K.S.A. » Chapter 21
Kansas Statutes Annotated

K.S.A. § 21-5904 (2026)

Interference with law enforcement

✓ current as of May 2026
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21-5904. Interference with law enforcement. (a) Interference with law enforcement is:

(1) Falsely reporting to a law enforcement officer, law enforcement agency or state investigative agency:

(A) That a particular person has committed a crime, knowing that such information is false and intending that the officer or agency shall act in reliance upon such information;

(B) that a law enforcement officer has committed a crime or committed misconduct in the performance of such officer's duties, knowing that such information is false and intending that the officer or agency shall act in reliance upon such information;

(C) any information, knowing that such information is false and intending to influence, impede or obstruct such officer's or agency's duty; or

(D) any information concerning the death, disappearance or potential death or disappearance of a child under the age of 13, knowing that such information is false and intending that the officer or agency shall act in reliance upon such information;

(2) concealing, destroying or materially altering evidence with the intent to prevent or hinder the apprehension or prosecution of any person;

(3) knowingly obstructing, resisting or opposing any person authorized by law to serve process in the service or execution or in the attempt to serve or execute any writ, warrant, process or order of a court, or in the discharge of any official duty; or

(4) knowingly fleeing from a law enforcement officer, other than fleeing by operation of a motor vehicle, when the law enforcement officer has:

(A) Reason to stop the person under K.S.A. 22-2402, and amendments thereto; and

(B) given the person visual or audible signal to stop.

(b) Interference with law enforcement as defined in:

(1) Subsection (a)(1)(A) and (a)(1)(B) is a:

(A) Class A nonperson misdemeanor, except as provided in subsection (b)(1)(B); and

(B) severity level 8, nonperson felony in the case of a felony;

(2) subsection (a)(1)(C) is a:

(A) Class A nonperson misdemeanor, except as provided in subsection (b)(2)(B); and

(B) severity level 9, nonperson felony in the case of a felony;

(3) subsection (a)(1)(D) is a severity level 8, nonperson felony;

(4) subsection (a)(2) is a:

(A) Class A nonperson misdemeanor, except as provided in subsection (b)(4)(B); and

(B) severity level 8, nonperson felony in the case of a felony;

(5) subsection (a)(3) is a:

(A) Severity level 9, nonperson felony in the case of a felony, or resulting from parole or any authorized disposition for a felony; and

(B) class A nonperson misdemeanor in the case of a misdemeanor, or resulting from any authorized disposition for a misdemeanor, or a civil case; and

(6) subsection (a)(4) is a:

(A) Class A nonperson misdemeanor in the case of a misdemeanor, or resulting from any authorized disposition for a misdemeanor, or a civil case;

(B) severity level 7, nonperson felony in the case of a felony, or resulting from parole or any authorized disposition for a felony; and

(C) severity level 5, nonperson felony if the offender discharged or used a firearm while fleeing.

