Citizen assisting a cop in distress?

[ngcsubutterbar]

every cop I've known has liked it when other people help them. Be ready to just back off, and step off sometimes, but I've never known a cop to not want help if he needs it. I've never put myself in a position to do this much, but there were a few times I was around when something I didn't know about was going down, and I was caught in the middle ready to help if it was needed.

[Norm357]

oscarmitre, that's a great story. Thanks for sharing!

[oscarmitre]

Welcome Norm357 - it was embarrassing at the time but it's funny in retrospect. It was also the same night that I arrested and then un-arrested Santa Claus but that probably should go under another thread.

[xdispatcher]

As a civilian if you jump in at the request of the officer and have to use force to assist, is there a chance the suspect will press charges against you for assault, illegal restraint etc?

[Oldbillplod]

I can remember having a fist fight with a male who I had chased after shoplifting from a local shop. I had him on the floor trying to put handcuffs on him when an elderly woman came over and started screaming at me to let the poor man go, she then very quickly realised who I was and said 'oh, thats ok then' and walked off. If she had wanted to help she probably couldnt of due to her age........bless her.

[ngcsubutterbar]

its possible under 1983 type statue. Its been done before the specifc code is 18 USC 241 (covers conspiracy, non-color of law personnel acting with a color of law person)

[oscarmitre]

I can remember having a fist fight with a male who I had chased after shoplifting from a local shop. I had him on the floor trying to put handcuffs on him when an elderly woman came over and started screaming at me to let the poor man go, she then very quickly realised who I was and said 'oh, thats ok then' and walked off. If she had wanted to help she probably couldnt of due to her age........bless her.

Nowadays she'd probably put the boot into you Oldbillplod ;)

[darrell]

I have helped out some of my buddies on my way to work a few times. My one buddy got jumbed by 3 teens one night about a 1/2 mile from my house. I hate people that gawk and sit there blocking traffic but won't help. I got up there and he is yellign for backup on his prep and asking for help from people in passing. I jumped out and the one teen about 18 met some serious asphalt (thank god I carry cuffs at work) We m eventualy turned the tables on the morons. He was so thankful he baught me dinner. His Lt. said "at least there is someone we can count on out there to help us when things go bad even if it is you!" Then he laughed and smacked my shoulder. My response to the Lt. was "I help cause I will not watch another officer get hurt or killed when I am around. If I get hurt so be it I dont care better me then him/her If I get sued thats why i carry a nice policy that covers me for that crap." Had that since I was a explorer to cover myself. I got some major references that day, even though my main concern was the officer's safety.

[Hightower]

As a civilian if you jump in at the request of the officer and have to use force to assist, is there a chance the suspect will press charges against you for assault, illegal restraint etc?

If I recall our state statutes correctly...

MN does have a law that requires you to assist an Officer if he/she so requests. I am currently researching that law and I will post it when/if I find it.

Hightower

[ngcsubutterbar]

let me note, what I said above is US code, and it relates to tort suits (civil suits).

[Hightower]

OK, I said I would post what I found per Minnesota State Statutes:


629.403 Prohibiting refusal to aid officer make arrest.

A person who willfully neglects or refuses to arrest
another person after having been lawfully directed to do so by a
judge is guilty of a misdemeanor.

A person who willfully neglects or refuses to aid a peace
officer after being lawfully directed to aid the officer (1) in
making an arrest, or (2) in retaking a person who has escaped
from custody, or (3) in executing a legal process, is guilty of
a misdemeanor.

HIST: (10032) RL s 4847; 1983 c 359 s 134; 1985 c 265 art 10 s
1

Copyright 2003 by the Office of Revisor of Statutes, State of Minnesota.

[P01IC3M4N]

i can order someone to help me, but the last time i was in a fight on the side of the highway, people drove by honking and some guy drove by and yelled at my suspect to "kick that cop's ***." i think that was just about the time i threw that guy over the rear hatch.

[AnthonyM83]

I posted here yesterday. Was the post deleted?