is dispatched, (s)he must go. At least around here- I know this because I’ve had to call the cops many times in my old job and then would call and say “nevermind”. Every time, without fail, the cops still showed up and did a quick sweep of the area. </p>
<p>It is not surprising to me that he was dispatched given that there’s been a string of broad daylight, high-profile robberies over the last week. People are very much on edge. Note: I am NOT saying that excuses calling in because a black man has his hands in his pockets. I AM saying that that the dispatcher probably said people were seeing something “suspicious” and the officer needed to check it out. </p>