Obstructing a Peace Officer Defense Lawyer in Denver, Colorado

Wolf Law is proud to serve Denver and surrounding communities, including Aurora, Lakewood, and the broader Denver Metro area. Obstruction charges in Colorado can arise from situations that might not seem like criminal conduct to the person involved. Asking questions during a police encounter, refusing to move, or intervening in what appears to be an unfair situation can all result in an obstruction charge. If you are facing an obstructing a peace officer charge in Colorado, you need an excellent criminal defense attorney who understands the law and how to challenge these charges effectively.

Wolf Law represents individuals across Colorado with a criminal defense practice focused on preparation, strategy, and strong legal advocacy. Attorneys and Partners Jeff Wolf and Colleen Kelley lead the firm’s defense team, each bringing decades of trial experience, sharp legal analysis, and a shared commitment to protecting their clients’ rights at every stage. Both attorneys are known for their national media presence on Court TV and Law & Crime, and both bring that same rigor and skill to every obstruction defense case they handle in Colorado. Together, they reflect Wolf Law’s philosophy that excellent criminal defense begins with genuine commitment to the people we represent.

Obstruction charges are often misunderstood. Many people charged with obstruction were not trying to help anyone escape justice — they were confused, frightened, or objecting to what they believed was unfair treatment. Understanding the law and your rights is essential, and so is having the right legal team on your side.

What Is Obstructing a Peace Officer Under Colorado Law?

Under Colorado Revised Statutes Section 18-8-104, a person commits obstructing a peace officer if they, by using or threatening to use violence, force, or physical interference or obstacle, knowingly obstruct, impair, or hinder the enforcement of the penal law or the preservation of the peace by a peace officer acting under color of official authority.

Obstructing a peace officer is a class 2 misdemeanor under Colorado’s two-class misdemeanor system. Like resisting arrest, it is frequently charged alongside other offenses, and the combination can significantly affect the overall complexity and stakes of the case. The word knowingly is important — the prosecution must prove that you were aware your conduct would obstruct the officer, not merely that obstruction was an unintended result.

What Are Common Scenarios That Lead to Obstruction Charges?

Obstruction charges arise from a wide range of encounters. Our attorneys regularly handle cases involving:

Intervening in an arrest: Attempting to physically intervene when an officer arrests another person — even a friend or family member — can be charged as obstruction. The intent behind the intervention and the nature of the physical contact are central to the defense.
Providing false information: Giving a false name, address, or other information to a peace officer can support an obstruction charge in certain circumstances under Colorado law.
Refusing lawful orders: Failing to comply with a lawful police order — such as an instruction to leave an area or step back from a scene — when physical interference is involved can result in obstruction charges.
Third-party interference: Standing between an officer and a suspect, blocking a vehicle, or otherwise physically impeding an officer’s actions are common factual bases for these charges in Denver and Aurora.

How to Know When You Should Contact a Lawyer for Obstruction Charges

You should contact a criminal defense attorney immediately if you have been charged with obstructing a peace officer or if you believe you are under investigation for this offense. Even as a misdemeanor, an obstruction conviction affects your permanent criminal record and can impact employment, professional licensing, and background checks.

Obstruction charges are also commonly used as leverage in cases where the underlying charge is more serious. How you handle the obstruction count — whether that means fighting it, negotiating a reduction, or pursuing other options — can affect your overall legal position significantly. Our attorneys evaluate the full picture from the very first consultation.

Facing obstruction charges in Denver, Aurora, or Lakewood? Call Wolf Law at 720.479.8574 for a free consultation. Our attorneys will evaluate your case and your options right away.

What Are the Defenses to Obstructing a Peace Officer in Colorado?

A charge is not a conviction. Our attorneys examine every aspect of an obstruction case and identify the strongest defenses available:

No knowing obstruction: The statute requires knowing obstruction. If you did not understand that your conduct was obstructing the officer — because of confusion, noise, the chaotic nature of the scene, or other factors — the knowledge element may be challengeable.
No physical force or interference: Colorado’s obstruction statute requires the use or threat of violence, force, or physical interference. Purely verbal conduct does not satisfy the statute. Our attorneys assess whether the alleged conduct actually rises to the level the law requires.
Unlawful police conduct: If the officer was not acting under lawful authority — for example, if the underlying arrest or stop was unlawful — the obstruction charge may not hold. We examine the legality of the officer’s conduct as a foundational matter.
First Amendment activity: Recording police activity, verbally objecting to police conduct, and observing police encounters are protected activities under Colorado law and the First Amendment. Our attorneys challenge any attempt to criminalize protected expression.

