Chapter 9A.16
OBSTRUCTION
Sections:
9A.16.010 Obstructing a law enforcement officer.
9A.16.020 Refusing to summon aid for a peace officer.
9A.16.030 Resisting arrest.
9A.16.040 Compounding.
9A.16.050 Escape.
9A.16.060 Official misconduct.
9A.16.070 Failure to disperse.
9A.16.080 False reporting.
9A.16.090 False swearing.
9A.16.100 Tampering with physical evidence.
9A.16.010 Obstructing a law enforcement officer.
(1) A person is guilty of obstructing a law enforcement officer if the person:
(a) Willfully makes a false or misleading statement to a law enforcement officer who has detained the person during the course of a lawful investigation or lawful arrest; or
(b) Willfully hinders, delays, or obstructs any law enforcement officer in the discharge of his or her official powers or duties.
(2) “Law enforcement officer” means any general authority, limited authority, or specially commissioned Washington peace officer or federal peace officer as those terms are defined in RCW 10.93.020, and other public officers who are responsible for the enforcement of fire, building, zoning, and life and safety codes. (Ord. 97-539 § 2).
9A.16.020 Refusing to summon aid for a peace officer.
A person is guilty of refusing to summon aid for a peace officer if, upon request by a person he or she knows to be a peace officer, he or she unreasonably refuses or fails to summon aid for such peace officer. (Ord. 97-539 § 2).
9A.16.030 Resisting arrest.
A person is guilty of resisting arrest if he or she intentionally prevents or attempts to prevent a peace officer from lawfully arresting him or her. (Ord. 97-539 § 2).
9A.16.040 Compounding.
(1) A person is guilty of compounding if:
(a) He requests, accepts, or agrees to accept any pecuniary benefit pursuant to an agreement or understanding that he or she will refrain from initiating a prosecution for a crime; or
(b) He or she confers, or offers or agrees to confer, any pecuniary benefit upon another pursuant to an agreement or understanding that such other person will refrain from initiating a prosecution for a crime.
(2) In any prosecution under this section, it is a defense if established by preponderance of the evidence that the pecuniary benefit did not exceed an amount which the defendant reasonably believed to be due as restitution or indemnification for harm caused by the crime. (Ord. 97-539 § 2).
9A.16.050 Escape.
(1) A person is guilty of escape if he escapes from custody.
(2) “Custody” means restraint pursuant to a lawful arrest or an order of a court, or any period of service on a work crew. (Ord. 97-539 § 2).
9A.16.060 Official misconduct.
A public servant is guilty of official misconduct if, with intent to obtain a benefit or to deprive another person of a lawful right or privilege:
(1) He or she intentionally commits an authorized act under color of law; or
(2) He or she intentionally refrains from performing a duty imposed upon him or her by law. (Ord. 97-539 § 2).
9A.16.070 Failure to disperse.
A person is guilty of failure to disperse if:
(1) He or she congregates with a group of three or more other persons and there are acts of conduct within that group which create a substantial risk of causing injury to any person, or substantial harm to property; and
(2) He or she refuses or fails to disperse when ordered to do so by a peace officer or other public servant engaged in enforcing or executing the law. (Ord. 97-539 § 2).
9A.16.080 False reporting.
(1) A person is guilty of false reporting if, with knowledge that the information reported, conveyed or circulated is false, he or she initiates or circulates a false report or warning of an alleged occurrence or impending occurrence of a fire, explosion, crime, catastrophe, or emergency knowing that such false report is likely to cause evacuation of a building, place of assembly, or transportation facility, or to cause public inconvenience or alarm.
(2) False reporting is a gross misdemeanor. (Ord. 97-539 § 2).
9A.16.090 False swearing.
(1) A person is guilty of false swearing if he makes a false statement, which he knows to be false, under an oath required or authorized by law.
(2) False swearing is a gross misdemeanor. (Ord. 97-539 § 2).
9A.16.100 Tampering with physical evidence.
(1) A person is guilty of tampering with physical evidence if, having reason to believe that an official proceeding is pending or about to be instituted and acting without legal right or authority, he or she:
(a) Destroys, mutilates, conceals, removes, or alters physical evidence with intent to impair its appearance, character, or availability in such pending or prospective official proceeding; or
(b) Knowingly presents or offers any false physical evidence.
(2) “Physical evidence” as used in this section includes any article, object, document, record, or other thing of physical substance.
(3) Tampering with physical evidence is a gross misdemeanor. (Ord. 97-539 § 2).