In Massachusetts and elsewhere, courts have said the “disorderly acts or language” must take place in public where others can be disturbed.

It is probably not a crime of disorderly conduct for a homeowner, standing in his own kitchen, to speak abusively to a police officer…

“I would say it is not constitutional to arrest someone in his home just for being loud and abusive to a police officer,” said Boston University law professor Tracey Maclin. “That’s why the cop asked him to come outside, where he could be arrested for being disorderly in public.”