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Rhode Island prosecutor arrested in viral video ‘embarrassed herself,’ AG says after disciplining her
Attorney General Peter Neronha handed down a six-month unpaid leave Monday in light of Devon Flanagan’s now-viral arrest.
A Rhode Island prosecutor caught on camera earlier this month telling a police officer he would “regret” arresting her will spend six months on unpaid leave, the state’s attorney general said Monday.
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Special Assistant Attorney General Devon Flanagan was arrested on a willful trespassing charge outside a restaurant in Newport on Aug. 14. Police footage of the incident quickly went viral online and shows the 34-year-old repeatedly demanding officers turn off their body-worn cameras and telling them, “I’m an AG.”
“You’re going to regret it. I’m an A—” Flanagan says in the video as an officer loads her into a police cruiser and closes the door. Boston.com has reached out to Flanagan for comment. Her lawyer declined to comment on the case Monday.
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Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha’s office began a review of the incident upon learning of Flanagan’s arrest, with Neronha calling her behavior “inexcusable.” A spokesperson for the AG’s office later confirmed Flanagan would be placed on unpaid leave beginning this week.
Flanagan “mistreated the Newport Police Department and embarrassed herself, the Office, and frankly me,” Neronha said in a statement Monday. “We hold our attorneys to the highest personal and professional standards, and Ms. Flanagan plainly did not meet those standards here.”
He said he met with Flanagan and levied a six-month unpaid leave.
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“I sincerely hope she takes this time to reflect on the seriousness of her conduct and makes corrective changes in her life,” Neronha added. “She has a long road ahead of her, but I believe that in the long run, our worst moments can inspire us to become better people.”
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