Obstructing a Peace Office, Resisting Arrest, and Assault on a Police Officer is a trifecta the police love charging in Fort Collins and Larimer County. No one knows this better than a deaf man who was arrested a tased while being taken into custody, all because he wasn’t responding the way the officers wanted. News flash – he wasn’t responding because he didn’t know what they were telling him to do. According to the report, two Colorado police officers allegedly saw the man run a stop sign and followed him into a laundromat parking lot. The man exited his car to go into the laundromat, but was ordered to get back in his car. He, not being able to read lips or hear the officers, did not follow their orders and things escalated. He was placed in handcuffs and, understandably, was confused and trying to resist being manhandled. Instead, he was thrown to the ground and tased. The officers admitted to the paramedics dispatched to the scene that the man was deaf, but no one tried to get an interpreter or someone who could communicate with the man. Though his charges were eventually dropped, the man spent four months in jail fighting the felony Assault and two misdemeanor charges.
Larimer County Obstructing a Police Officer: Definition of Deaf Man’s Obstruction Charge in Colorado
The Larimer County, Colorado law definition of Obstructing a Peace Officer – C.R.S. 18-8-104 – is:
Basically, using any force (no matter how slight) against police officer, firefighter, or medical personnel, will result in this charge. While we don’t know the exact details, it’s likely the deaf man fighting against being taken into custody is what resulted in this charge. Probably the same exact actions are why they charged Resisting Arrest as well.
Sentence for Obstructing a Police Officer: Potential Penalty the Deaf Man was Facing
Obstructing a Peace Officer is a class 2 misdemeanor. This level misdemeanor is punishable by 90 to 364 days in the Larimer County Jail and up to $1,000 in fines.
If you or someone you love has been charged with Obstructing a Peace Officer, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-658-0007 to schedule your free initial consultation. Together, we can protect your future.
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