Legal Definitions - resisting unlawful arrest

Resisting unlawful arrest is when someone opposes a police officer who is trying to arrest them illegally. In some places, it is allowed to use non-deadly force to prevent the arrest.

For example, if a police officer tries to arrest someone without a warrant or probable cause, and the person resists the arrest, they may be charged with resisting unlawful arrest. However, if the officer is using excessive force or violating the person's rights, they may be justified in using non-deadly force to defend themselves.

Another example could be if a police officer mistakenly arrests someone who is not the suspect they are looking for, and the person resists the arrest because they know they are innocent. In this case, the person may be able to argue that the arrest was unlawful and they were justified in resisting.