Arizona statute

A.R.S. § 13-2508 — Resisting arrest; classification; definition

Current through 57th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025)

Part of Chapter 25: Escape and Related Offenses, Arizona Revised Statutes.

Criminal charges under this statute

Resisting arrest

Full text of A.R.S. § 13-2508

Statutory text current through the 57th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025). This publication reproduces the official statutory text published by the Arizona Legislature (Arizona Legislative Council compilation, azleg.gov); it is not the official statutes of the State of Arizona.

A.R.S. § 13-2508Primary source, current through the 57th Legislature, 1st Regular Session (2025)

A. A person commits resisting arrest by intentionally preventing or attempting to prevent a person reasonably known to him to be a peace officer, acting under color of such peace officer's official authority, from effecting an arrest by: 1. Using or threatening to use physical force against the peace officer or another. 2. Using any other means creating a substantial risk of causing physical injury to the peace officer or another. 3. Engaging in passive resistance. B. Resisting arrest pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 1 or 2 of this section is a class 6 felony. Resisting arrest pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 3 of this section is a class 1 misdemeanor. C. For the purposes of this section, "passive resistance" means a nonviolent physical act or failure to act that is intended to impede, hinder or delay the effecting of an arrest.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is resisting arrest a felony or a misdemeanor in Arizona?

It depends on the circumstances: resisting arrest ranges from a Class 1 Misdemeanor to a Class 6 Felony in Arizona under A.R.S. § 13-2508.

Resisting arrest by force or risk of injury: Class 6 Felony (A.R.S. § 13-2508B) · Resisting arrest by passive resistance: Class 1 Misdemeanor (A.R.S. § 13-2508B)

Which Arizona statute covers resisting arrest?

Resisting arrest is governed by A.R.S. § 13-2508 (Resisting arrest; classification; definition).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.