Resisting Arrest Defense Lawyer in Larimer County, Colorado
What is Resisting Arrest Against Fort Collins Police?

Have you been charged with Resisting Arrest in Larimer County, Colorado?  If so, you will need a top criminal defense lawyer to represent you at the Larimer County Courts.  Resisting Arrest is charged any time a person threatens or uses physical force against a Fort Collins Police Officer for making an arrest.  Unfortunately, some people retaliate when they see an Officer making an unlawful arrest – not realizing that they are not legally entitled to resist.  Under Colorado law, you are only permitted to resist arrest if the Officer uses unreasonable or excessive force while carrying out the arrest. And trust me when I tell you, law enforcement almost always gets the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the force they used to enact an arrest.  Below, our top Fort Collins criminal defense lawyers discuss the following:

1. Colorado’s Law on Resisting Arrest, C.R.S. 18-8-103 at the Larimer County Courts

Colorado’s law on Resisting Arrest, C.R.S. 18-8-103, as used at the Larimer County Courts, is as follows:

By this definition, a person can be charged with Resisting Arrest for trying to prevent any Larimer County law enforcement officer / LEO from arresting any person.  It can also be charged for threatening or using physical force against any other person in an attempt to prevent an arrest.  It does not matter if the person attempting to prevent the arrest believes that it is unlawful.  C.R.S. 18-8-103 states that if the officer does not use “unreasonable or excessive force giving rise to the right of self-defense,” he may carry out the arrest.

2. Examples of Resisting Arrest Against a Fort Collins Police Officer

Examples of Resisting Arrest against a Fort Collins Police Officer include the following actions:

• Attempting to run after you have been handcuffed
• Shoving the Officer after she has placed your friend under arrest
• Threatening to hurt the Officer if she doesn’t release you
• Not putting your hands behind your back when the officer informs you that you are under arrest

Note that Resisting Arrest does not include:

• Exercising your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent
• Using self-defense if the Fort Collins Police Officer uses excessive force
• Refusing to allow the Larimer County Sheriff Deputy to search your car or house without a warrant

If you are arrested, it is critical that you comply with the Police Officer.  This means that you cannot threaten the Officer, use physical force, or engage in any other action that would prevent the arrest.  You are only permitted to use physical force if the Officer uses unreasonable or excessive force and you need to use self-defense.

3. Penalties for Resisting Arrest in Loveland

Resisting Arrest is a class 2 misdemeanor in Loveland, with penalties including up to 120 days in the Larimer County Jail, a maximum fine of $750, or both.  While Resisting Arrest may seem like a minor offense, you should still hire a top criminal defense lawyer to represent you at the Larimer County Courts.  District Attorneys / DAs work with law enforcement on cases – meaning that the DA prosecuting your case will be working closely with the Police Officer who arrested you.  Additionally, the consequences of a misdemeanor Resisting Arrest charge are far-reaching.  After you have completed your sentence, you will still have a criminal record that will impact nearly every aspect of your life.  Don’t let this happen to you, and contact a top Loveland and Fort Collins criminal defense lawyer today.

If you have been charged with Resisting Arrest in Larimer County, you will need to talk to the best criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.  Call 970-658-0007 today to talk to a lawyer with more than 30 years of experience defending clients from accusations of police-involved crimes. Together, we can protect your future.

The location for the Larimer County Courthouse is 201 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. We’ll see you there!

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