Assaulting a police officer can have serious consequences for you. This crime carries more serious penalties than assaulting a regular civilian, because a police officer is a public servant and considered a “protected person.” There is a list of “protected people” who are under special protection by the state. This list includes particularly vulnerable people, such as the elderly, pregnant women, and the disabled. Police officers are included on this list because the nature of their jobs is dangerous. Department of Corrections workers are not listed as protected people, but they do constitute a specialized group when it comes to assault. Assault of a Department of Corrections worker will result in more severe consequences than assault of a civilian. To learn more about the crime of assaulting a police officer, read on.

Assaulting a Police Officer

A person is guilty of assaulting a police officer if they cause physical injury to an officer in the following ways:

• Throwing objects such as rocks at an officer.
• Use of mace.
• Use of tear gas.
• Throwing paint, dye, etc. at an officer.
• Throwing bodily fluid at an officer (feces, urine, blood, saliva).

If in your situation you did one of these things, the state will have a good case against you for assaulting a police officer. However, if your situation does not involve the issues mentioned above, you can defend yourself against this charge.

In addition to assaulting a police officer, there are a few related assault charges that you could face. For example, you might face battery of a police officer or different degrees of assault. You should contact an attorney to help you understand these different charges and if any relate to your situation.

Getting Help

Assaulting a police officer is a Class C felony, which is a serious crime. You could face significant jail time as well as hefty fines if convicted.

For these reasons, if you face this charge, it is in your best interest to contact a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. A criminal defense attorney can try to fight this charge on your behalf. A criminal defense lawyer can try to establish a defense for your situation.

For example, if you assaulted someone not realizing that they were a police officer, this can constitute a defense. While you will still get charged with assault, you may not get charged with assaulting a police officer if you assault an off-duty officer or someone that you did not realize was a police officer. This can reduce the charges and potential consequences that you face. Other defenses might be available for your situation, so contact a lawyer to learn more.