Tenn. Code Ann. » Tenn. Code / Title 39 / Chapter 16 / Part 6
Tennessee Code Annotated

Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-602 (2026)

Resisting stop, frisk, halt, arrest or search - Prevention or obstruction of service of legal writ or process

✓ current as of May 2026
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Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1; 1991, ch. 307, § 1; 1999, ch. 178, § 1.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 100 cases (27 in the last 5 years), 1992–2026 · leading case: State of Tennessee v. William Charles Burgess, 532 S.W.3d 372 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2017).
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State of Tennessee v. William Charles Burgess, 532 S.W.3d 372 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2017). · cites it 11× “See T.C.A. § 39-16-602 (2014). The trial court sentenced the Defendant -to six months, with all but ten days suspended to supervised probation.”
State v. Walls, 62 S.W.3d 119 (Tenn. 2001). · cites it 4× “Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-16-602 (1997 & Supp.2001).”
Andrea Miller v. Woodston Maddox, 866 F.3d 386 (6th Cir. 2017). · cites it 2× “Maddox points to no other evidence in the record supporting probable cause for resisting arrest, so we conclude that there is no probable cause to support the chatge against Miller for reckless driving in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-602 . 1 Maddox also accepts that…”
State v. Adams, 238 S.W.3d 313 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2005). · cites it 6× “” Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-16-602. As defined in Black’s Law Dictionary, 6th edition, to “obstruct” is to “hinder or prevent from progress.”
State v. Russell, 10 S.W.3d 270 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999). · cites it 4× “Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-16-602 (1997). 2 . Tenn.”
State v. Harris, 919 S.W.2d 619 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995). · cites it 4× “While it is a Class B misdemeanor "to intentionally prevent or obstruct an officer of the state in serving, or attempting to serve or execute, any legal writ or process," Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-602 (c), (d) (1991 Repl.”
State of Tennessee v. Teddy Ray Mitchell, 343 S.W.3d 381 (Tenn. 2011). · cites it 4× “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-602 (a) (2003); see also T.”
Linda Moser v. Etowah Police Dep't, 27 F.4th 1148 (6th Cir. 2022). · cites it 3× “Moser was ultimately charged with, and pleaded guilty to, interfering with the arrest of another in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-602 . Moser brought this action against the Etowah Police Department, Tim Davis, Austin Parton, Chief Armstrong, and the City of Etowah,…”
State v. Roberts, 106 S.W.3d 658 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 4× “Roberts contends that the Tennessee Constitution protects his actions, he argues that section 39-16-602(b) is unconstitutional, because it abolishes his right to resist an unlawful arrest.”
State v. Nelson, 23 S.W.3d 270 (Tenn. 2000). · cites it 2× “For this argument, the defendant relies on Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-16-602(a) (1997) which makes it a criminal offense to intentionally prevent or obstruct a law enforcement officer “from effecting a stop, frisk, halt, arrest or search of any person, including the…”
Purnell v. State, 827 A.2d 68 (Md. 2003). “Penal Law § 205.30 (McKinney 2003); N.C. Gen.Stat. § 14-223 (2002); Ohio Rev.”
Rich v. State, 44 A.3d 1063 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 2012). “Codified Laws § 22-11-5 (2012); Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-16-602(a)-(b) (2012); see also Darrell A.”
Show all 100 citing cases →
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-602(a) — 29 cases
State v. Adams, 238 S.W.3d 313 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2005). “” Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-16-602. As defined in Black’s Law Dictionary, 6th edition, to “obstruct” is to “hinder or prevent from progress.”
State of Tennessee v. William Charles Burgess, 532 S.W.3d 372 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2017). “See T.C.A. § 39-16-602 (2014). The trial court sentenced the Defendant -to six months, with all but ten days suspended to supervised probation.”
State v. Russell, 10 S.W.3d 270 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999). “Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-16-602 (1997). 2 . Tenn.”
State v. Nelson, 23 S.W.3d 270 (Tenn. 2000). “For this argument, the defendant relies on Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-16-602(a) (1997) which makes it a criminal offense to intentionally prevent or obstruct a law enforcement officer “from effecting a stop, frisk, halt, arrest or search of any person, including the…”
Rich v. State, 44 A.3d 1063 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 2012). “Codified Laws § 22-11-5 (2012); Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-16-602(a)-(b) (2012); see also Darrell A.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-602(b) — 6 cases
State v. Roberts, 106 S.W.3d 658 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2002). “Roberts contends that the Tennessee Constitution protects his actions, he argues that section 39-16-602(b) is unconstitutional, because it abolishes his right to resist an unlawful arrest.”
State of Tennessee v. Teresa Sue Skipper (Tenn. Crim. App. 2007).
State of Tennessee v. Jeremy L. Saxton (Tenn. Crim. App. 2016).
State of Tennessee v. Dana Baker (Tenn. Crim. App. 2022).
State v. Jason Eric Bradburn (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-602(b)(2) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Darrin Bonner (Tenn. Crim. App. 2009).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-602(c) — 3 cases
State of Tennessee v. William Charles Burgess, 532 S.W.3d 372 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2017). “See T.C.A. § 39-16-602 (2014). The trial court sentenced the Defendant -to six months, with all but ten days suspended to supervised probation.”
State of Tennessee v. Teresa Sue Skipper (Tenn. Crim. App. 2007).
State of Tennessee v. Dana Baker (Tenn. Crim. App. 2022).
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-602(d) — 2 cases
Brandon S. Massengill v. State of Tennessee (Tenn. Crim. App. 2015).
State of Tennessee v. Lester Arnold Clouse (Tenn. Crim. App. 2017).
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