Atlanta Police Still Searching for Suspect

According to reports out of Atlanta, police are searching for a suspect who allegedly lit a firework and pointed it directly at an officer's vehicle.

This happened at a street racing event earlier in December. When officers arrived at the scene, the suspect aimed the firework toward their cars.

As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, there are various charges faced by the individuals in the crowd. These charges include:

• Racing in Georgia
• Reckless Driving in Georgia
• Obstruction in Georgia

In today's post, I will outline the law behind the offense of obstruction as this is one of the crimes faced by the suspect sought after by authorities.

Obstruction in Georgia

Obstruction in Georgia is defined in the Georgia Code as: misdemeanor obstruction and felony obstruction.

Misdemeanor obstruction is defined in O.C.G.A. §16-10-24(a) as:

When a person knowingly or willfully obstructs or hinders any law enforcement officer in the lawful discharge of his official duties.

The penalty for a misdemeanor conviction in Georgia is a fine up to $1,000, jail time up to one year, or both. It can also come with community service, anger management classes, or any other punishments allowed under the misdemeanor sentencing laws of Georgia.

Felony obstruction is defined in O.C.G.A. §16-10-24(b) as:

When a person knowingly and willfully resists, obstructs, or opposes any law enforcement officer, prison guard, correctional officer, community supervision officer, probation officer, or conservation officer in the lawful discharge of his or her official duties by offering or doing violence to the person.

The penalty for a felony obstruction conviction is a prison term between one and five years. In addition to any prison term imposed, the accused will pay a fine of at least $300. Furthermore, the penalty could include community service and anger management classes.

Practice Note

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