History: L. 2010, ch. 136, § 129; L. 2012, ch. 150, § 20; L. 2013, ch. 133, § 6; L. 2014, ch. 95, § 2; L. 2023, ch. 94, § 5; July 1.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 62 cases (40 in the last 5 years), 2014–2026 · leading case: State v. Ryce, 368 P.3d 342 (Kan. 2016).
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State v. Ryce, 368 P.3d 342 (Kan. 2016). · cites it 3× “It could have (1) held Ryce accountable for driving while intoxicated, (2) deterred his refusals by legitimately threatening a warrant search, (3) reduced costs of prosecution by obtaining a warrant, searching, and finding evidence, and (4) if Ryce failed to comply with the…”
State v. Murrin, 435 P.3d 1126 (Kan. 2019). · cites it 3× “21-5904(a)(3) (interference with law enforcement requires "knowingly obstructing, resisting or opposing" any person authorized by law to serve process in discharge of official duty). Under the culpable mental state statute, any crime requiring a "knowing" mental state qualifies…”
Caranchini v. Peck, 355 F. Supp. 3d 1052 (D. Kan. 2018). · cites it 2× “See K.S.A. § 21-5904 Interference with law enforcement; K.”
State v. Nece, 367 P.3d 1260 (Kan. 2016). “Although the State has not suggested that any other statute applies, hypothetically circumstances in some cases might justify charging a defendant under K.S.A. 2014 Supp. 21-5904(a)(3), which establishes the crime of “knowingly obstructing, resisting or opposing any person…”
United States v. Mosley, 743 F.3d 1317 (10th Cir. 2014). “” See Kan. Stat. Ann. § 21-5904 (a)(3) (“Interference with law enforce *1331 ment is .”
State v. Baumgarner, 481 P.3d 170 (Kan. Ct. App. 2021). “21-6301(a)(13) for possession of the rifle and one count of interference with a law enforcement officer, a felony violation of K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 21-5904, for making ostensibly misleading statements to investigators about who in the family acquired the rifle.”
In re Wrongful Conviction of Sims, 542 P.3d 1 (Kan. 2024). · cites it 8× “21-3808 [currently K.S.A. 2022 Supp. 21-5904] is to be defined in terms of the officer's authority, knowledge, and intent.”
State v. Wilson, 368 P.3d 1086 (Kan. 2016). “8-1025, interference with law enforcement under K.S.A. 2014 Supp. 21-5904(a) (3), refusing to submit to a preliminary breath test, driving while suspended, and improper left turn.”
State v. Gray, 360 P.3d 472 (Kan. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 7× “Interference with law enforcement in violation of K.S.A. 2013 Supp. 21-5904 was previously codified *1098 at K.”
Sigg v. Allen Cnty., Kansas, Bd. of Cnty. Commissioners, 712 F. App'x 738 (10th Cir. 2017). “3d 835 , 848 (2017) (quoting K.S.A. § 21-5904)(ellipsis in original). The offense’s elements are: “(1) an identified law enforcement officer carrying out some official duty; (2) defendant knowingly and willfully obstructed or opposed the officer; and (3) defendant knew or should…”
State v. Garcia-Silva (Kan. Ct. App. 2026). · cites it 21× “Second, he alleges that the district court erred in failing to require the State to prove that the responding law enforcement officer was authorized to serve process under K.S.A. 21-5904(a)(3). Third, he challenges whether sufficient evidence supported his convictions for…”
State v. Brown (Kan. Ct. App. 2026). · cites it 16× “But K.S.A. 2022 Supp. 21-5904 also provides that a conviction for interference with law enforcement under this subsection is a felony if committed "in the case of a felony, or resulting from parole or any authorized disposition for a felony," and is a misdemeanor if committed…”
Show all 62 citing cases →
— K.S.A. § 21-5904(a) — 4 cases
State v. Ryce, 368 P.3d 342 (Kan. 2016). “It could have (1) held Ryce accountable for driving while intoxicated, (2) deterred his refusals by legitimately threatening a warrant search, (3) reduced costs of prosecution by obtaining a warrant, searching, and finding evidence, and (4) if Ryce failed to comply with the…”
