Blocking someone’s path typically is not an assault unless the person who blocks the path also utters or words or gestures that would place the other person in reasonable fear of imminent or impending bodily harm.
The general Tennessee law for assault, codified at Tenn. Code Ann. §39-13-101, defines assault as follows:
Blocking someone’s path does not cause bodily injury to another person. However, blocking someone’s path – if coupled with threatening words or gestures – could possibly qualify as assault under the definition “intentionally or knowingly caus[ing] another to reasonably fear imminent bodily injury.”
In other words, if you block someone’s path and tell them that you are going to “beat them to a pulp” or “kick their ass”, such conduct would qualify as assault under Tennessee law. However, blocking someone’s path by itself likely would not qualify as assault.
If you face a criminal charge for assault, you should contact an experienced criminal defense attorney to help you fight the charges. Philp Clark is an experienced criminal defense attorney who can help provide you with the best defense to such criminal charges. Contact attorney Philip Clark at PNC Law.
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(615) 785-2000
