When the bins are full and I am jumpseating or nonrev home/work I have asked agents if I could ask the captain if I could stow my crew bag up front. If they couldn't then I would send it out and wouldn't question it or cause delay. Never been turned down by a captain, thou have had agents get really huffy when I walk to my seat and say the captain let me stow my bags up front.
As sad as it is, many agents think the plane is theirs when the plane is still at the gate. This is not an isolated issue, thou the captain getting arrested sure is a first.