When a Rhode Island prosecutor faced a fellow attorney’s warning of “you’ll regret it,” things escalated quickly, particularly when the belligerent blonde was seen getting out of her handcuffs.
Attorney John Grasso shared footage from a police body camera, highlighting the incident involving his client, Veronica Hannan, and special aide Devon Hogan Flanagan. The incident occurred after they were accused of trespassing at a Newport restaurant, Clark Cook House.
According to the lawyers, the tension erupted right after Hannan paid her bill.
“She finished her meal, paid the check, and left,” he stated.
He also suggested that Hannan had no “previous run-ins” with law enforcement.
“Maybe that’s what caught her off guard during the unfolding events you saw in the video,” he noted.
The footage leading to her arrest showed Hannan advising the officers to “relax,” but Flanagan asked them to turn off the body camera due to “protocols.”
“She’s a lawyer, she knows,” Hannan claimed, asserting her knowledge of the situation.
Yet, the officer countered, saying, “That’s not true,” before instructing one of the husbands nearby to let their child leave.
“Sorry, what?” Hannan retorted, clearly confused.
Flanagan continued to express her discontent with the police, attempting to intimidate them.
“You’ll regret it,” she shouted.
Hannan also reacted strongly at that moment.
“Get your hands off me!” she exclaimed as the police were about to cuff her.
Eventually, Hannan was secured and the police car door was opened, as seen in the footage.
Despite the chaotic imagery, Grasso maintained that Hannan was simply trying to stay calm throughout the tumultuous exchange with Newport police.
“The handcuffs came out fast. The police had their hands on her and her husband. From what I observed, it was mostly Veronica trying to de-escalate,” he said.
Both women were arrested last week. Further details came from a report that noted the state Attorney General’s Office was reviewing the case.
Clark Cookhouse employees opted not to comment when reached for statements.
Since the incident, Hannan’s lawyers have expressed that the experience has felt overwhelming for her, emphasizing that it’s far from a typical situation for someone in her position.
