Orange County Criminal Defense Lawyer

3 Defenses to Resisting Arrest

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BLOG | Jul-20-203 Defenses to Resisting Arrest 
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Resisting arrest – also known as obstruction in other states – is defined as interfering with a police officer’s attempt to lawfully arrest someone or an EMT’s attempt to perform their lawful duties. In California, this offense is a misdemeanor that carries serious criminal penalties, such as a maximum jail sentence of one year and a fine of up to $1,000. 

Although there must be evidence that a person intentionally resisted, obstructed, or acted violently toward a police officer during active duty, the biased testimony of law enforcement officials possesses significant weight in court. However, there are several defenses a defendant and their criminal defense attorney can bring in court to have the charge dropped. 

The following are the most common legal defenses to resisting arrest: 

  • No intent – The defendant must purposefully and willfully interfere with an officer’s official duties. If the interference is an accident, then the accused cannot be guilty of resisting arrest. 
  • No probable cause – In order to make a lawful arrest, law enforcement officials must obtain probable cause that the defendant committed a crime. If there is no probable cause, any evidence obtained after the improper arrest is inadmissible in court. 
  • Self-defense – Police officers must use the necessary amount of force to arrest someone. But if the arresting officer acts violent or otherwise uses excessive force, the person being arrest has the right to protect himself/herself from unlawful force and resist arrest. The arresting officer must act violently first in order for the arrestee to act violently to resist arrest. 

Other common crimes associated with resisting arrest include assault, assault on a police officer, and resisting an executive officer (e.g. police officer, judge, prosecutor, attorney, elected official, etc.). Both forms of assault are misdemeanors while resisting an executive officer can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony. 

If you or a loved one has been accused of resisting arrest in Los Angeles or Orange County, The Law Office of Jacqueline Goodman is committed to helping you avoid conviction and getting your entire case dismissed. With more than two decades of experience, Attorney Jacqueline Goodman is a Certified Criminal Law Specialist who has handled many complex cases, including those involving police misconduct. 

Contact our firm today at (714) 879-5770 to discuss your case with our legal team. Schedule a free consultation! 

ARE YOU FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES IN ORANGE COUNTY? YOU NEED JACQUELINE ON YOUR SIDE.

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    MISDEMEANOR SETTLEMENT

    MISDEMEANOR SETTLEMENT

    2ND DUI

    Misdemeanor on completion of community service - Felony 2nd DUI, under 21 with injury.

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    case dismissed

    CASE REJECTED

    ATTEMPTED MURDER OF POLICE OFFICER

    Los Angeles Arrest Pre-filing representation on Attempted murder of police officer, assault with a deadly weapon upon a police officer.

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    CASE
    REJECTED

    CASE REJECTED

    ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON

    Strike felonies including assault with a deadly weapon - car with great bodily injury.

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    case dismissed

    Case dismissed

    CAR ACCIDENT

    Car accident, no license, speeding (filed by Anaheim City Attorney).

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    case dismissed

    Case dismissed

    CHILD ENDANGERMENT / CRUELTY

    Penal Code 273a(b) Child endangerment/cruelty.

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    case dismissed

    Case dismissed

    CHILD MOLESTATION

    Child molestation: Felony.

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    PROBATION TERMINATED EARLY

    PROBATION TERMINATED EARLY

    COMMERCIAL BURGLARY

    Commercial burglary probation violation: dismissed, no violation found.

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    case dismissed

    Case dismissed

    CONTEMPT OF COURT ORDER

    Contempt of court order by a gang member.

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    Case dismissed

    Case dismissed

    CHILD SEX ABUSE CASE

    Child Sex Abuse case dismissed.

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