NEWPORT, R.I. — Police have released body-worn camera footage from the arrest of a Rhode Island assistant attorney general for allegedly trespassing.
Officers responded to Clarke Cooke House in Newport late Thursday after reports that customers refused to leave. There officers encountered Special Assistant Attorney General Devon Flanagan and another woman.
Footage shows Flanagan telling officers, “I want you to turn your bodycam off. Protocol is that you turn it off if a citizen requests that you turn it off.” The woman with her chirped in “She’s a lawyer. She’s a lawyer.”
An officer attempted to deescalate the situation, but Flanagan continued arguing that the police were required to turn off their cameras.
After restaurant staff told police they wanted them trespassed, officers informed Flanagan and the other woman that they were trespassing and would be arrested if they refused to leave. Flanagan responded “We’re not trespassing. You haven’t notified us that we’re trespassing,” to which the officer replied “What did I just say to you? You’re trespassing … I don’t want to arrest you guys.” Flanagan countered by saying “You’re not gonna arrest us,” before repeatedly identifying herself as an “AG”.
Upon putting her in the back of the cruiser she said “Buddy, you’re gonna regret this. You’re gonna regret it.”
Flanagan was charged with Willful Trespass and given a District Court Summons to appear in court.
The second woman, Veronica Hannan, was charged with Willful Trespass, Disorderly Conduct, and Resisting Arrest.
The R.I. Attorney General’s Office said it is reviewing the incident, and declined further comment due personnel matters.
Per Newport Police body-worn camera policy officers must stop recording when:
• A potential witness requests to speak to an officer confidentially or desires anonymity.
• A victim or witness requests that he or she not be recorded and the situation is not confrontational.
• A victim requests that he or she not be recorded as a condition of cooperation and the interests of justice require such cooperation.
Newport police said none of these applied to the women as they were suspects in a trespassing investigation.
Special Assistant Attorney General Devon Flanagan (left), Veronica Hannan (right)
Good thing they were eventually able to get the cruiser’s door closed, otherwise Hannan might have ended up hog-tied by the ankles; extreme measure, but, it happens.
A competent lawyer would know that every detention is an arrest. That is why you can legally be arrested for resisting arrest even if there is no other underlying crime.
I wonder what would happen if they were black? I also wonder what would happen if they were poor or not connected politically ?this is some BS. This is exactly the problem. The entitlement is disgusting. I understand the human frailty, but I don’t understand the disgusting pattern of entitlement.
ContributorAugust 19, 20251 Mins read86 
Willing to wager that charges will be dismissed. Obnoxious, drunk, untitled Karens, but politically connected.
Unfortunately you will never hear how this ends
Good thing they were eventually able to get the cruiser’s door closed, otherwise Hannan might have ended up hog-tied by the ankles; extreme measure, but, it happens.
A competent lawyer would know that every detention is an arrest. That is why you can legally be arrested for resisting arrest even if there is no other underlying crime.
I wonder what would happen if they were black? I also wonder what would happen if they were poor or not connected politically ?this is some BS. This is exactly the problem. The entitlement is disgusting. I understand the human frailty, but I don’t understand the disgusting pattern of entitlement.