3. Felonies

A felony is a more serious offense that is punishable by a sentence of death, imprisonment in a jail or prison, and/or a fine.

The following two conditions must exist in order to arrest a person on a felony charge:

  1. The felony must have been committed.
  2. A reasonable cause must exist to believe that the person being arrested actually committed the crime. Such reasonable cause must be based on evidence linking the person to the crime. Examples of such evidence may include physical evidence such as articles of clothing belonging to the suspect and left at the scene of the crime, or testimonial evidence such as observations by the security guard/proprietary private security officer or by other persons which are told to the security guard/proprietary private security officer in which the suspect was observed committing the crime.

The following are common felonies (PC stands for Penal Code):

  • Assault with a deadly weapon – (§245 PC) Assault of a person by another with a deadly weapon or instrument or by any means of force likely to produce great bodily injury.
  • Arson – (§451 PC) The willful and unlawful setting of a fire.
  • Grand theft – (§487 PC) The taking of money, labor, or real or personal property of a value exceeding $950.00 or the taking of property from the person of another.
  • Burglary – (§459 PC) The entering of the residence or property of another with the intent to commit grand theft, petty theft, or any felony.
  • Kidnapping – (§207 PC) Taking and transporting a person against his will.
  • Robbery – (§211 PC) By force or intimidation, taking personal property from a person or from the immediate presence of a person against that person’s will.
  • Rape – (§261 PC) Forcing sexual intercourse.
  • Manslaughter – (§192 PC) The unlawful killing of another human being includes voluntary, involuntary, or vehicular manslaughter.
  • Murder – (§187 PC) The unlawful killing of another human being with malice and forethought.