As the door of the Newport police cruiser swung shut, the woman inside said [music] seven words that would be heard by millions of people around the world. >> I'm an agent. She's an agent. >> You're not. She's not. Let's go. >> Buddy, you're going to regret this. >> Yeah, >> you're going to regret it. >> I'm an agent. >> Devon Hogan Flanigan is not a random person who made [music] a scene at a restaurant. She is a special assistant attorney general for the state of Rhode Island. She has held that position for 7 years. She is assigned to the appellet unit of the criminal division, which means her job is to review criminal convictions, argue appeals, and ensure that the people who have been found guilty of crimes remain behind bars. On the evening of August 14th, 2025, Flanigan and her friend Veronica [music] Hannon, a 34year-old woman from Westport, Connecticut, were at the Clark Cook House, one of the most well-known restaurants on Banister's Wararf in Newport, Rhode Island. At 9:51 [music] p.m., the restaurant called the Newport Police Department. >> 911. What's your emergency? >> An intoxicated woman was refusing to leave. When officers arrived, they found not one woman, but two standing outside the restaurant, unwilling to go and about to make the worst decisions of their professional lives. >> This is >> I want you to think about it. Protocol is that you turn it off. If a citizen request is to turn it off, >> so they want you guys to leave. >> Yes. >> Let's just leave. Let's just make it easy. Okay. >> We're going to make it easy. That's not >> I am. Okay. I'm >> That's not the point. Can you Can you look at me? >> We'll talk over here. Okay. >> Your protocol is >> Can we Can we all talk? Can we all talk? >> Talk over here. They want you to leave. >> Can we Can we talk? >> Who is she to you? >> What's that? >> She is our college friend. >> Yes. >> No. No. I'm not. You guys just want to know? Do you want to trespass? >> Anything we can do. Trespass. Yeah, I just need >> trespass. Got to know, >> please. >> The body cam [music] begins the moment the officer approaches and before he can say a word, Devin Flanigan points at him. >> No, I'm not. >> No, I'm not. I'm >> Do we want to chat? >> I know that your protocol is >> So, you're trespass. So, we got to leave now unless you want to be >> We're not trespassing. You haven't notified us that we're trespassing. What did I just say to you? You're right. Let's go. Number one, I don't want to arrest you guys. Your not going to arrest us. Number two, >> let's leave. We got to go. We got to go. Protocol is the protocol is is if we ask you to turn the body, >> I don't want to deal with this. Let's go. >> I understand you don't want to deal with it. But the protocol is And your protocol is is if I ask you to turn off the body cam, you have to turn it off. And that's your protocol. >> Lawyer, so she knows. >> Well, that's lawyer stuff. So, that's not true. So, we got to go. >> No, it is. That's That's the law. >> I'm an agent. I'm an AJ. >> Good for you. I don't >> We're going We're leaving. >> Her first instinct as a seven-year prosecutor who has spent her career on the same side as law enforcement was to demand that the evidence be turned off. >> Put your hands off. >> Can you get your children out of your like I don't know why. >> I'm sorry. What? >> Let's go. Let's go. >> There are two full grown women and mothers. >> All right. We just need to I'm an A. >> I'm an A. >> I'm an A. >> What are you? What? What are you doing? >> What's wrong with you? >> What are you probable cause to detain me for? >> You're being detained cuz you're not leaving. >> Cuz I'm >> You have You have >> You relax, sir. Sir, she's not doing anything wrong. Ag. >> You're not leaving. >> I'm an AG. A >> You're not She's not being arrested. Let's go. >> I'm not being arrested. You're putting me in cuffs. I'm not being arrested. Do you have any weapons on you? >> No, I'm an AG. >> Her badge is in your car. You want to get a badge? >> Let me tell you something. >> Her own office, the Rhode [music] Island Attorney General's office, would later confirm that the statewide policy on bodywn cameras does not require officers to deactivate them upon a citizen's request. >> Buddy, seriously, >> you're arresting an EG. Let me tell you something. >> Are you arrest? No. >> You're putting me in handcuffs and you're merandizing me. >> Relax. Buddy, you're going to regret this. >> Yeah, >> you're going to regret it. >> How many? >> Take your hands off me. >> We will get hands off. >> We will get the license. >> No, no, no, no, no. Out of here. Get out of here. >> Get back. Get back right now. >> No. No. No. >> Get back. >> The officers tried [music] to deescalate multiple times throughout the footage. They told the women the same thing. Just leave. Walk away. Go home. >> Yep. >> I'm