I’ve talked about some silly crimes in my blog, but they’re usually committed by dopey Americans. Today, I’m going across the pond because this whole story is ridiculous, and I can’t not share it.
(Photo Credit to West Yorkshire Police/Guzelian, via The Telegraph)
The West Yorkshire Police recently posted a picture of guy, wanted for questioning for some reason or another, trying to hide from the cops under his bed. But instead of crawling in from the bottom, he went in sideways – and left his legs hanging out. In the words of the police, “You will not be surprised to find out that yes we did find him – he will not be winning any awards for hide and seek champion soon!!!”
This guy won’t be giving John Cena a run for his money any time soon, either.
Let’s talk about resisting arrest and prison breaks in Maryland
Let me be very clear: if the cops are after you, don’t run and don’t hide. That’s evading arrest, and it’s a crime – like, everywhere. It’s not as if Maryland has some strange laws about not being a fugitive; literally every state in the country as well as the federal government has laws on the books about running from police. And at the risk of being too on the nose, running from the cops can get you shot in the back.
Maryland law calls it resisting or interfering with arrest, by the way, and it can land you in jail for up to three years, and cost you up to $5000 in fines.
Now, if you manage to break out of prison and decide to flee, we have laws for that, too. If you “escape from a place of confinement,” including a juvenile facility, you can be found “guilty of the felony of escape in the first degree and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or a fine not exceeding $20,000 or both.” If you wander away from custody, or leave your hous while you’re under home detention, or manage to escape the clutches of The Man in a way that isn’t a full-blown prison break, you can be found guilty of escape in the 2nd degree, which means up to three more years back in jail, and/or up to $5000 in fines.
If I’ve learned nothing else from watching horror movies as a kid, it’s that instinct can take over when you’re scared – and that heading for a bedroom when the monster is after you is absolutely 100% gonna get you killed. I also know that most cops – even the good guys, who really do want to keep people safe – are not as cool, calm and collected as the ones you see on TV, especially when they draw their guns. So if you ARE in trouble, don’t run. It won’t end well, I assure you.
At Drew Cochran, Attorney at Law, you can find the help you need when you’re facing criminal charges. As an Annapolis criminal defense lawyer, I’ve seen it all; I know what it takes to build a successful strategy for your defense. You can reach me at 410-271-1892, or by filling out this contact form.
You don’t have to face all of this alone. Just remember: Keep Calm – and Call Drew.
