What enhances the penalty for resisting arrest, search, or transportation from a Class A to a 3rd degree felony?

When examining the issue of enhancing the penalty for resisting arrest, search, or transportation, the use of a deadly weapon escalates the offense from a Class A misdemeanor to a third-degree felony. This is rooted in the legal principle that the introduction of a deadly weapon implies a greater potential for harm and increases the risk faced by law enforcement officers. Resisting arrest with a deadly weapon not only endangers the officer involved but also poses a significant threat to public safety, warranting a stronger legal response.

While intimidation of law enforcement, injury to an officer, and threats involving a firearm are serious offenses that can carry their own penalties, they do not inherently trigger the same degree of penalty enhancement as the use of a deadly weapon. The legal framework is particularly stringent regarding deadly weapons due to their capacity to cause lethal harm, thus justifying the shift to a felony charge in cases where such weapons are involved.