How Obstruction Charges Interact With Other Offenses

Obstruction of a peace officer rarely stands alone. It is commonly charged alongside resisting arrest, assault on a peace officer, interference with police, and the underlying offense that triggered the police encounter. Each additional charge adds complexity and increases the stakes of the case.

Jeff Wolf and Colleen Kelley are both excellent trial attorneys who have spent decades handling complex, multi-charge criminal cases throughout Colorado. Both appear regularly on national platforms including Law & Crime and Court TV — not because they comment from the sidelines, but because they practice criminal law at a high level every day. When your case involves stacked charges at Denver County Court, the Jefferson County Courthouse in Golden, or elsewhere in the Denver Metro area, our attorneys are ready to address every count strategically.

What to Do If You Are Charged With Obstructing a Peace Officer

Stay calm and exercise your rights: You have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. Exercise both. Do not explain, justify, or describe what happened to police without your attorney present.
Document your recollection: Write down everything you remember about the encounter as soon as possible — where you were, what the officer said, what you did, and what happened in the moments before the charge arose.
Identify witnesses: If anyone else was present and observed what happened, their account may be essential to your defense. Let your attorney know about potential witnesses immediately.
Preserve any recordings: If you, a bystander, or a nearby business captured the encounter on video, that footage can be critical. Do not delete anything, and alert your attorney to its existence.

Frequently Asked Questions About Obstruction Charges in Colorado

Can I be charged with obstruction for recording police?

No. Under Colorado law, recording police in a public place is a protected activity. Obstruction requires physical force or interference, not the act of recording.

What if I was trying to protect a family member from arrest?

Physical intervention in an arrest, even to protect a loved one, can result in obstruction or assault charges. The legality of the underlying arrest and the nature of your conduct are the key factors.

Can obstruction charges be dismissed?

Yes. With strong legal representation, obstruction charges are sometimes dismissed or reduced, particularly when the factual record does not support the legal elements of the offense.

Contact Wolf Law — Fight Your Obstruction Charge Today

If you are facing an obstructing a peace officer charge in Colorado, Wolf Law is ready to help. Our attorneys offer free consultations and will evaluate your case, identify your defenses, and build a strategy from day one. Call 720.479.8574 to speak with our legal team.

Wolf Law represents clients throughout the Denver Metro area with excellent criminal defense focused on protecting rights and securing results. Whether your case is in Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, or anywhere along the Colfax corridor or beyond, our legal team is ready. Call Wolf Law at 720.479.8574 for your free consultation.

Wolf Law | 720.479.8574 | Free Consultation | Colorado Criminal Defense

Featured Blogs

Certifications

Testimonials

Incredible Defense with the Perfect Outcome

When I was arrested at a concert hall for trespassing and placed in a detox center it didn’t feel right. I had confronted the police in order to find out why they where arresting somebody I knew and within seconds of my questioning I was in cuffs and associated with a crime that I seemingly had nothing to do with.

When I was released from detox I thought it was over but then I understood that I had to appear in court and my previously clean record was facing the documentation of a criminal charge. I wanted to try to keep my record clean and with some help I hired Wolf Law.

Given the relative simplicity of my case I only had to meet at the office of Jeffrey Wolf a handful of times. From the first visit I could tell that Jeffery was very professional and very serious. As more of my case was revealed and in consecutive meetings I could tell that Jeffery was building a strong defense.

While he couldn’t promise me any certain outcome his resolve to defend me as strongly as he possibly could was obvious. On my first court date, before much of the details of my case where known, I was accompanied by Jeffrey Wolf’s associate lawyer Colleen Kelley. Colleen defended me with a skillful amount of experience and made it possible for Wolf Law and me to buy more time and obtain the legal information required to build a defense.

On my second court date, after having met several times, I was accompanied by Jeffrey. Jeffrey told me to wait outside the courtroom and I complied. After roughly 20 minutes he reappeared to me with a welcoming smile and gave me the good news that he had gotten my cased dropped.

I’m not quite sure what he did in those 20 minutes but I can say with satisfaction that it was an amazing job. I felt, with fingers crossed, that it was a possibility that my case would be dropped but when it actually happened I almost couldn’t believe it. I’m very thankful for the work and service that was provided by Wolf Law. For them I have the utmost respect and my recommendation to anyone needing legal service goes to them with 100% certainty in their ability to promise and do their best.

— Christopher P.

