Learn by Example: Fleeing or Resisting Police Is Never a Good Idea

 Posted on May 03, 2018 in Uncategorized

If the very thought of being loaded in a police car and taken to jail makes you tense up, that is normal; the human “fight or flight” instinct is very strong. But if you find yourself in a situation where you are about to be arrested, you need to stay calm and cooperate, or you risk getting into even worse trouble. Take a lesson from these recent news stories about people whose lack of self-control led them to flee from the police, piling the charge of resisting arrest on top of other charges:

Do Not Threaten to Toss an Officer Into a River

In March 2018, a Joliet law enforcement officer spotted a man wandering about the parking lot adjacent to the police station. The officer pointed out the “No Trespassing” signs in the lot and directed the man to leave. The man allegedly took up a fighting stance and threatened to throw the office into the Des Plaines River, then fled the scene. Two police officers captured the man before he got very far and placed him under arrest, charging him with criminal trespass, aggravated assault, and obstructing a police officer.

The Police Can Chase Faster Than You Can Run

Also in March 2018, a Romeoville man allegedly followed his ex-girlfriend to her place of employment, where he hit her and threatened her with a handgun. By the time police arrived on the scene, the man was nowhere to be found. When officers showed up at the man’s home, he attempted to flee but was captured and taken to the Will County jail. The man has been charged with domestic battery, unlawful use of a weapon, possession of a firearm without a valid FOID card, and resisting a police officer.

You Can Try to Run and Hide, But the Police Will Eventually Find You

In April 2018, Will County Sheriff’s deputies were tracking someone with an active warrant on Fuller Avenue in Joliet. When the deputies approached a vehicle to speak with the person inside, the driver allegedly reversed and struck one deputy, then shifted into drive and almost struck the second deputy as he sped away. A search for the driver led them to a room at the Rodeway Inn in Joliet, where the man allegedly jumped out of the window of his room. One of the deputies managed to tackle him and arrest him. The man was charged with aggravated battery and assault to a police officer, criminal damage to property, obstructing justice, and aggravated resisting a police officer. According to a Will County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman, the man said that he fled because he knew he had active warrants and that he apologized to deputies for his behavior. Ironically, the active warrants included a charge of aggravated fleeing and eluding police.

Trust an Experienced Joliet Criminal Defense Attorney

Running away from police in hopes of avoiding an arrest may seem like a good option, but it often only makes a situation worse. If you have been charged with fleeing the police, resisting arrest or obstruction of an officer, contact a Joliet criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. Call the Law Offices of Jack L. Zaremba, P.C. at 815-740-4025 for a free and confidential consultation; phone calls are answered 24 hours a day.