Under what circumstance does a civilian have authority to arrest?

• A. When a crime is reported by a neighbor
• B. When a crime is committed in their presence
• C. When a police officer requests aid
• D. During a traffic stop

Answer: (B)

The key idea is private citizen arrest authority. A civilian may detain and arrest someone only when they personally witness a crime being committed in their presence. This allows them to stop the crime at the moment and hold the suspect until police arrive. Other scenarios—such as a crime being reported by a neighbor, a police officer asking for aid, or a civilian simply performing a traffic stop—do not by themselves create the right for a private individual to arrest. In practice, if you witness a crime, you may detain briefly and contact law enforcement, using only reasonable force and ensuring you hand the suspect over to officers as soon as they arrive.