The easiest way not to get arrested for dope is to not possess said dope. It's not a hard concept...
When a petty crime like possession of a joint, or illegally obtained cigarettes leads to death, there is something profoundly fucking wrong - and it's not all on the suspect.
Escalation involves two parties, and cops seems all the more willing to take things to extremes.
That being said, and this being common knowledge that shit can get out of hand quickly, why the fuck someone would not obey a cops orders to the letter, immediately and without argument, is beyond me.