Rhode Island Prosecutor Charged with Trespassing

Authorities in Newport, Rhode Island, leveled trespassing charges against a state prosecutor and her friends on Thursday after a disruptive incident at a restaurant.

Devon Hogan Flanagan, a Special Assistant Attorney General, was asked to leave the venue before the police were called. Body camera footage, shared by NBC 10 Wjar, captures Flanagan and her friend, Veronica Hannan, in a tense exchange with officers. At one point, Flanagan requests that the police turn off their body cameras, insisting that it’s standard protocol to accommodate such requests.

However, Rhode Island law prohibits officers from deactivating body cameras under those circumstances, as reported by TMZ.

When informed they needed to exit the premises to avoid trespassing charges, Flanagan firmly responded, “We’re not trespassing. You’re not notifying us that we’re trespassing.” Throughout the interaction, she stated she was affiliated with the Attorney General’s office and repeatedly insisted on having the cameras turned off, even after being told about the trespassing situation.

One officer retorted, “Good for you, I don’t give you shit.”

Eventually, two minutes into the encounter, officers placed Flanagan in handcuffs while they urged Hannan, who was becoming increasingly agitated, to calm down. The footage shows Hannan attempting to escape her handcuffs before officers caught her and secured her further.

Hannan was heard yelling, “No! No! No! Baby, no!” as she was taken behind a police vehicle.

Flanagan faces trespassing charges, while Hannan is being charged with trespassing, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest, according to TMZ.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronya announced he is looking into the incident, expressing concern during a local radio interview. He stated that Flanagan’s behavior put him in a difficult position, commenting that she embarrassed herself and behaved poorly towards the Newport Police Department.