DUI Savior

Mr. Jeff Wolf is truly the best of his kind. He was able to help me out during a DUI case reducing my charges down to the best possible outcome. What could’ve been a worst case circumstance, Mr. Wolf turned into best case scenario through his knowledge and expertise with ease. Mr. Wolf provided me with guidance and insight and there is no one else I would’ve rather had in my corner advocating on my behalf. He is the best lawyer out there who is a straight shooter and an incredible mentor. I am lucky to have had him represent me. He is thorough, knowledgeable, hard working and extremely trustworthy. I owe him all of my gratitude for getting me through this.

— S. Martinez

Excellent Lawyer

I would like to share my experience and recommend Jeffrey Wolf at Wolf Law for their dedication and awesome team. I had recently contacted the Wolf Law firm with a rather challenging case and he was able to get it resolved satisfactorily and for that, thank you.

— Cece M.

Wow

Unfortunately, I have required an attorney more than a few times. That said, Jeff is the most intelligent, competent, compassionate, committed, aggressive representation to be found, without a doubt. Facing a felony DUI, no proof of insurance, careless driving and cruelty to animals (my dog gets more love than most people in the world), followed by two DURs (driving under revocation), I pretty much felt I was screwed. After hiring and firing two attorneys, I called Jeff. Note: Do your research before you waste money, and do whatever it takes to get the money for proper representation. I met with Jeff based on his peer reviews, client reviews, education and experience; all of them positive and 100 percent accurate. Twenty minutes into the consultation, all my built-up stress and anxiety had been significantly reduced. I thought my driving privileges were over for a while. Jeff showed me what I needed to do to get a restricted license, which I was able to do within a few days. Following that he made two DURs, jail time offenses, turn into one zero-point traffic violation. Then, one year to the date of my run-in with the law, Jeff and I went to trial. The no insurance charge was dropped. I was insured. The cruelty to animals charge was dropped after the first day of trial. On the second day, I was found not guilty of DUI, DWAI and careless driving. The time, effort and determination Jeff put in was clear, and his strategies and trial skills were clearly superb. No better counsel can be found in my opinion.

— Patrick

Professional, Efficient & Knowledgeable

Wolf Law LLC provided exceptional legal representation. The team was consistently professional in every interaction, handled matters efficiently and without unnecessary delay, and demonstrated deep knowledge of the relevant issues. I appreciated their clear communication, responsiveness, and results-oriented approach. I would confidently recommend their services.

— Eric.

I Recommend Jeff Wolf to Anyone Needing Legal Defense

I retained the services of Jeff Wolf after I received a DUI. During the free consultation, Jeff reviewed his services and the details of what would happen before, during and after my trial. He was very thorough, supportive and diligent in ensuring all my questions were answered. I am thrilled with the level of service he provided for an extremely reasonable fee. Jeff was accessible and reassuring throughout this entire process. The end-result of my hearing was exactly what I had expected based on Jeff’s counseling. This is a direct result of his knowledge and experience with the court and the system. I was very impressed with his closing presentation in court and his professionalism and felt that the judge reduced my fines and my sentence because of Jeff’s efforts. I have already recommended him to two other people and will continue to recommend him to anyone requiring the services of a defense attorney.

— Monty

Highly Recommended!

Mr. Wolf is an incredible attorney to work with. My father and I have spent some time over the past 10 years with him, and have always seen fantastic results from different types of situations. He is very intelligent, honest, and diligent about any work brought his way.

I highly recommend Mr. Wolf and will call him first, anytime I need legal advice or representation!

Thank you Jeff!

— Greg

Complete Satisfaction

Jeff took on 2 cases for me with complete success. He is extremely sharp and confident. Jeff really gets to know his clients and is very sympathetic to their needs.
The relationships he has with prosecutors and the judges was pure respect. When he spoke he had the ears of the courtroom. He speaks very eloquent and exudes confidence that translates into the result I was looking for, “Case Dismissed.”

I highly recommend his services. If you are need of his services you will get more than what you pay for.

— Steven L.

Excellent Representation

After finding myself wrongfully accused of a DUI charge, Mr. Wolf fought to show the DA that I was not guilty and ultimately got the charge dismissed. Mr. Wolf’s knowledge, professionalism, and effectiveness made me feel comfortable and confident throughout my case. He was always more than willing to answer any questions I had promptly and thoroughly. Although this was an unfortunate situation, I couldn’t have asked for better representation. I would highly recommend Mr. Wolf!

— Anonymous

Highly Professional

Jeffrey Wolf handled my traffic violation in a highly professional manner, giving it the same consideration and time as a more challenging case, during a very stressful time in my life. As soon as the accident happened, he was there to offer advice and help. He went to court for me, so I would not have to take time off of work to go. His care and concern for my well-being was top-notch. Thank you so much, Jeff!

— Carol P.