(A) (1) When any number of persons, whether armed or not, are unlawfully or riotously assembled, the police officials shall go among the persons assembled, or as near to them as safety will permit, and command them, in the name of the state, to immediately disperse.
(2) If upon such command the persons unlawfully assembled do not disperse immediately, the police officials may use such force as is reasonably necessary to disperse them and to arrest those who fail or refuse to disperse.
(3) To accomplish this end, the police officials may request and use the assistance and services of private citizens.
(B) Every endeavor shall be used by the police officials, which can be made consistently with the preservation of life, to induce or force persons unlawfully assembled to disperse before an attack is made upon those unlawfully assembled by which their lives may be endangered.
(C) No liability, criminal or civil, shall be imposed upon any person authorized to disperse or assist in dispersing a riot or unlawful assembly for any action of such person that was taken after those rioting or unlawfully assembled had been commanded to disperse, and which action was reasonably necessary, under all the circumstances, to disperse such riot or unlawful assembly or to arrest those who failed or refused to disperse.
(1998 Code, § 38-219)
Statutory reference:
Similar provisions, see VA Code §§ 18.2-411 and 18.2-412