A prosecutor in Rhode Island, Special Assistant Attorney General Devon Flanagan, has been placed on unpaid leave for a period of six months following an incident during which she was arrested on a trespassing charge. This development follows earlier reports that during the arrest, Flanagan was captured on police body camera footage warning an arresting officer, “You’re gonna regret this.”
The incident, which occurred on August 14 outside of a restaurant in Newport, led to the decision announced by State Attorney General Peter Neronha on Monday. Reports indicate that Flanagan and her friend, Veronica Hannan, were asked to leave the Clarke Cooke House but refused, resulting in their arrest.
The police footage reveals Flanagan asking an officer multiple times to turn off his body camera and asserting her position as an Assistant Attorney General. As the situation escalated, Flanagan was put in a patrol vehicle, warning the officer, “Buddy, you’re gonna regret this.”
Neronha expressed disappointment in Flanagan’s behavior, stating that she did not meet the high personal and professional standards expected from attorneys in his office. Neronha also extended an apology to the officers involved in the arrest. Furthermore, Flanagan, who has served for nearly seven years in the state’s top legal office, sent letters of apology to the individual officers involved.
In Rhode Island, a conviction for misdemeanor willful trespass is punishable by up to a year in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. The question remains whether Flanagan, if convicted, would retain her position in the attorney general’s office. The attorney representing Flanagan declined to comment on the matter.
Neronha expressed hope that Flanagan would reflect ‘on the seriousness of her conduct and make corrective changes in her life.’ The incident, he noted, could catalyze personal growth, stating, ‘I believe that in the long run, our worst moments can inspire us to become better people.’
This should remind us of the high standards expected of officials in our democratic institutions and the complex challenges they face in upholding the public’s trust.
