NEWPORT, RI — A Special Assistant Attorney General for Rhode Island was arrested last week after allegedly refusing to leave a popular Newport restaurant and clashing with responding officers, repeatedly invoking her government position during the late-night incident caught on police bodycam.
Attorney General Peter Neronha is a registered Democrat in a state that has pushed liberal policies regarding criminal justice reform and revolving door justice policies. That’s good for his assistant attorney general who was just arrested this week.
Devon Hogan Flanagan was taken into custody on Aug. 14 outside Clarke Cooke House at Bannister’s Wharf and charged with willful trespass. Police say Flanagan became argumentative and non-compliant after restaurant staff requested she and her companion, Veronica Hannan, be removed from the premises.
Bodycam video shows Flanagan telling officers, “I’m an AG,” and urging them to turn off their body cameras, falsely claiming they were required to do so at a citizen’s request. When officers told the women they were trespassing and needed to leave, Flanagan responded, “You’re not gonna arrest us,” and later warned police, “You’re gonna regret this.”
“That’s bullsh-t lawyer talk, that’s not the law,” the officer told her.
Police say they attempted to de-escalate the situation, but both women refused to comply. Flanagan and Hannan were arrested after multiple warnings. Hannan allegedly resisted officers during the arrest, and her husband reportedly attempted to intervene.
The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office confirmed Flanagan’s arrest and said she has been employed with the office for seven years, currently assigned to the Appellate Unit of the Criminal Division. Officials said the matter is under internal review and declined further comment, calling it a personnel issue.
The incident has triggered scrutiny given Flanagan’s role in enforcing state law, with bodycam footage circulating widely on social media and drawing attention to her conduct during the confrontation.
The case remains under review, and no disciplinary action has been announced as of Monday.
Key Points
- Special Assistant Attorney General Devon Flanagan was arrested in Newport for trespassing after refusing to leave a restaurant
- Bodycam footage shows Flanagan repeatedly identifying herself as “an AG” and clashing with police officers
- The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office confirmed the arrest and is conducting an internal review
A top Rhode Island prosecutor’s night out turned into a viral arrest after invoking her title in a trespass dispute.