PROVIDENCE – A Rhode Island special assistant attorney general who was arrested and charged with trespassing in Newport last week can be seen in body-worn camera video of the incident telling officers she is a prosecutor and asking them to turn off their body-worn cameras.
Footage of the Aug. 14 encounter obtained by the Globe on Monday also shows Special Assistant Attorney General Devon Flanagan telling an officer, “You’re going to regret this,” as she is placed inside a cruiser.
Officers arrived around 9:51 p.m. at 24 Bannister’s Wharf – the Clarke Cooke House restaurant – after receiving a report of an intoxicated woman – later identified as Veronica Hannan – refusing to leave, Newport police wrote in a report. A man Hannan was with was also allegedly arguing with staff, police wrote.
With them was Flanagan, 34, who was identified by police as Devon Hogan, of Warwick. The Attorney General’s Office confirmed on Friday that Hogan and Flanagan are the same person, and that Flanagan has been employed there for approximately seven years.
Flanagan was charged with willful trespass and given a summons to appear in court.
Authorities arrested Hannan, 34, of Westport, Conn., and charged her with willful trespass, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.
Body-worn camera video shows as the officer wearing the camera walked up to the two women outside the restaurant, Flanagan points and says, “I want you to turn your body cam off.”
“Protocol is that you turn it off if a citizen requests to turn it off,” Flanagan says.
Hannan adds, “She’s a lawyer.”
During the encounter with police, Flanagan repeatedly asks officers to turn off the camera, the video shows.
“If I ask you to turn off the body cam, you have to turn it off, and that’s your protocol,” Flanagan says at one point.
“She’s a [expletive] lawyer so she knows,” Hannan says.
The officer responds, “That’s [expletive] lawyer stuff so that’s not true.”
“I’m an A.G.,” Flanagan adds. “I’m an A.G.”
“Good for you,” the officer responds. “I don’t give a [expletive]. Let’s go.”
Timothy Rondeau, a spokesperson for the Attorney General’s Office, said on Monday that Flanagan’s request is not part of the statewide body-worn camera policy, and confirmed the policy applies only to victims and witnesses of crimes.
Newport police body-worn camera policy states authorities may turn off cameras in places “where a reasonable expectation of privacy exists.” When a member of the public objects to being recorded, an officer “may determine whether to proceed with recording,” according to the department’s policy, which also notes “consent to record is not required.”
Flanagan “was immediately uncooperative, questioning our authority and demanding I turn my body camera off,” an officer wrote in a police report.
“You’re arresting an AG,” Flanagan says in the video, as an officer is seen placing her in handcuffs.
As officers put Flanagan in a cruiser, she says, “You’re going to regret this.”
“You’re going to regret it. I’m an A-” Flanagan says, as an officer slams the cruiser’s door closed.
Police wrote that during the booking process, Flanagan was “berating officers, repeatedly stating her position as an AG, and refusing to follow instructions.”
Flanagan did not return requests for comment. It was unclear on Monday if she had obtained an attorney.
The Attorney General’s Office said last week it had immediately launched a review of the incident, “which we anticipate will conclude within the next few days.”
“At this time, we are unable to comment further on this matter as it relates to personnel issues,” Megan Skinner, a spokesperson, wrote in an email on Friday.
Officers can also be seen on the video struggling to apprehend Hannan.
She was later brought to court for arraignment, police said.
Christopher Gavin can be reached at christopher.gavin@globe.com.