Has anyone got a good citizen's arrest story because i've been wanting to use it for ages?

Answer 1

Citi cop maybe you should become more familiar with programs like neighborhood watch and Citizen police augmentees. These are wonderful aids to the police who are extremely short handed and can't be everywhere.
My brother and I have both been in law enforcment for years and we both feel that these are great programs. If more citizens would get involved, we wouldn't be dealing with so much gang violence which has moved into every state and city in America. They prey on the people who are too afraid to get involved and help stop it.
As to your question, before my brother got into law enforcement, he was a theatre manager in California. One night an Asian gangbanger came in and tried to rob the theater with a knife. The girl at the counter pushed the alert button that rang in the manager's office and my brother came running out. When he saw the kid standing there with the knife, he said "You little sh*it!" and began to run towards the kid. This knife wielding kid looked at my brother and threw the knife down and ran. My brother chased him and tackled him in a lawn 3 blocks away and dragged the kid back to the theater where he turned him over to the police and made a citizens arrest. The kid had a long rap sheet for a 19 year old and was sentenced to 10 years for armed robbery. My brother's theater did not have a single problem with gangs while he was there.
Most gangs are nothing more than bullies who will do only what you allow them to do.

Answer 2

Citizen's Arrests are not good. And technically, they are not even arrests at all. The citizens detain someone until the officer arrives and makes the arrest.
I agree that citizens can do more to help out, but they should NEVER attempt to catch the criminals unless they know that the person is going to immediately hurt them or another person. The police are trained to deal with criminals, the public is not. Citizens in programs such as neighborhood watch are told to REPORT REPORT REPORT, but do not get involved. Go ahead, watch that person do something illegal...but then call the police and let them take care of it, which they will happily do.

Answer 3

Citizen's arrests are almost always a horrible idea, even where they are legal.

Making an arrest is dangerous enough when you have a badge, a gun, pepper spray, TASER, baton, a radio, and training in how to do it properly and safely. Without all of those things, you are asking for trouble.

Not to mention that (at least in Missouri) you open yourself up to Criminal Charges and Civil liability if you are wrong, and the person you arrest is not guilty of anything.

Bottom Line...You want to arrest someone? Go to the Academy and become a police officer.

Answer 4

I am a cop so I have arrested several people. Our State doesn't have citizen's arrest which is a good idea.