State v. Wilson, 368 P.3d 1086 (Kan. 2016). “8-1025, interference with law enforcement under K.S.A. 2014 Supp. 21-5904(a) (3), refusing to submit to a preliminary breath test, driving while suspended, and improper left turn.”
In re Wrongful Conviction of Sims, 542 P.3d 1 (Kan. 2024). “21-3808 [currently K.S.A. 2022 Supp. 21-5904] is to be defined in terms of the officer's authority, knowledge, and intent.”
State v. Ridge (Kan. Ct. App. 2020).
— K.S.A. § 21-5904(a)(1)(A) — 1 case
State v. Niehaus (Kan. Ct. App. 2017).
— K.S.A. § 21-5904(a)(1)(B) — 2 cases
State v. Gray, 360 P.3d 472 (Kan. Ct. App. 2015). “Interference with law enforcement in violation of K.S.A. 2013 Supp. 21-5904 was previously codified *1098 at K.”
State v. Schwindt (Kan. Ct. App. 2026).
— K.S.A. § 21-5904(a)(1)(C) — 2 cases
State v. Collins (Kan. Ct. App. 2024).
State v. Meeks (Kan. Ct. App. 2020).
— K.S.A. § 21-5904(a)(2) — 5 cases
State v. Niehaus (Kan. Ct. App. 2017).
Henderson v. State (Kan. Ct. App. 2020).
State v. Jesse (Kan. Ct. App. 2021).
State v. Alexander (Kan. Ct. App. 2023).
State v. Gachelin (Kan. Ct. App. 2024).
— K.S.A. § 21-5904(a)(3) — 40 cases
State v. Ryce, 368 P.3d 342 (Kan. 2016). “It could have (1) held Ryce accountable for driving while intoxicated, (2) deterred his refusals by legitimately threatening a warrant search, (3) reduced costs of prosecution by obtaining a warrant, searching, and finding evidence, and (4) if Ryce failed to comply with the…”
State v. Murrin, 435 P.3d 1126 (Kan. 2019). “21-5904(a)(3) (interference with law enforcement requires "knowingly obstructing, resisting or opposing" any person authorized by law to serve process in discharge of official duty). Under the culpable mental state statute, any crime requiring a "knowing" mental state qualifies…”
State v. Nece, 367 P.3d 1260 (Kan. 2016). “Although the State has not suggested that any other statute applies, hypothetically circumstances in some cases might justify charging a defendant under K.S.A. 2014 Supp. 21-5904(a)(3), which establishes the crime of “knowingly obstructing, resisting or opposing any person…”
In re Wrongful Conviction of Sims, 542 P.3d 1 (Kan. 2024). “21-3808 [currently K.S.A. 2022 Supp. 21-5904] is to be defined in terms of the officer's authority, knowledge, and intent.”
State v. Garcia-Silva (Kan. Ct. App. 2026). “Second, he alleges that the district court erred in failing to require the State to prove that the responding law enforcement officer was authorized to serve process under K.S.A. 21-5904(a)(3). Third, he challenges whether sufficient evidence supported his convictions for…”
— K.S.A. § 21-5904(a)(4) — 1 case
State v. Gentry (Kan. Ct. App. 2026).
— K.S.A. § 21-5904(b)(2) — 2 cases
State v. Gray, 360 P.3d 472 (Kan. Ct. App. 2015). “Interference with law enforcement in violation of K.S.A. 2013 Supp. 21-5904 was previously codified *1098 at K.”
State v. Collins (Kan. Ct. App. 2024).
— K.S.A. § 21-5904(b)(4)(B) — 2 cases
State v. Jesse (Kan. Ct. App. 2021).
State v. Gachelin (Kan. Ct. App. 2024).
— K.S.A. § 21-5904(b)(5) — 2 cases
State v. Lovett (Kan. Ct. App. 2020).
State v. Rose (Kan. Ct. App. 2020).
— K.S.A. § 21-5904(b)(5)(A) — 5 cases
In re Wrongful Conviction of Sims, 542 P.3d 1 (Kan. 2024). “21-3808 [currently K.S.A. 2022 Supp. 21-5904] is to be defined in terms of the officer's authority, knowledge, and intent.”
State v. Brown (Kan. Ct. App. 2026). “But K.S.A. 2022 Supp. 21-5904 also provides that a conviction for interference with law enforcement under this subsection is a felony if committed "in the case of a felony, or resulting from parole or any authorized disposition for a felony," and is a misdemeanor if committed…”
State v. Rose (Kan. Ct. App. 2020).
State v. Jesse (Kan. Ct. App. 2021).
State v. Cobb (Kan. Ct. App. 2022).
— K.S.A. § 21-5904(b)(6) — 1 case
State v. Gray, 360 P.3d 472 (Kan. Ct. App. 2015). “Interference with law enforcement in violation of K.S.A. 2013 Supp. 21-5904 was previously codified *1098 at K.”
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