This fine article is a cautionary tale about the dangers of jumping to conclusions. First, officer Coleman did in his investigation, then the media in their reporting of the aftermath of that failure.

In the dumbed-down America of the 21st century we want our news succinct and simple, with easy to spot heroes and villains that reinforce our biases. Black drug users, racist Texas towns -- those are things we can get our heads around.

Complexity, on the other hand, just harshes our mellow.