When can a private citizen make a citizen's arrest in North Carolina?

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1. Statutory Authority   North Carolina is one of the few states that does not allow private "arrest." Instead,   N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-404   authorizes a private person to   detain   another person.    2. Felony Standard   Under § 15A-404(b), a private person may detain another when they have probable cause to believe the person has committed: (1) a felony, (2) a breach of the peace, (3) a crime involving physical injury to another person, or (4) a crime involving theft or destruction of property.    3. Misdemeanor Standard   Misdemeanor detention is limited to the enumerated categories above (breach of peace, physical injury crime, theft, property destruction). General misdemeanors do not authorize detention.    4. Georgia Post-Arbery Comparison   Georgia repealed its broad citizen's arrest statute via   HB 479   in May 2021 after Ahmaud Arbery's killing. North Carolina's distinction between "detain" and "arrest" already functions to limit private police-like action; § 15A-404 was not modified in response to Arbery.    5. Force Permitted   Under § 15A-404(c), the detention must be effected by "reasonable force." Deadly force is generally not authorized for detention; it is governed separately by self-defense statutes including   N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-51.3   (defense of person).    6. Hand-Off Duty   The detainer must immediately notify a law enforcement officer, who shall take custody as soon as reasonably possible (§ 15A-404(c)).    7. Risks   Criminal liability for false imprisonment, assault, and kidnapping (§ 14-39); civil liability for false imprisonment and battery if § 15A-404 requirements are not met.    8. Shopkeeper's Privilege     N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-72.1(c)   provides merchants and their employees a defense to civil and criminal actions when detaining a suspected shoplifter on probable cause in a reasonable manner for a reasonable time.    9. Stand-Your-Ground / Castle Doctrine     N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-51.2   provides castle/vehicle/workplace presumptions. These operate independent of detention authority under § 15A-404.    10. Practical Recommendation   North Carolina lawyers advise that the "detain not arrest" framework is narrowly construed; calling law enforcement is strongly preferred.  This is legal information, not legal advice.