Legal Question in Criminal Law in District of Columbia

Failure to obey police order

Several thousand people gathered peacefully in front of the Lincoln Memorial to view the July 4th, 2008 fireworks over the reflecting pool. A uniformed policeman went through the crowd telling everyone to sit down and threatening anyone who did not sit down or leave the area with an arrest for failure to obey a police order. Must a citizen obey the policeman in these circumstances?


Asked on 7/05/08, 7:58 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Failure to obey police order

If it was a lawful order coming to the U.S. Park Police officer through his chain of command with a view to crowd control, then one would likely have to follow it or risk arrest. However, if this was the officer's own spur of the moment command to the crowd, arising from his own initiative rather than from that of his superiors, it may not have been a "lawful" order and would not likely sustain any arrests that might follow for those who chose to ignore it.

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Answered on 7/05/08, 11:47 am


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