Fort Collins Disorderly Conduct Lawyer | But He Was Just Trying to Save the Dogs

A man was arrested after trying to save his dogs. Read more in our blog.
A man was arrested after trying to save his dogs. Read more in our blog.
Image Credit: Pixabay – Wow_Pho

When people panic, they don’t always act in rational ways. Sometimes their reactions even make things worse, but it’s so hard to stand back and do nothing. I’m pretty sure that’s exactly how one man felt when he was watching his house burn with his dogs inside. According to the news report, the first responders told the man to stay back, but he could not idly stand by and do nothing. So, he grabbed a firefighter’s ax and threw it through a house window to try and rescue his pets himself. Police on scene tackled the man and arrested him for Disorderly Conduct. Thankfully, all of the man’s pets escaped the fire unharmed. I guess there is no affirmative defense for trying to save the life of an animal.

Larimer County Disorderly Conduct Attorney – What is the Definition of Disorderly Conduct?

The Colorado law definition of Disorderly Conduct in Larimer, Boulder, or Grand County – C.R.S. 18-9-106 – is:

A person commits disorderly conduct if he or she intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly:

(a) Makes a coarse and obviously offensive utterance, gesture, or display in a public place and the utterance, gesture, or display tends to incite an immediate breach of the peace; or

(c) Makes unreasonable noise in a public place or near a private residence that he has no right to occupy; or

(d) Fights with another in a public place except in an amateur or professional contest of athletic skill; or

(e) Not being a peace officer, discharges a firearm in a public place except when engaged in lawful target practice or hunting or the ritual discharge of blank ammunition cartridges as an attendee at a funeral for a deceased person who was a veteran of the armed forces of the United States; or

(f) Not being a peace officer, displays a deadly weapon, displays any article used or fashioned in a manner to cause a person to reasonably believe that the article is a deadly weapon, or represents verbally or otherwise that he or she is armed with a deadly weapon in a public place in a manner calculated to alarm.

[pullquote align=”center” textalign=”center” width=”95%”]Have you been charged with Disorderly Conduct? Contact the experienced attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office to defend you today![/pullquote]

An Attorney’s Evaluation of the Disorderly Conduct Criminal Charges – I Would Save the Dogs Too

While it was not specifically stated, I believe the man in the story above was charged with Disorderly Conduct because he displayed a deadly weapon (part f). When the man picked up the fireman’s ax, he was technically holding what could be considered a deadly weapon in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park. However, the statue does say that the brandishing of the deadly weapon must be in a manner calculated to alarm. I don’t for one second believe that the man grabbed the ax with the intent to alarm others. In fact, I don’t think he was considering anything other than how to get his dogs out of the house. Attempting to save your favorite pets from a fire should not be a crime. It seems senseless that he would be charged with this class 2 misdemeanor, and if the man has great criminal defense lawyer, like one of the attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office, there is definitely a defense to be argued.

If you or someone you love has been charged with Disorderly Conduct in the Larimer County Court, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent and contact the best Fort Collins criminal defense lawyers from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-658-0007 today. Together, we can protect your future.