Un citoyen procédant à l'arrestation d'un suspect n'a pas à parfaitement mesurer l'emploi de la force utilisée à cette fin

R v Schubert, 2016 SKQB 137

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[64]                     In his testimony, Mr. Schubert said that he was simply trying to stop and apprehend Ms. Desnomie. He said he wanted to make a “citizen’s arrest”.

[65]                     Section 494(2) of the Criminal Code permits the owner of property to arrest someone he finds committing an offence on or in relation to his property. Section 25(1)(a) authorizes a person lawfully making such an arrest to do “what he is required or authorized to do” and to use “as much force as is necessary for that purpose”.

[66]                     A person making an arrest does not have to weigh to a nicety his or her actions, or the amount of force required to effect his or her purpose. Actions taken in the name of law enforcement should not be judged against a standard of perfection. That said, s. 25 does not grant carte blanche to a person who determines that it is necessary to make an arrest. The authority to use force, or otherwise act, in s. 25 is constrained by principles of proportionality, necessity, and reasonableness: R v Power, 2016 SKCA 29.