State v. Weddell

OPINION

By the Court,

Agosti, J.:

In this case, we are asked to determine whether a private person may use deadly force in making what is commonly referred to as a citizen’s arrest. Respondent Rolland R Weddell contends that private persons have a common law right to use whatever force is necessary, including deadly force, to accomplish the arrest of and/or prevent the escape of a fleeing felon. We reject Weddell’s contention for several reasons. Primarily, we conclude that the legislature indicated its disapproval of the use of deadly force by private persons when it repealed NRS 200.160(3) in…