What's Legal, What's Excessive, and What You Can Do About It

🧷 If You've Been Roughly Arrested, You're Not Alone

Getting arrested is never pleasant. But when it involves being slammed to the ground, tased, or injured — the experience quickly shifts from scary to traumatic.

Every year in Louisiana, people are injured by unnecessary or excessive police force during arrests. Some are charged with resisting arrest just for asking questions or trying to understand what's happening. Many don't realize they may have legal grounds to challenge both the arrest and the force used.

At Lawrence Law Firm, we help clients throughout Ruston and North Louisiana navigate these tough cases with clarity and strength. Here's what you need to know.

⚖️ When Is Force During an Arrest Legal?

Under Louisiana and federal law, police may use reasonable force when making an arrest, especially if:

• You're actively resisting

• You're fleeing from arrest

• You're posing a physical threat to others or officers

• You're under the influence and uncontrollable

The reasonable force depends on the context — but the force must stop once the threat is under control or the arrest is complete.

🛑 What Is Considered Excessive Force?

Force becomes excessive or illegal when it goes beyond what's necessary for the situation.

Examples include:

• Tackling or hitting someone who is already handcuffed

• Using a Taser on someone who is complying

• Striking someone in the head or face without justification

• Throwing someone to the ground when they're not resisting

• Leaving someone with visible injuries from avoidable violence

📌 Important: Even if you were resisting or eventually charged with a crime, you may still have a valid claim if the force used was unnecessary or extreme.

👮 What If I'm Charged with “Resisting Arrest”?

Louisiana law (R.S. 14:108) defines resisting arrest as interfering with an officer's lawful arrest or detention.
But that law is often abused to cover up or justify excessive force.

We've seen officers:

• Use unnecessary force first

• Then charge the person with resisting to explain their injuries

• And threaten additional charges if the person complains

If you were arrested and injured, and especially if “resisting” is on the charge sheet, call us immediately.

🧠 What Should I Do If I Was Hurt During an Arrest?

If you were injured or believe the police used excessive force, follow these steps:

1. Take photos of all injuries as soon as possible

2. Get medical treatment and keep copies of your records

3. Do not speak to police or internal affairs without an attorney

4. Write down everything you remember (names, time, location, what was said)

5. Contact a criminal defense lawyer who also understands civil claims

At Lawrence Law Firm, we can defend the criminal case and refer you to civil rights attorneys if you have grounds to sue.

🔐 What If I Fought Back?

If you responded physically out of fear or instinct, you might still have options. We may be able to:

• Argue self-defense

• Show you were not resisting but reacting to unjustified aggression

• Push to dismiss charges due to illegality of the arrest itself

Even if force was used on you, you can still face charges — but you also have rights.

🛡️ How We Defend These Cases

At Lawrence Law Firm, we defend people who've been roughed up, falsely charged, and mistreated during arrests. Our team will:

• Obtain bodycam, dashcam, and jail surveillance footage

• Interview witnesses and request officer discipline records

• Push for dismissal or reduction of resisting arrest or battery on a police officer charges

• Protect your rights from the moment we're hired

📞 You Don't Have to Tolerate Abuse of Power

If the police hurt you or charged you unfairly, call a team that doesn't back down.

📞 Call 318.232.4000 to speak with a criminal defense attorney in Ruston, Louisiana.
🖥️ Or schedule a free consultation here.

You have the right to defend yourself. Let us help you do it the right way.

❓ FAQ: Police Force During Arrest in Louisiana

Q: What if the officer said I was resisting, but I wasn't?
A: This is common. We can challenge the charge with video evidence and witness testimony.

Q: Can I sue the police?
A: Possibly. If we prove the force was excessive or the arrest was illegal, we'll refer your case for civil litigation.

Q: Can I be charged and still be a victim of police violence?
A: Yes. Being arrested or charged does not justify excessive force.

The blog published by Lawrence Law Firm is available for informational purposes only and is not considered legal advice on any subject matter. By viewing blog posts, the reader understands there is no attorney-client relationship between the reader and the blog publisher. Artificial Intelligence has been used to assist in formatting, topic selection, and organization, and while this information has been reviewed an attorney, this article should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a licensed professional attorney, and readers are urged to consult their own legal counsel on any specific legal questions concerning a specific situation.