Rhode Island Assistant AG Faces Trespass Charge After Bodycam Arrest

Newly released police body-camera video shows Rhode Island Special Assistant Attorney General Devon Hogan Flanagan being arrested outside the Clarke Cooke House restaurant in Newport on the night of Aug. 14. The footage captures Flanagan, who appeared intoxicated, repeatedly telling officers “I’m an AG” and demanding they switch off their cameras before warning, “Buddy, you’re going to regret this.” Officers had been called after staff reported patrons refusing to leave. Flanagan was charged with willful trespass and issued a district-court summons. Her companion, Veronica Hannan, was charged with willful trespass, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after allegedly slipping from handcuffs and kicking at officers. Newport Police said body cameras are turned off only at the request of victims or witnesses, not suspects, and that officers acted within department policy. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, where Flanagan has worked for seven years in the appellate unit, said it has opened a personnel review but declined further comment, citing employee privacy. The incident has heightened scrutiny of professional conduct standards for state prosecutors and the use of body-camera footage in holding public officials accountable.