The cornerstone of American democracy is personal liberty. There are times, however, when your liberty is suspended. This happens when you are arrested. In Massachusetts, an arrest occurs when a person is taken into custody and is significantly deprived of his or her freedom. Said in another way, an arrest occurs when there is (a) an actual or constructive seizure or detention of a person, (b) performed with the intention to effect an arrest, and (c) so understood to be an arrest by the person detained. To make an arrest, the police must have probable cause that a crime has been committed.
In Massachusetts, it’s a misdemeanor to resist arrest. A conviction for resisting arrest can result in imprisonment in the House of Correction for up two and one-half years. The law punishes a person who uses force, threats, or another dangerous method to resist arrest.
To be found guilty of the crime of resisting arrest, as our Massachusetts defense attorney explains, the Commonwealth must prove the following four elements beyond a reasonable doubt.
Prove The Four Elements Beyond Reasonable Doubt for Resisting Arrest
- Knowingly prevented or attempted to prevent;
- A police officer (the police officer must be in the regular course of his assigned duties, who was in uniform or, if out of uniform, who properly identified himself by displaying his credentials);
- From making an arrest of any person (including the suspect himself)
- By using against the police officer or another, physical force or the threat of physical force; or by any other means that creates a substantial risk of bodily injury.
It’s important to understand that the crime of resisting arrest is committed, if at all, at the time of effecting an arrest. In other words, a resisting arrest conviction can, in no way, rest on post-arrest conduct. The crime must happen when you, or someone else, are being arrested for a different crime. For example, the underlying crime giving rise to the second crime of resisting arrest may be assault and battery on a police officer.
In an assault and battery on a police officer, the Commonwealth must prove the following four elements beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Prove The Four Elements Beyond Reasonable Doubt for Assault and Battery
- Intentionally touched (however slight) the police officer;
- Without having any right or excuse to do so; and
- Either caused physical harm to the police officer or that the police officer did not consent; and finally
- That the suspect must know that the police officer was engaged in the performance of his or her duty
If you are convicted of the crime of assault and battery on a police officer, the penalties are severe. There is a minimum sentence in the House of Corrections of not less than 90 days, and you could face imprisonment of up to two and one-half years.
The key to the crime of assault and battery on a police officer is that the suspect must know that he or she is striking a police officer. It is sufficient if the officer verbally identified himself, or was wearing a uniform and a badge. Additionally, the officer must be carrying out an official police function. This includes an off-duty officer who is performing official police duties, such as aiding another on-duty officer.
To fully understand how this works, consider the following scenario: two people are fist-fighting. The police show up and the fight doesn’t stop. The police intervene and one of the fighters pushes away the officer. On those facts, the arrestable crime of assault and battery on a police officer has occurred. If then during the course of an arrest, that same person wrested with the officers and threw punches, he could also be charged with the crime of resisting arrest.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Massachusetts Criminal Defense Attorney Today
If you’ve been arrested on an OUI/DUI charge, domestic violence, disorderly conduct, or drug possession, you should speak to an experienced defense attorney as soon as possible. You can contact us online or call our office directly at 781-740-0800 to schedule your free consultation with one of our top-notch defense lawyers. We have been proudly servicing clients throughout Norwell, Massachusetts, and surrounding areas such as Plymouth, Barnstable, Nantucket, and more.
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