Which action constitutes interfering with a person authorized to serve or execute search warrants and can lead to arrest?

• A. Failing to comply with a lawful instruction during a search.
• B. Being merely present at a search without actively interfering.
• C. Forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating or interfering with any person authorized to serve or execute search warrants while engaged in the performance of duties.
• D. Providing information to investigators about a crime.

Answer: (C)

Interfering with officers who are executing a search warrant is a form of obstruction because it directly disrupts the lawful operation and can put the officers and others at risk. The best choice spells out clear, active actions—assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, or interfering with any person authorized to serve or execute search warrants while they are performing their duties. This explicit conduct crosses from simply being present or not following a general instruction into actively hindering the officers in the act of carrying out a legal warrant, which is why it can lead to arrest. The other options describe situations that don’t amount to actively interfering with a person conducting the search: failing to comply with a lawful instruction can be a separate offense, being there without interfering isn’t the same as obstructing, and providing information to investigators isn’t interference with the officers’ duties.