New Canaan Assault on an Officer Lawyer

Assault on a police officer is an elevated offense in Connecticut with more harsh penalties upon conviction as opposed to standard assault. This charge can often come coupled with others making mounting a strong defense that much more difficult. However, fear not for a skilled New Canaan assault on an officer lawyer could tirelessly pursue a positive resolution to your case on your behalf.

How the Law Defines Assault of a Police Officer

Connecticut General Statutes §53a-167c defines assault on an officer as a Class C Felony offense. An officer under the meaning of this statute includes police, medical personnel, public transit workers, and firefighters amongst others. If you cause physical injury, throw anything that could cause physical injury, throw a noxious substance, throw bodily fluid, or mace any of those persons you can be arrested.

As mentioned, this offense is a Class C Felony. If you are convicted, you face up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000. Building a defense to this charge is important because conviction carries not only legal, but social penalties. Some professions will not hire convicted felons, you could be barred from certain housing, and the social stigma of a felony conviction can loom.

How Courts Prosecute This Type of Offense

Unfortunately, Connecticut courts have historically given law enforcement officers and prosecutors an immense amount of leeway when it comes to defining a “physical injury” that justifies this particular criminal charge. In fact, there is technically no requirement for an allegedly assaulted officer to provide medical documentation proving they suffered an injury—they just have to argue that they experienced “physical pain” to some degree.

In light of this, it is not uncommon for police officers to throw this charge at someone who was just trying to break up a scuffle or defend themselves from undue force, leaving them facing a completely unjustified felony allegation. Further, this charge is often seen in connection with other offenses like disorderly conduct, breach of peace, or simple assault. These multiple levels of charges can make it more difficult to defend your charges, but it does not make defense impossible.

What Defenses Do I Have?

With help from video surveillance and bodycam footage, eyewitness testimony, and documentary evidence—or a lack thereof—from healthcare providers, a skilled lawyer may be able to effectively challenge an assault on an officer charge on a New Canaan resident’s behalf.

Attacking a specific element of the crime is the best way to show the Judge that your case should be dropped. For example, if the peace officer was not in uniform and did not identify him or herself as such, you could argue that you did not know the person was an officer. This defense and others require supporting evidence. A skilled attorney can move to preserve any surveillance footage, reach out to potential witnesses, and gather documents and photos that could be of help. This information won’t exist forever though, so time is of the essence when it comes to gathering evidence. 

How a New Canaan Assault on an Officer Attorney Could Help

Courts give great weight to the word of law enforcement officials, which means you can definitely benefit from having a lawyer on your side who has defended against this kind of case before. A New Canaan assault on an officer lawyer could fight relentlessly to protect your rights and preserve your future prospects. You can read the hundreds of certified 5-star reviews on Avvo.com by clicking here. Call today to set up a consultation.

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