I was running so as not to be late [...] two uniformed policemen were running after me

It happened many years ago, but I still remember it every time I go through the Piazza Duomo Metro station. On that day I got off the train and was running so as not to be late for work. I didn’t realise there were two uniformed policemen running after me. They shouted for me to stop and asked me what I was escaping from, using the familiar “tu” form of address. I answered that, to start with, they should be using the polite “lei” form.
One of the policemen accused me of being high and mighty and said he was detaining me, still using the “tu” form. When we got to the police office in the Duomo Metro station he told his commanding officer that they had brought me in because I had tried to escape and that I was high and mighty.
I answered calmly that I’d been running because I didn’t want to be late for work and that all that I had done was to ask to be addressed with the “lei” form. Fortunately, the second policeman didn’t contradict my version, so the officer took his two policemen aside then pronounced me “free”.. In the meantime 30 minutes had gone by and I got to work late.