SEATTLE (AP) — The Washington Supreme Court has ruled that a citizen has the First Amendment right to call police abusive names and yell profanity while they're investigating a crime.



The court on Thursday threw out the conviction of a juvenile who had yelled at officers while they tried to calm his intoxicated sister.



Police responded to a report of an out-of-control juvenile woman. As they took her from the house, the boy thought the saw a nightstick. He stood in the doorway and told the officers not to use it on her.



Officers ordered him into the house but he kept yelling. After he yelled profanity, police arrested him on a charge of obstructing a law enforcement officer.



The justices said the First Amendment protects citizens against prosecution when they exercise their constitutional right to speak and to criticize certain governmental activities.