Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Senate Bill 188 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sponsor says bill targeting barricade standoffs will aid law enforcement negotiations
Summary
Sen. Patton told the Senate Judiciary Committee SB 188 would criminalize barricading in structures or vehicles to resist arrest, a measure he said is driven by federal fugitive task-force experiences and an uptick in violent fugitives who create prolonged standoffs.
Senator Patton gave sponsor testimony for Senate Bill 188 at the Senate Judiciary Committee on Oct. 8, saying the bill would prohibit resisting arrest by barricading oneself inside a structure or vehicle and add penalties intended to deter prolonged standoffs.
Patton said the proposal originated from U.S. Marshals and fugitive task-force concerns about violent fugitives barricading themselves, creating hours-long standoffs that endanger neighbors and consume law-enforcement, fire and emergency medical resources. "We believe this bill will provide law enforcement officers with the negotiating tool to help talk to fugitives out of the barricades more quickly," Patton said.
Committee members asked whether the bill is intended to target planned fugitive arrests rather than routine domestic incidents. Patton replied that the bill is focused on "violent fugitives" and acknowledged it was not meant to address domestic disputes in which one person prevents another from leaving.
Patton said proponents expect law-enforcement testimony in coming weeks, led by U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott and the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force. No amendment or vote occurred on SB 188 at the hearing; the bill was read for its first hearing and the sponsor responded to committee questions.
