Code of Virginia § 19.2-77. Escape, flight and pursuit; arrest anywhere in Commonwealth.

217 words·~1 min read·/va/title-19-2/chapter-7/19-2-77

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Whenever a person in the custody of an officer shall escape or whenever a person shall flee from an officer attempting to arrest him, such officer, with or without a warrant, may pursue such person anywhere in the Commonwealth and, when actually in close pursuit, may arrest him wherever he is found. If the arrest is made in a county or city adjoining that from which the accused fled, or in any area of the Commonwealth within one mile of the boundary of the county or city from which he fled, the officer may forthwith return the accused before the proper official of the county or city from which he fled.

If the arrest is made beyond the foregoing limits, the officer shall proceed according to the provisions of § 19.2-76 , and if such arrest is made without a warrant, the officer shall procure a warrant from the magistrate serving the county or city wherein the arrest was made, charging the accused with the offense committed in the county or city from which he fled and any offense committed during the close pursuit in the county or city where such offense was committed.

Code 1950, § 19.1-94; 1960, c. 366; 1975, c. 495; 1992, c. 881; 2008, cc. 551 , 691 ; 2022, c. 326 .