Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 751-B (2026)

Refusing to submit to arrest or detention

✓ current as of May 2026

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1. A person is guilty of refusing to submit to arrest or detention if, with the intent to hinder, delay or prevent a law enforcement officer from effecting the arrest or detention of that person, the person:

A. Refuses to stop on request or signal of a law enforcement officer. Violation of this paragraph is a Class E crime; [PL 2009, c. 449, §2 (NEW).]

B. Uses physical force against the law enforcement officer. Violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime; or [PL 2009, c. 449, §2 (NEW).]

C. Creates a substantial risk of bodily injury to the law enforcement officer. Violation of this paragraph is a Class D crime. [PL 2009, c. 449, §2 (NEW).]

[PL 2009, c. 449, §2 (NEW).]

2. It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the person reasonably believed that the person attempting to effect the arrest or detention was not a law enforcement officer. It is a defense to prosecution under subsection 1, paragraph A that the law enforcement officer acted unlawfully in attempting to effect the arrest or detention.

[PL 2009, c. 449, §2 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 2009, c. 449, §2 (NEW).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 23 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 2010–2026 · leading case: State of Maine v. Abdiaziz Hussein, 2019 ME 74 (Me. 2019).

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State of Maine v. Abdiaziz Hussein, 2019 ME 74 (Me. 2019). · cites it 6× “§ 15-A(1) (2018), refusing to submit to arrest by physical force (Class D), 17-A M.R.S. § 751-B(1)(B) (2018), and assault (Class D), 17-A M.”

State v. Murphy, 2010 ME 140 (Me. 2010). · cites it 2× “§ 752-A(1)(A) (2009); refusing to submit to arrest (Class D), 17-A M.R.S. § 751-B(1)(C) (2009); 1 criminal use of an *699 electronic weapon (Class D), 17-A M.”

State of Maine v. Jerry Lee Adams, 2015 ME 30 (Me. 2015). · cites it 2× “§ 1105-A(1)(B) (2014), and refusal to submit to arrest or detention (Class E), 17-A M.R.S. § 751-B(1)(A) (2014), entered in the Superior Court (York County, O’Neil, J.”

State v. LaPlante, 2011 ME 85 (Me. 2011). “Although not in effect at the time of La-Plante’s stop, 17-A M.R.S. § 751-B(1)(A) (2010) would now render it a Class E offense for a person in LaPlante’s circumstances to drive away from the officer without permission.”

State of Maine v. Tracy Dorweiler, 2016 ME 73 (Me. 2016). “Dorweiler suggests that she committed, at most, the offense of refusing to submit to arrest, 17-A M.R.S. § 751-B (2015), because the officer did not effect an arrest.”

State of Maine v. Nicholas Begin, 2015 ME 86 (Me. 2015). “§ 4011(1)(A) (2014); and refusing to submit to arrest (Class D), 17-A M.R.S. § 751-B(1)(B) (2014), entered by the Superior Court (Warren, J.”

State of Maine v. Michael G. Nickerson, 2013 ME 45 (Me. 2013). · cites it 2× “§ 207(1)(A) (2012), and refusing to submit to arrest (Class D), 17-A M.R.S. § 751-B(1)(B) (2012), entered in the trial court (Dow, J.”

State v. Johnson, 95 A.3d 621 (Me. 2014). “§ 1055(1), (2), refusing to submit to arrest or detention (Class D), 17-A M.R.S. § 751-B(1)(B), and unlawful use of a license (Class E), 29-A M.”

State v. Proia, 168 A.3d 798 (Me. 2017). “§ 1103(1-A)(E) (2016); and refusing to submit to arrest (Class D), 17-A M.R.S. § 751-B(1)(B) (2016). [¶ 7] In its findings, the court stated that “[t]here is clearly evidence in this case that is relevant to the defense of abnormal condition of the mind .”

