Florida Statutes

Fla. Stat. § 876.44 (2025)

Questioning and detaining suspected persons.

✓ 2025 Florida Statutes — current through the 2025 Regular Session
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876.44 Questioning and detaining suspected persons.Any peace officer or any other person employed as a person who watches or guards or in a supervisory capacity on premises posted as provided in s. 876.43 may stop any person found on any premises to which entry without permission is forbidden by s. 876.43 and may detain the person for the purpose of demanding, and may demand, of the person, his or her name, address and business in such place. If said peace officer or employee has reason to believe from the answers of the person so interrogated that such person has no right to be in such place, said peace officer shall forthwith release such person or he or she may arrest such person without a warrant on the charge of violating the provisions of s. 876.43; and said employee shall forthwith release such person or turn him or her over to a peace officer, who may arrest the person without a warrant on the charge of violating the provisions of s. 876.43.
History.s. 8, ch. 20252, 1941; s. 65, ch. 74-383; s. 246, ch. 77-104; s. 1422, ch. 97-102.
Note.Former s. 779.13.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 1 case (1 in the last 5 years), 2025–2025 · leading case: Raulerson v. State of Florida (Fla. 1st DCA 2025).
Raulerson v. State of Florida (Fla. 1st DCA 2025). · cites it 2× “(authorizing peace officers to order dispersal of riotous crowd and “to command the assistance” from others in seizing and arresting anyone who fails to comply); § 876.44, Fla. Stat. (authorizing “any peace officer or any other person employed” as a watchman or guard on a…”
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