What kind of arrest can be performed by an ordinary person without a warrant?

• A. Civil arrest
• B. Citizen's arrest
• C. Detention
• D. Search and seizure

Answer: (B)

A citizen's arrest refers to the capability of an ordinary person to detain someone whom they believe has committed a crime, typically a felony, without needing a warrant. This legal provision is based on the principle that individuals have the right to ensure public safety and prevent further harm when they witness a crime being committed or have reasonable grounds to believe that a crime has occurred.

In many jurisdictions, this ability is limited to cases where the person making the arrest has directly observed the crime or has reasonable knowledge that a crime has been committed. The individual making the arrest must also act within the law, ensuring that the detention is done in a reasonable manner.

The other options do not reflect the same legal authority for an ordinary person to detain someone without a warrant. Civil arrest is generally related to non-criminal actions typically addressed through civil courts. Detention usually implies a temporary holding by law enforcement with a specific legal framework guiding the process, while search and seizure pertains to the process by which law enforcement may gather evidence and is subject to specific legal standards and protections. Thus, citizen's arrest is the proper term that describes the situation in which a private individual can arrest another without a warrant.