Kemp to sign overhaul of Georgia's citizen's arrest law today
Source: AJC
Gov. Brian Kemp is scheduled to sign legislation before Mondays veto deadline that would overhaul a Civil War-era state law that allows Georgians to arrest someone they believe has committed a crime.
The law was thrust back into the spotlight after it was cited by a prosecutor who said police should not charge three white men who followed Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black Brunswick-area man, before one shot and killed him. The three have since been charged with murder and pleaded not guilty, citing the citizens arrest statute.
Arberys mother is expected to attend Mondays 2 p.m. bill signing ceremony.
House Bill 479 was a bipartisan priority after Arberys death this year and passed the General Assembly with broad support only one lawmaker voted against the measure.
HB 479 would repeal citizens arrest from state law while still allowing employees at businesses, those conducting business on someone elses property, security officers, private investigators and inspectors at truck scales to detain someone they believe has committed a crime. The bill also would allow law enforcement officers to make arrests outside their jurisdictions.
Read more: https://www.ajc.com/politics/kemp-to-sign-overhaul-of-georgias-citizens-arrest-law-today/L2M4VWMY4RAD3LQYEJUG26TGWU/
Bayard
(22,051 posts)OneCrazyDiamond
(2,031 posts)Similar to cases like this: https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142741044
ancianita
(36,018 posts)All a killer has to say is that he was doing a citizen's arrest after planting some 'probable cause' on the dead body.
VarryOn
(2,343 posts)No way in ell would I attempt an arrest.
If it's to be kept, it ought to be a felony to make one and it have been in error. You better be damned sure when you make one.