Ariz. Rev. Stat. » Title 13
Arizona Revised Statutes

Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-3884 (2026)

Arrest by private person

✓ current as of May 2026
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A private person may make an arrest:

1. When the person to be arrested has in his presence committed a misdemeanor amounting to a breach of the peace, or a felony.

2. When a felony has been in fact committed and he has reasonable ground to believe that the person to be arrested has committed it.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11 cases, 1983–2018 · leading case: Crimmins v. Superior Ct. in & for Maricopa Cy., 668 P.2d 882 (Ariz. 1983).
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Crimmins v. Superior Ct. in & for Maricopa Cy., 668 P.2d 882 (Ariz. 1983). · cites it 8× “The county attorney did not read the citizen's arrest statutes (A.R.S. §§ 13-3884, 13-3889 and 13-3900) to the grand jury.”
State v. Chavez, 96 P.3d 1093 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2004). · cites it 9× “Thus, the legal issue presented is whether the arrest was proper as a citizen's arrest pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-3884. 2 . In fact, the offenses Chavez committed in Corella’s presence were felonies, by virtue either of Chavez’s previous DUI convictions or his driver’s license…”
State v. Noriega, 690 P.2d 775 (Ariz. 1984). · cites it 4× “A.R.S. § 13-3884. Although White did not announce his intention to detain appellant until the police arrived, this is not necessary for a citizen's arrest, where, as here, the accused is pursued immediately after commission of the crime and forcibly resists before such a warning…”
State v. Garcia-navarro, 226 P.3d 407 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 9× “The state responded that the agent had reasonable suspicion for the stop but also claimed the agent was permitted to arrest Garcia-Navarro pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-3884 the citizen’s arrest statute.”
Gortarez v. Smitty's Super Valu, Inc., 680 P.2d 807 (Ariz. 1984). · cites it 2× “§ 13-3884, 5A A.R.S. Thus, at common law and by statute, the privilege to arrest for misdemeanors without a warrant is limited to those misdemeanors which constitute a breach of the peace.”
State v. Tschilar, 27 P.3d 331 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2001). “section 13-3884 (1989), which states that “a private person may make an arrest” 2.”
Deadman v. Valley Nat. Bank of Arizona, 743 P.2d 961 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1987). · cites it 4× “However, the circumstances under which a private person may make an arrest are more limited, as described in A.R.S. § 13-3884: A private person may make an arrest: 1.”
State v. Burrola, 669 P.2d 614 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1983). · cites it 2× “…Indian officers who arrested Burrola were so certified. We also note that a private person may make an arrest. See A.R.S. § 13-3884.”
State v. Young (Ariz. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 6× “¶13 Nor did Young have authority to conduct a citizen’s arrest under A.R.S. § 13-3884. Arizona law authorizes a citizen’s arrest only “[w]hen the person to be arrested has in his presence committed a misdemeanor amounting to a breach of the peace, or a felony” or “[w]hen a…”
State of Arizona v. Fabian Garcia-Navarro (Ariz. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 9× “The state responded that the agent had reasonable suspicion for the stop but also claimed the agent was permitted to arrest Garcia-Navarro pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-3884—the citizen‟s 2 arrest statute.”
State of Arizona v. Max Valencia Chavez (Ariz. Ct. App. 2004). · cites it 9× “Thus, the legal issue presented is whether the arrest was proper as a citizen’s arrest pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-3884. 2 ¶4 The truck then began to move, and Corella followed it as it proceeded southbound.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-3884(1) — 5 cases
State v. Chavez, 96 P.3d 1093 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2004). “Thus, the legal issue presented is whether the arrest was proper as a citizen's arrest pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-3884. 2 . In fact, the offenses Chavez committed in Corella’s presence were felonies, by virtue either of Chavez’s previous DUI convictions or his driver’s license…”
State v. Garcia-navarro, 226 P.3d 407 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2010). “The state responded that the agent had reasonable suspicion for the stop but also claimed the agent was permitted to arrest Garcia-Navarro pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-3884 the citizen’s arrest statute.”
State v. Young (Ariz. Ct. App. 2018). “¶13 Nor did Young have authority to conduct a citizen’s arrest under A.R.S. § 13-3884. Arizona law authorizes a citizen’s arrest only “[w]hen the person to be arrested has in his presence committed a misdemeanor amounting to a breach of the peace, or a felony” or “[w]hen a…”
State of Arizona v. Max Valencia Chavez (Ariz. Ct. App. 2004). “Thus, the legal issue presented is whether the arrest was proper as a citizen’s arrest pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-3884. 2 ¶4 The truck then began to move, and Corella followed it as it proceeded southbound.”
State of Arizona v. Fabian Garcia-Navarro (Ariz. Ct. App. 2010). “The state responded that the agent had reasonable suspicion for the stop but also claimed the agent was permitted to arrest Garcia-Navarro pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-3884—the citizen‟s 2 arrest statute.”
— Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-3884(2) — 1 case
Deadman v. Valley Nat. Bank of Arizona, 743 P.2d 961 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1987). “However, the circumstances under which a private person may make an arrest are more limited, as described in A.R.S. § 13-3884: A private person may make an arrest: 1.”
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