State of Maine v. Tara L. Watson, 2024 ME 24 (Me. 2024). “§ 1107-A(1)(B)(3);2 • Refusing to submit to arrest (Class E), 17-A M.R.S. § 751-B(1)(A) (2023); and • Violation of condition of release (Class E), 15 M.”

State v. Cunneen, 205 A.3d 885 (Me. 2019). “§ 1107-A(1)(E) (2018) ; and refusing to submit to arrest or detention (Class E), 17-A M.R.S. § 751-B(1)(A) (2018), entered in the Unified Criminal Docket (Androscoggin County, Kennedy, J.”

State of Maine v. Betty L. French, 2018 ME 21 (Me. 2018). “§ 751(1) (2017), and refusing to submit to arrest (Class D), 17-A M.R.S. § 751-B(1)(B) (2017), entered by the court (Hancock County, R.”

Show all 23 citing cases →

— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 751-B(1)(A) — 8 cases

State of Maine v. Jerry Lee Adams, 2015 ME 30 (Me. 2015). “§ 1105-A(1)(B) (2014), and refusal to submit to arrest or detention (Class E), 17-A M.R.S. § 751-B(1)(A) (2014), entered in the Superior Court (York County, O’Neil, J.”

State v. LaPlante, 2011 ME 85 (Me. 2011). “Although not in effect at the time of La-Plante’s stop, 17-A M.R.S. § 751-B(1)(A) (2010) would now render it a Class E offense for a person in LaPlante’s circumstances to drive away from the officer without permission.”

State of Maine v. Tara L. Watson, 2024 ME 24 (Me. 2024). “§ 1107-A(1)(B)(3);2 • Refusing to submit to arrest (Class E), 17-A M.R.S. § 751-B(1)(A) (2023); and • Violation of condition of release (Class E), 15 M.”

State v. Cunneen, 205 A.3d 885 (Me. 2019). “§ 1107-A(1)(E) (2018) ; and refusing to submit to arrest or detention (Class E), 17-A M.R.S. § 751-B(1)(A) (2018), entered in the Unified Criminal Docket (Androscoggin County, Kennedy, J.”

State v. Blier, 162 A.3d 829 (Me. 2017).

— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 751-B(1)(B) — 13 cases

State of Maine v. Abdiaziz Hussein, 2019 ME 74 (Me. 2019). “§ 15-A(1) (2018), refusing to submit to arrest by physical force (Class D), 17-A M.R.S. § 751-B(1)(B) (2018), and assault (Class D), 17-A M.”

State of Maine v. Nicholas Begin, 2015 ME 86 (Me. 2015). “§ 4011(1)(A) (2014); and refusing to submit to arrest (Class D), 17-A M.R.S. § 751-B(1)(B) (2014), entered by the Superior Court (Warren, J.”

State of Maine v. Michael G. Nickerson, 2013 ME 45 (Me. 2013). “§ 207(1)(A) (2012), and refusing to submit to arrest (Class D), 17-A M.R.S. § 751-B(1)(B) (2012), entered in the trial court (Dow, J.”

State v. Johnson, 95 A.3d 621 (Me. 2014). “§ 1055(1), (2), refusing to submit to arrest or detention (Class D), 17-A M.R.S. § 751-B(1)(B), and unlawful use of a license (Class E), 29-A M.”

State v. Proia, 168 A.3d 798 (Me. 2017). “§ 1103(1-A)(E) (2016); and refusing to submit to arrest (Class D), 17-A M.R.S. § 751-B(1)(B) (2016). [¶ 7] In its findings, the court stated that “[t]here is clearly evidence in this case that is relevant to the defense of abnormal condition of the mind .”

— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 751-B(1)(C) — 1 case

State v. Murphy, 2010 ME 140 (Me. 2010). “§ 752-A(1)(A) (2009); refusing to submit to arrest (Class D), 17-A M.R.S. § 751-B(1)(C) (2009); 1 criminal use of an *699 electronic weapon (Class D), 17-A M.”

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