What is the current state of the law on a citizen's right to "defend" against a valid arrest?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Avilla, H040750 (Cal. App. 2016):

"A citizen may arrest another if a felony has in fact been committed and he has reasonable cause to believe that the person to be arrested committed it." (People v. Fosselman (1983) 33 Cal.3d 572, 579.) "[T]here is no right to 'defend' against a valid [citizen's] arrest." (Ibid.) Therefore, the prosecutor properly characterized the applicable law when he told jurors: "When you go and steal something, the loss prevention officers use reasonable force to detain you, doesn't mean that you can fight back using self[-]defense." (Italics added.)

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