Police can arrest you for a lot of things and resisting arrest is one of them. It can happen if you are slow to follow officer commands. This is not to say that an arresting officer will arrest you just because you are slow to follow orders, but it can be used as resisting what the officer is telling you to comply with. So the question is can you be arrested for resisting arrest? Yes, you can and most likely will be.
Before you get started you should always seek professional legal advice. This article is informational and is not legal advice in any way. If you find your self in trouble for resisting arrest or for any other type of charges you should seek professional legal help.
What does it mean to resist an arrest?
When someone resists being arrest it typically has the person who is being told they are going to be arrested obstructs or resist or delays the police from arresting or performing the duty of arrest. Simply not acting quick enough could lead an officer to arrest someone on resisting. The below is what typically qualifies as resisting:
- Giving the officer fake or false information
- Physically struggling with the officer during an attempt to arrest
- Attacking an officer while attempting to arrest
- Officer has to carry or drag you in order to arrest
The prosecutor must produce evidence
To get a conviction the prosecutor has to produce evidence called elements of the offense. The following is usually true to get a conviction:
- Defendant has resisted or obstructed officer intentionally
- Acted violently toward the officer or acted violently. This could be pushing or hitting the police officer.
How long could you stay in jail for resisting an arrest?
This type of arrest is not just a slap on the wrist in most cases. With this said and depending on the charges brought against you. You have the potential of facing one year or more in county jail. This is a class “A” misdemeanor and should be taken seriously. Also, it should be noted that depending on what state you are in the amount of jail time could differ and be higher or even less.
What happens once you get charged and arrested for resisting?
Once someone gets arrested for resisting any of all of the following types of penalties can happen:
- Fines: The court can drop fines on the person that gets arrested and charged for resisting arrest. These fines can start at 500 and go up from there.
- Incarceration: The person can get jail time in the county or even more time in state prison.
- Probation: A person can also get probation and have to meet with a probation officer.
How to find arrest records online?
Need to find arrest records online? we can provide the simplest means available to help find arrest records online with a first and last name. You can find all types of public record data this way. From criminal records to arrest and all other types of information.
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Seek professional help
If you find yourself arrested for resisting arrest we would recommend that you find professional help from an attorney that specializes in these types of criminal cases. A professional can help navigate the court system better then you can and could even help reduce or eliminate jail time. Having an experienced lawyer on your side can help explain the law and your options.