On August 14, Special Assistant Attorney General Devon Flanagan was arrested for willful trespassing at the Clarke Cooke House restaurant in Newport, Rhode Island. The incident, which quickly went viral, involved a chaotic confrontation with police as Flanagan insisted that officers turn off their body-worn cameras at her request. During the arrest, Flanagan repeatedly told police she would ‘regret’ being taken to jail, a comment that drew widespread attention and criticism. The event was captured on the officers’ body cameras, sparking public debate over law enforcement conduct and the role of public officials in such situations.
Following the incident, the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office placed Flanagan on six months of unpaid leave, citing her mistreatment of police and the embarrassment she caused to the office. Attorney General Peter Neronha emphasized the gravity of her actions, stating that she had not met the office’s high standards and that her behavior had damaged the reputation of the attorney general’s office. ‘We hold our attorneys to the highest personal and professional standards, and Ms. Flanagan plainly did not meet those standards here,’ Neronha stated in a statement reported by the Boston Globe.
Flanagan’s arrest was part of a broader issue following her friend’s refusal to leave the restaurant, which prompted police to intervene. During the confrontation, Flanagan repeatedly demanded that officers turn off their cameras, asserting that protocol required compliance with her request. She also repeatedly stated that she was an ‘AG,’ a reference to her position as an Assistant Attorney General, which she used to challenge the authority of the police. Despite her claims, Neronha clarified that her assertion about police needing to comply with citizen requests to turn off cameras was incorrect.
In court, Flanagan pleaded no contest to the trespassing charge, which resulted in a six-month filing. This means that unless new charges are filed, the case could be dismissed after six months. Her attorney, Kevin Hagan, declined to comment on the matter. The attorney general’s office has not returned any comment requests, and the case is now pending for further legal action. The incident has sparked discussions about the behavior of public officials, the role of law enforcement, and the consequences of such actions, particularly when they involve individuals in positions of authority.
Neronha also expressed disappointment in the incident, noting that he had not faced many issues of this nature during his tenure as attorney general. ‘She’s humiliated herself,’ he told WPRO previously. ‘Regardless of what happens vis-a-vis her employment with us, she’s going to have a long time coming back from this. It’s just really unfortunate.’ The situation highlights the complex dynamics between law enforcement and individuals in public office, and the potential repercussions for such actions in a public and viral context.