HARRISBURG, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — The Pennsylvania senate is considering legislation that would make it a crime to run from a police officer.
It's already a crime under state law to resist arrest or flee a police officer in a car. But legislation that passed the Senate Judiciary Committee would make running from police on foot a crime.
"When individuals flee from police officers attempting to lawfully place them under arrest, they create a risk of harm to police officers and to the public," said Republican state Senator John Yudichak, representing Luzerne and Carbon counties.
Yudichak said the bill comes after Officer John Wilding, from Scranton, died while chasing three robbery suspects.
The legislation, named for Wilding, would make it a second degree misdemeanor if someone flees on foot during an arrest attempt. It would be a third degree felony if a someone is seriously hurt during a foot chase. If someone dies, the offense would be a first degree felony.
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It would also make it a crime to hurt a police animal, like a police dog, while trying to evade arrest.
Opponents of the bill, including the ACLU, note there are already laws that could punish fleeing an officer, such as resisting arrest. They also note the law could be misused, for example, to arrest people who are protesting as part of First Amendment-protected rights.
They say it could also lead to what’s called stacking of charges, where prosecutors put up as many counts as possible to entice a plea.
A similar bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee last year, but failed to make it to a vote in the full Senate.