Resisting Arrest Lawyer

Resisting arrest is when an officer gives a lawful command to stop, and somebody doesn’t stop.

That can go from somebody running to somebody fighting with cops. Resisting arrest is a charge that we fought against as prosecutors and defended against as defense attorneys. With this charge, you have to get down into the details of what happened.

Once cops are there, once you’re in that situation, comply even if they’re entirely in the wrong, even if you’re entirely in the right. Fighting with a cop in the middle of an arrest situation will never help. They will use overwhelming force because that is how they are trained. It is for officer safety. They’re going to stop whatever they perceive the problem to be. If you’re the problem, they’re going to go through you. So just stop, comply, and let your attorney deal with the situation.

As officers start wearing body cams and using dashcams, it is easier to determine whether or not we can fight these charges. Sometimes a lawful command is enough to create a resisting arrest charge. I’ve seen cases where somebody is handcuffed, and they simply turn to the side, which becomes a resisting arrest charge.

It’s all about whether or not it’s a misdemeanor or felony and the amount of struggle that goes into it. So that simple turn to the side would typically be a misdemeanor unless you’re resisting arrest for a felony charge of something else. Then resisting arrest could be a felony. A simple move of the shoulders could be a resisting arrest felony charge.

It is very fact-specific. You have to investigate why officers are arresting you, what activity you were doing, and the arrest results. That’s something an experienced attorney can dig into and help.

MISDEMEANOR OR FELONY RESISTING ARREST

RESISTING ARREST STATUTE

 575.150.   Resisting or interfering with arrest — penalties. —

1.  A person commits the offense of resisting or interfering with arrest, detention, or stop if he or she knows or reasonably should know that a law enforcement officer is making an arrest or attempting to lawfully detain or stop an individual or vehicle, and for the purpose of preventing the officer from effecting the arrest, stop or detention, he or she:

  (1)  Resists the arrest, stop or detention of such person by using or threatening the use of violence or physical force or by fleeing from such officer; or

  (2)  Interferes with the arrest, stop or detention of another person by using or threatening the use of violence, physical force or physical interference.

  2.  This section applies to:

  (1)  Arrests, stops, or detentions, with or without warrants;

  (2)  Arrests, stops, or detentions, for any offense, infraction, or ordinance violation; and

  (3)  Arrests for warrants issued by a court or a probation and parole officer.

  3.  A person is presumed to be fleeing a vehicle stop if he or she continues to operate a motor vehicle after he or she has seen or should have seen clearly visible emergency lights or has heard or should have heard an audible signal emanating from the law enforcement vehicle pursuing him or her.

  4.  It is no defense to a prosecution pursuant to subsection 1 of this section that the law enforcement officer was acting unlawfully in making the arrest.  However, nothing in this section shall be construed to bar civil suits for unlawful arrest.

  5.  The offense of resisting or interfering with an arrest is a class E felony for an arrest for a:

  (1)  Felony;

  (2)  Warrant issued for failure to appear on a felony case; or

  (3)  Warrant issued for a probation violation on a felony case.

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The offense of resisting an arrest, detention or stop in violation of subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection 1 of this section is a class A misdemeanor, unless the person fleeing creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury or death to any person, in which case it is a class E felony.