{"id":375698,"date":"2018-01-11T13:53:38","date_gmt":"2018-01-11T18:53:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/ohio-law\/ohio-resisting-arrest-laws.html"},"modified":"2026-01-19T15:05:52","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T20:05:52","slug":"ohio-resisting-arrest-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/ohio-law\/ohio-resisting-arrest-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Ohio Resisting Arrest Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Ohio Resisting Arrest Laws<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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Resisting arrest<\/span> in Ohio<\/span> is defined as any effort to prevent a lawful arrest<\/span> by a law enforcement officer<\/span>. This charge can arise from actions such as pulling away, fighting, or fleeing during an arrest. Under Ohio<\/span> law<\/span>, it is typically a second-degree misdemeanor<\/span>, escalating to a first-degree misdemeanor<\/span> if physical harm<\/span> occurs, or to a fourth-degree felony if a deadly weapon<\/span> is involved.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

In Ohio<\/span>, resisting arrest<\/span> is a charge that follows any other lawful arrest<\/span>. Any forcible effort to prevent a law enforcement officer<\/span> from arresting you or another person may result in resisting arrest<\/span> charges<\/span>, in addition to the original criminal charge<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Under Ohio<\/span> law<\/span>, resisting arrest<\/span> is a second-degree misdemeanor<\/span>, unless the suspect causes physical harm<\/span> or uses a deadly weapon<\/span>. In most cases, defendants should not try to resist arrest. Keep any discussions about potential defenses for when you meet with a criminal defense attorney<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How Ohio<\/span> Defines Resisting Arrest<\/span><\/h2>\n

Under the Ohio<\/span> Revised Code<\/span><\/a>, the resisting arrest<\/span> statute has three requirements for a resisting arrest<\/span> accusation:<\/p>\n