N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. » N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. / Title lxii / Chapter 642
New Hampshire Revised Statutes

N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 642:2 (2026)

Resisting Arrest or Detention

✓ current as of May 2026
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    642:2 Resisting Arrest or Detention. – A person is guilty of a misdemeanor when the person knowingly or purposely physically interferes with a person recognized to be a law enforcement official, including a probation or parole officer, seeking to effect an arrest or detention of the person or another regardless of whether there is a legal basis for the arrest. A person is guilty of a class B felony if the act of resisting arrest or detention causes serious bodily injury, as defined in RSA 625:11, VI, to another person. Verbal protestations alone shall not constitute resisting arrest or detention.

Source. 1971, 518:1. 1983, 347:2. 1992, 85:1. 1995, 237:3. 2007, 191:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2008.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 64 cases (11 in the last 5 years), 1975–2026 · leading case: State v. Kelley, 899 A.2d 236 (N.H. 2006).
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State v. Kelley, 899 A.2d 236 (N.H. 2006). · cites it 16× “See RSA 642:2 (1996); RSA 644:2 (Supp. 2005).”
State v. Beauchesne, 868 A.2d 972 (N.H. 2005). · cites it 6× “Following a bench trial on stipulated facts, the defendant, John Beauchesne, was convicted of possession of cocaine, see RSA 318-B:2 (2004), possession of marijuana, see RSA 318-B:26 (2004), and resisting detention, see RSA 642:2 (1996). On appeal, he challenges his convictions…”
State v. West, 113 A.3d 726 (N.H. 2015). · cites it 9× “RSA 631:2-a (2007); RSA 642:2 (Supp. 2014). During trial, the defendant objected to the trial court’s proposed jury instruction on the defense of premises, RSA 627:7 (2007).”
Dennis v. Town of Loudon, et al., 2012 DNH 165 (D.N.H. 2012). · cites it 6× “§ 179:10 , and Resisting Arrest or Detention, in violation of N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 642:2 . Dennis was then released on personal recognizance.”
State v. Reid, 594 A.2d 160 (N.H. 1991). · cites it 6× “) of second degree assault, RSA 631:2, and two counts of resisting arrest, RSA 642:2. On appeal, the defendant raises two issues.”
State v. Lindsey, 973 A.2d 314 (N.H. 2009). · cites it 4× “The defendant, Bernard Lindsey, appeals his conviction for resisting arrest, see RSA 642:2 (Supp. 2008), arguing that the Superior Court (Mangones, J.”
State v. Haas, 596 A.2d 127 (N.H. 1991). · cites it 3× “) of the offenses of simple assault, RSA 631:2-a, and resisting arrest, RSA 642:2. The defendant raises three issues on appeal.”
State v. Blunt, 62 A.3d 1285 (N.H. 2013). · cites it 3× “See RSA 631:2-a (2007) (simple assault); RSA 642:2 (Supp. 2012) (resisting arrest).”
State v. Smith, 736 A.2d 1236 (N.H. 1999). · cites it 2× “1998); (2) criminal trespass, see RSA 635:2, I, II (1996); (3) simple assault, see RSA 631:2-a (1996); and (4) resisting arrest, see RSA 642:2 (1996). The resisting arrest information alleged: 1.”
State v. Pseudae, 908 A.2d 809 (N.H. 2006). “2005), one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct, see RSA 644:2 (1996) (amended 2005), and one misdemeanor count of resisting arrest or detention, see RSA 642:2 (1996), following a jury trial in Superior Court (Smukler, J.”
State v. Bernaby, 653 A.2d 1124 (N.H. 1995). · cites it 2× “1994)); and resisting arrest, RSA 642:2 (1986) (current version at RSA 642:2 (Supp.”
State v. Denoncourt, 821 A.2d 997 (N.H. 2003). “2002); RSA 642:2 (Supp. 2002). The sole issue on appeal is whether the .”
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