ARREST IN CRIMINAL CASES

The apprehending or detaining of the person, in order to be forthcoming to answer an alleged or suspected crime. The word arrest is more properly used in civil cases, and apprehension in criminal. A man is arrested under a capias ad respondendum, apprehended under a warrant charging him with a larceny. 2. It will be convenient to consider, 1, who may be arrested; 2, for what crimes; 3, at what time; 4, in what places; 5, by whom and by what authority. 3. 1. Who may be arrested. Generally all persons properly accused of a crime or misdemeanor, may be arrested; by the laws of the United States, ambassadors and other public ministers are exempt from arrest. 4. 2. For what offences an arrest may be made. It may be made for treason, felony, breach of the peace, or other misdemeanor. 5. 3. At what time. An arrest may be made in the night as well as in the day time and for treasons, felonies, and breaches of the peace, on Sunday as well as on other days. It may be made before as well as after indictment found. Wallace’s R. 23. 6. 4. At what places. No place affords protection to offenders against the criminal law; a man may therefore be arrested in his own house, which may be broken into for the purpose of making the arrest. 7. 5. Who may arrest and by what authority. An offender may be arrested either without a warrant or with a warrant. First, an arrest may be made without a warrant by a private individual or by a peace officer. Private individuals are enjoined by law to arrest an offender when present at the time a felony is committed, or a dangerous wound given. Peace officers may, a fortiori, make an arrest for a crime or misdemeanor committed in their view, without any warrant. 8 Serg. & R. 47. An arrest may therefore be made by a constable, a justice of the peace, sheriff, or coroner. Secondly, an arrest may be made by virtue of a warrant, which is the proper course when the circumstances of the case will permit it.