I have relatives and friends who are in law enforcement that have explained similar scenarios before. Sometimes they will take away a guy to diffuse a situation who has not necessarily committed a "crime" but he is the focus of a potential problem. It is easier to remove the one negative element than to break up a fight, arrest 5 drunks or actually tazer one of them. In this instance I will agree it could have been done without actually cuffing the guy. Maybe even just given him an escort back to his car with a lecture to leave the drunks alone. I do understand the tactics in play here though.

What is weird to me is that I watched this video ready to be appalled our police officers were doing something wrong. I was ready to cry "foul" and stand by the right to free speech. Then I saw what actually happened and found myself having to defend the actions of the officers :P