Ky. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 520
Kentucky Revised Statutes

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 520.090 (2026)

Resisting arrest

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(1) A person is guilty of resisting arrest when he intentionally prevents or attempts to prevent a peace officer, recognized to be acting under color of his official authority, from effecting an arrest of the actor or another by:

(a) Using or threatening to use physical force or violence against the peace officer or another; or

(b) Using any other means creating a substantial risk of causing physical injury to the peace officer or another.

(2) Resisting arrest is a Class A misdemeanor. Effective: January 1, 1975 History: Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 406, sec. 177, effective January 1, 1975.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 55 cases (33 in the last 5 years), 1983–2026 · leading case: Bell v. Commonwealth, 122 S.W.3d 490 (Ky. 2003).
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Bell v. Commonwealth, 122 S.W.3d 490 (Ky. 2003). · cites it 4× “Although the Model Penal Code permits a Resisting Arrest prosecution when a person charged with a crime flees from police officers if "the circumstances of flight from arrest expose the pursuing officers to substantial danger," [9] the commentary to Kentucky's Resisting Arrest…”
Montgomery v. Commonwealth, 505 S.W.3d 274 (Ky. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 3× “KRS 520.090. . KRS 508.025, a Class D felony.”
Baze v. Commonwealth, 965 S.W.2d 817 (Ky. 1997). · cites it 2× “KRS 520.090(1) and 1974 Commentary; KRS 503.”
State v. Wiegmann, 714 A.2d 841 (Md. 1998). · cites it 2× “§ 21-3217 (1988); Ky.Rev.Stat. Ann. § 520.090 (Michie 1985); La.”
Perdue v. Commonwealth, 411 S.W.3d 786 (Ky. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 3× “050, Resisting Arrest pursuant to KRS 520.090, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia pursuant to KRS 218A.”
Estep v. Combs, 366 F. Supp. 3d 863 (E.D. Ky. 2018). “See KRS 520.090(1) ("A person is guilty of resisting arrest when he intentionally prevents or attempts to prevent a peace officer .”
Purnell v. State, 827 A.2d 68 (Md. 2003). “§ 35-44-3-3 (Michie 2002); Ky Rev. Stat. Ann. § 520.090 (Michie 2002); La.”
Woodcock v. City of Bowling Green, 165 F. Supp. 3d 563 (W.D. Ky. 2016). “080(1); resisting arrest (misdemeanor), KRS 520.090; and/or trespassing on railroad property (misdemeanor), KRS 277.”
Glenn v. State, 849 S.E.2d 409 (Ga. 2020). “11, § 1257 (b); Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 520.090 (1); Haw. Rev.”
Commonwealth v. Moreira, 447 N.E.2d 1224 (Mass. 1983). “§ 505 (b)(1), (2) (Purdon 1973); R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-7-10 (1981); S.D. Comp.”
Clark v. Kentucky, 229 F. Supp. 2d 718 (E.D. Ky. 2002). “§ 520.090(1). 7 . "A person is guilty of menacing when he intentionally places another person in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical inju-iy.”
Brown v. City of Oklahoma City, 721 P.2d 1346 (Okla. Civ. App. 1986). · cites it 2× “See also Ky.Rev.Stat. § 520.090 (1975); Model Penal Code § 3.”
Show all 55 citing cases →
Ky. Rev. Stat. § 520.090(1): 7 cases
Baze v. Commonwealth, 965 S.W.2d 817 (Ky. 1997). “KRS 520.090(1) and 1974 Commentary; KRS 503.”
Estep v. Combs, 366 F. Supp. 3d 863 (E.D. Ky. 2018). “See KRS 520.090(1) ("A person is guilty of resisting arrest when he intentionally prevents or attempts to prevent a peace officer .”
Perdue v. Commonwealth, 411 S.W.3d 786 (Ky. Ct. App. 2013). “050, Resisting Arrest pursuant to KRS 520.090, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia pursuant to KRS 218A.”
Clark v. Kentucky, 229 F. Supp. 2d 718 (E.D. Ky. 2002). “§ 520.090(1). 7 . "A person is guilty of menacing when he intentionally places another person in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical inju-iy.”
Weston v. Louisville Metro. Gov't, No. 3:23-cv-00147 (W.D. Ky. Sept. 3, 2025).
Ky. Rev. Stat. § 520.090(1)(a): 2 cases
Everage v. Gayheart, 800 F. Supp. 3d 759 (E.D. Ky. 2025).
Keith Rose v. Commonwealth of Kentucky, No. 2024-CA-1064 (Ky. Ct. App. Mar. 13, 2026).
Ky. Rev. Stat. § 520.090(1)(b): 2 cases
Everage v. Gayheart, 800 F. Supp. 3d 759 (E.D. Ky. 2025).
Murray v. Jones, No. 6:20-cv-00082, 2025 WL 1507011 (E.D. Ky. May 27, 2025).
Ky. Rev. Stat. § 520.090(b): 1 case
Everage v. Gayheart, 800 F. Supp. 3d 759 (E.D. Ky. 2025).
Ky. Rev. Stat. § 520.090(l)(a): 1 case
Montgomery v. Commonwealth, 505 S.W.3d 274 (Ky. Ct. App. 2016). “KRS 520.090. . KRS 508.025, a Class D felony.”
Ky. Rev. Stat. § 520.090(l)(b): 1 case
Montgomery v. Commonwealth, 505 S.W.3d 274 (Ky. Ct. App. 2016). “KRS 520.090. . KRS 508.025, a Class D felony.”
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