Amateur video of a citizen arrest

Sophie Team Observers — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:04:45 +0200

This video catches the moment after a man who attempted to rob somebody with a razor is caught by several members of the public and restrained until the police arrive. Webusers are applauding the gang for their bravery, but our Observer says that by carrying out a citizen arrest, they were taking a huge risk, in more ways than one.

Since it was posted on Monday, the video, apparently shot in Brooklyn, New York, has attracted plenty of congratulatory comments like "we need more people like those citizens". But despite being permitted largely worldwide, and in all states but one (North Carolina) in the US, the scenario illustrates the enormous legal and safety risks that come with a citizen arrest, not to mention the primitive behaviour that emerges with self defence, even from the person filming - allegedly an army lieutenant - whose repeated "faggot", "dickhead" and "fuckface" insults make it hard to take him seriously. Webuser "SoTiredinMI" comments that "this dude with the camera is hilarious [sic] a lot [sic] of bravado almost like he felt the camera was a gun".