01. Resisting arrest. (a) For the purposes of this section, the term 'law enforcement officer' shall have the same meaning as provided in § 22-405(a). (b) Whoever without justifiable and excusable cause intentionally resists an arrest by an individual who he or she has reason to believe is a law enforcement officer or prevents that individual from making or attempting to make an arrest of or detain another person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned not more than 6 months or fined not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01, or both. (c) It is neither justifiable nor excusable cause for a person to use force to resist an arrest when such an arrest is made by an individual he or she has reason to believe is a law enforcement officer, whether or not such arrest is lawful. (R.S., D.C., § 432a; as added June 30, 2016, D.C. Law 21-125, § 206, 63 DCR 4659.)
District of Columbia Legal Code