Charged With Resisting Arrest in Baltimore, MD?
by Baltimore criminal defense attorney Brandon Mead
Resisting arrest is a serious misdemeanor in Maryland that can land you in jail, or attract hefty fines. If you have been charged with this offense, you can hire a Baltimore resisting arrest lawyer for legal advice, and help to prepare an effective defense strategy.
Maryland Law on Resisting Arrest
Maryland criminal law code prohibits residents from intentionally resisting or interfering with a lawful arrest. You can be charged with a misdemeanor if you were aware that the person making the arrest or detention was a police officer. A person who is convicted of resisting arrest can be imprisoned for up to 3 years or fined up to $5,000, or both.
Charges for resisting arrest
Most cases of resisting arrest involve defendants physically struggling with police officers who were trying to arrest them. The defendant may refuse to be handcuffed or refuse to enter the police car or jail cell. For a defendant to be convicted of resisting arrest, the prosecutor must prove that:
• A law enforcement agent attempted to arrest the defendant.
• The defendant knew that the police officer was trying to arrest him or her.
• The arresting officer had reasonable ground for believing that the defendant had committed or was in the process of committing a crime.
• The defendant refused to submit or resisted arrest by force.
Defense for Resisting Arrest
Persons accused of resisting arrest can defend themselves by making any of the following arguments:
• They did not know the person making the arrest was a police officer.
• The police officer did not attempt to arrest them.
• They did not commit a crime that warranted arrest.
• They did not use force to resist arrest.
• The arresting officer used excessive and unreasonable force.
Why hire a Baltimore resisting arrest lawyer?
Defending yourself against accusations of refusing arrest can be complicated if you don’t understand the charges and court processes. Contact us today at (410) 727-6400 to schedule time with the best lawyers available to take on your case.
