SA Attorney General Devon Flanagan’s Aug. 14 arrest; WARNING: SHE SCREAMS, CUSSES

NEWS
‘You’re going to regret this,’ R.I. prosecutor threatens police during Newport arrest
Footage from Special Assistant Attorney General Devon Flanagan’s Aug. 14 arrest shows the state prosecutor demanding officers turn off their body-worn cameras.

A Rhode Island state prosecutor was caught on video invoking her title and demanding officers turn off their body-worn cameras as she was arrested and charged with trespassing at a restaurant in Newport last week.

“Buddy, you’re going to regret this,” Special Assistant Attorney General Devon Flanagan can be heard telling an officer on a bodycam video as she is placed inside a police cruiser during the Aug. 14 incident.

The 34-year-old was arrested shortly before 10 p.m. at 24 Bannister’s Wharf, the Clarke Cooke House restaurant, according to a Newport Police Department report. Flanagan faces a charge of willful trespassing.

Flanagan did not immediately return a request for comment Tuesday, and it was unclear whether she had an attorney who could speak on her behalf.

After receiving a call about an “unwanted party” at Clarke Cooke House, Newport police arrived to find Flanagan and her friend, 34-year-old Veronica Hannan, standing outside, according to police reports and footage from the scene. It was unclear why the pair were not welcome at the restaurant, which did not immediately return a request for comment.

“I want you to turn your bodycam off,” Flanagan says in the video. “Protocol is that you turn it off if a citizen requests … to turn it off.”

“She’s a lawyer,” Hannan adds.

Flanagan repeats her request several times during the brief but testy exchange, and Hannan chimes in, “She’s a f***ing lawyer, so she knows.”

“Well, that’s bulls*** lawyer stuff, so that’s not true,” an officer fires back. “So we’ve got to go.”

“I’m an AG,” Flanagan interjects. “I’m an AG.”

“Good for you. I don’t give a s***,” the officer replies. “Let’s go. We’re going.” Turning to Hannan’s husband, he adds, “Can you get your children out of here?”

Police handcuff Flanagan and lead her to a police cruiser as the arguing continues.

“You’re going to regret it. I’m an A—” she says as the officer closes the cruiser door. Hannan was also arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, willful trespassing, and resisting arrest, according to Newport police.

Her attorney, John R. Grasso, said in an email Hannan had dinner inside the restaurant, paid the bill, and walked out before the alleged incident transpired. He said as far as he knows, “Veronica is a law abiding, productive member of society with no prior run-ins with law enforcement.”

“Perhaps that lack of prior experience is what caused her to be caught off guard by what you saw unfolding on the video police shared with the media,” Grasso wrote. “It was, after all, fast and furious. Those handcuffs came out pretty quickly, police were putting their hands on her (and her husband), and from what I saw, nobody except for Veronica was trying to slow things down.”

Arrest reports for both women indicate alcohol was involved.

The Attorney General’s Office said it “immediately began a review of the incident” after learning of Flanagan’s arrest. Flanagan has worked in the AG’s office for about seven years and is assigned to the Appellate Unit of the Criminal Division, the office confirmed.

“At this time, we are unable to comment further on this matter as it relates to personnel issues,” the AG’s office added in an emailed statement. Asked about Rhode Island’s body-worn camera policy, the office clarified bodycams can be turned off at an officer’s discretion upon the request of a victim or witness.

Speaking to WPRO’s Gene Valicenti Tuesday, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said he’s “still reviewing and thinking about what I’m going to do.” However, he acknowledged Flanagan’s alleged conduct was “inexcusable.”

“Look, she’s put me in a bad position, she’s embarrassed herself, humiliated herself, treated the Newport Police Department horribly,” Neronha said. “She is going to take some steps to try to address that in the next day or so.”

He said his office has had difficulty retaining qualified prosecutors — something he’ll need to keep in mind as he considers Flanagan’s professional future.

“I just have to think really carefully about this one,” Neronha said. “But no question, there will be a strong, strong sanction here.”

He floated the possibility of a suspension without pay if Flanagan keeps her job and said he found her remorseful when they spoke following her arrest. Neronha also said he had Flanagan sit down to watch the police bodycam footage before asking her what she thought she needed to do “to make this right.”

He credited Newport police for refusing to give Flanagan special treatment.

“Certainly an apology to the Newport Police Department is in order, and that’s well underway,” Neronha said. “She’ll take responsibility for her conduct, and then we’ll go from there.”