right here. I'm right here. It's >> okay. Just No. No. I'm right here. >> I'm right here. >> I'm right here. >> Come on, babe. >> No, babe. >> Babe, I'm right here. >> Babe, babe, please. I'm scared. >> I'm right here. >> Please don't do this. Please don't do this. >> No, I'm not going to find my ass. >> I'm right here. >> No. >> Okay. >> No. Please don't do this, my friend. >> I'm right here. >> No. No. No. Babe. >> Babe. >> I'm right here, >> babe. I'm right here. >> No, babe. >> Relax. Relax. Relax. >> Relax. >> What's wrong with you? >> Relax. >> We don't want to put you in handcuffs. Let's go. >> Let's go. >> No. Babe, >> listen. You're making You're overreacting. >> You're adding charges. >> You're overreacting. >> This doesn't have to end in an arrest. The [music] restaurant wants you gone. If you leave, it's over. Let's go. I don't want to arrest you guys. An officer says clearly on camera. No. So, please take my hands up. Please take care of our hands. No. Please. You were overreacting. >> You didn't have this. You didn't have to have this happen. >> Get in the car. >> NO. NO. NO. BABE, NO. >> I'M RIGHT HERE. >> GET IN, GUYS. JUST PUT HER IN. >> NO. GET BACK, BRO. >> Get in the car. GET IN THE CAR. >> NO. GET IN THE CAR. I'M [screaming] RIGHT HERE. I'M RIGHT HERE. >> Get your feet in the court. >> No. >> DAN. >> BABE. I'M RIGHT HERE. >> NO. [screaming] BABE, >> NO. >> Get your >> The officers had no choice. They placed both women under arrest. >> Get your feet in the car. >> You're a grown adult. Oh, you're acting like a kid. >> DAD, >> NO. This is so inappropriate. >> You're You're overreacting. They wanted to trespass. >> Travis, we've got two attempt. >> Veronica Hannon, 34, of Westport, Connecticut, was charged with willful trespass, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest. Three charges for refusing to leave a restaurant and then making every possible wrong decision after the police arrived. NBC News covered it. Fox News covered it. ABC News covered it and dozens of other outlets ran the story. >> 215 31 Hogan is your date of birth 1991. >> Yes. Good morning, your honor. >> Morning. Uh and are you residing at 210 Shadow Drive? >> Yes, your honor. >> All right. Council, we have one charge of trespass. Uh does your client wish to ple? >> Judge, I did submit a plea form. Nolo contender your permission please. >> All right detect the fact I do your honor. >> All right. So all my documents. So ma'am you have submitted a request to enter a plea of no enter. Is that correct? >> Yes sir. >> Do you understand that a plea of no is the same as guilty same as I did under our case law? >> Yes your honor. >> And in doing so you're waving your right to a trial. You know what a trial is right? >> Yes your honor. are waving your right to a trial before a judge sitting with a jury or a judge sitting alone. Waiting your right to require the prosecution to each and every element of this charge against you by proof evidence beyond a reasonable doubt. You're waving your rights to presumption of innocence, your privilege against selfrimation, your right all witnesses against you. Present evidence and witnesses on your own behalf. Testify should you choose to do so. You're waving your right to appeal any decisions court makes sense. So, you're giving up all your trial. You understand that, right? >> Yes, your honor. >> You have any questions? >> No, your honor. >> All right. The next set of questions I ask everyone don't get affected. Are you currently under the influence of any medication, drugs, or alcohol that might affect your ability to make this decision today? >> No, your honor. >> And you understand if you are not a US citizen of criminal sentence can have immigration consequences? >> Yes, your honor. >> All right. Listen to the >> Thank you, your honor. >> On August 14th, 2025, the defendant did trespass at the Clock Cook House. 24 banes were off. >> All right. After hearing those allegations, do you agree that the charge could be proved beyond? Yes, your honor. >> Is there anything you'd like to say? >> No, your honor. >> All right. So, I'll find a factual basis for your plea. I'll find it's known, intelligent, voluntary. Mr. Hagen, what's the agreement between the parts? >> Your honor, it's a six-month filing. No return to the cookhouse restaurant, and court cost would be imposed. >> File for 6 months, no return. Our cook house cost you sign. You're all set. >> Thank you, honor. Thank you. >> Yes. Spencer. And on the night of [music] August 14th, 2025, she discovered what every defendant she has ever prosecuted already knows. The body cam does not take sides. It does not care about your title. It does not care about your career. It does not turn off because you [music] ask it to. It records. That is all it does. and what it recorded that night in Newport.