§ 14-63. Resisting arrest; physical interference with law enforcement officer in the performance of public duties; physical interference with law enforcement animals in the performance of public duties.

(a)

It shall be unlawful for any person, after having been placed under arrest or taken into custody by a law enforcement officer, to physically resist arrest whether actively or by flight.

(b)

While a law enforcement officer is actively in the lawful discharge of his duties relating to law enforcement, investigation or arrest, it shall be unlawful for any person to place or position oneself, another person, animal or object in such proximity to the law enforcement officer, or his vehicle, equipment, or the person or persons of law enforcement interest that would have the effect to physically:

(1)

Impede, interfere, obstruct, hinder or molest the law enforcement officer in the performance of the public duty or direct passage;

(2)

Threaten the personal safety of the law enforcement officer while in the performance the public duty; or

(3)

Distract or divert the efficient performance of the law enforcement officer from the immediate and safe discharge of their public duties in enforcement, investigation or arrest in order to remove the physical impediment, interference, obstruction, hindrance, molestation, threat or distraction.

(c)

While a law enforcement officer is actively in the lawful discharge of his duties relating to law enforcement, investigation or arrest and is using a law enforcement animal, it shall be unlawful for any person to place or position oneself, another person, animal or object in such proximity to the animal, or the law enforcement officer and his law enforcement animal, or the person or persons of law enforcement interest that would have the effect to physically:

(1)

Impede, interfere, obstruct, hinder or molest the law enforcement animal in the performance of the public duty or direct passage;

(2)

Threaten the physical well being of the law enforcement animal in the performance the public duty; or

(3)

Distract or divert the efficient performance of the law enforcement animal from the immediate and safe discharge of its public duties in enforcement.

(d)

The term "law enforcement officer," as used in this section, shall mean a police officer or employee, appointed or hired by the state or any of its political subdivisions, or by any private entity, or code enforcement officer, who is granted authority to enforce all or some of the criminal laws of the state or any of its political subdivisions, and who possesses, with respect to those laws, the power to effect arrests for offenses committed or alleged to have been committed.

(Ord. No. 2013-28, 6-11-13)

Editor's note

Ord. No. 2013-28, adopted June 11, 2013, repealed former § 14-63 and enacted a new section as set out herein. The former section pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. No. 94-14, 3-8-94; Ord. No. 2004-38, 5-25-04.