§ 15A-404. Detention of offenders by private persons.
§15A‑404. Detention of offenders by private persons.
(a) No Arrest;Detention Permitted. No private person may arrest another person except asprovided in G.S. 15A‑405. A private person may detain another person asprovided in this section.
(b) When DetentionPermitted. A private person may detain another person when he has probablecause to believe that the person detained has committed in his presence:
(1) A felony,
(2) A breach of thepeace,
(3) A crime involvingphysical injury to another person, or
(4) A crime involvingtheft or destruction of property.
(c) Manner ofDetention. The detention must be in a reasonable manner considering theoffense involved and the circumstances of the detention.
(d) Period ofDetention. The detention may be no longer than the time required for theearliest of the following:
(1) The determinationthat no offense has been committed.
(2) Surrender of theperson detained to a law‑enforcement officer as provided in subsection(e).
(e) Surrender toOfficer. A private person who detains another must immediately notify a law‑enforcementofficer and must, unless he releases the person earlier as required bysubsection (d), surrender the person detained to the law‑enforcementofficer. (1973, c. 1286, s. 1.)