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  1. #1

    Default What Constitutes Failure To Obey a Police Officer

    My question involves criminal law for the state of: connecticut

    "a police officer pulled behind my friends car and started to follow him and ran the tags on my friends car and went to pull him over for driving a stolen car, since the tags came back stolen. since he was so close to his house when this happened, he decided to drive to his house before stopping. After going down just 2 blocks, he pulled into the driveway and the police still hadnt put on their lights but were following behind him the whole way. when he got out of his car and started walking towards the door, the police yelled for him to get down on the ground, which he did." as he lay on the ground his mom came out the front door to see what was going on, the cop stated for her to put her hands up, "she asked the cop what he had done as she did this and he replied your son stole a car, for whatever reason he said this, the mother then stated back that the car he was driving was hers, at this point the cop walked over to her and placed her against a wall, my friend jumped off the ground and was knocked back down and placed under arrest for failure to obey a police officer. is that even a charge and do you always have to listen to a command just because he is a police officer?

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Does This Constitute Failure To Obey a Police Officer

    do you always have to listen to a command just because he is a police officer?
    During a lawful stop, in which the officer has identified himself as an officer? Yes.

    And why in dog's name wouldn't you? Aside from having the law on their side? They have guns. Holy cats.

  3. #3
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    Default Re: What Constitutes Failure To Obey a Police Officer

    Quote Quoting dubramaster203
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    my friend jumped off the ground and was knocked back down and placed under arrest for failure to obey a police officer. is that even a charge and do you always have to listen to a command just because he is a police officer?
    Uh ... yes. He was ordered to remain on the ground and he got up - apparently to attack an officer or interfere with that officer's actions.

    Your friend likely needs an attorney.

    - Carl

  4. #4
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    Default Re: What Constitutes Failure To Obey a Police Officer

    Quote Quoting dubramaster203
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    .... the mother then stated back that the car he was driving was hers, at this point the cop walked over to her and placed her against a wall, my friend jumped off the ground and was knocked back down and placed under arrest for failure to obey a police officer. is that even a charge and do you always have to listen to a command just because he is a police officer?

    A "lawful" command, yes. The exact statute/ordinance may or may not use "lawful" as a modifier though. Although the term may be subjective in nature and appearance, it has specific meaning ingrained at law.

    It usually encompasses such as hindering, delaying or resisiting authority, such as resisting arrest.

    The son was orderd to stay prone. This is a valid command. Not every command is a lawful one though, but unless one is trained in the law well enough to know the legal dictates, it is very very unwise to defy an order.

    However, if he instinctively jumped up in defense of his Mom, the charge to me seems not necessary. If I saw my Mother manhandled, deserved or not, human emotion kicks in.

    I don't think any court would throw out such a charge, if he did not comply to stay down without reason. The facts here seem to warrant a debate in that area, IMO.

    He can plead not guilty to that charge and use self defense as a justification.

    The defense may not work, but...

    Only certain ones know the exact details. What she did to have the officer place her against the wall, etc.

  5. #5

    Default Re: What Constitutes Failure To Obey a Police Officer

    can anyone tell me what statute will identify obeying a police officer in ct? i am a criminal justice graduate and have been looking for the statute so i can read it and see exactly how it reads

  6. #6
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    Default Re: What Constitutes Failure To Obey a Police Officer

    Quote Quoting dubramaster203
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    can anyone tell me what statute will identify obeying a police officer in ct? i am a criminal justice graduate and have been looking for the statute so i can read it and see exactly how it reads

    This is the closest I could find:


    Sec. 53a-167a. Interfering with an officer: Class A misdemeanor. (a) A person is guilty of interfering with an officer when such person obstructs, resists, hinders or endangers any peace officer, special policeman appointed under section 29-18b or firefighter in the performance of such peace officer's, special policeman's or firefighter's duties.

    (b) Interfering with an officer is a class A misdemeanor.

    (1971, P.A. 871, S. 50; P.A. 76-225; P.A. 01-84, S. 11, 26; P.A. 05-180, S. 4.)


    As you can see the Catchprase is Interfering.

    He may have said Failure to comply but under the purview of cited, OR it could be charged under a Municipal Ordinance with that Catchphrase.

    In general, the authority of police officers is broadly construed as far as these laws apply.

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