I contacted the local Sheriff's Deputy regarding an excessive trash dumping incident. 14 items in the dumpster, including 9 large bags of trash, and rolled carpeting thrown behind dumpster.
My wash is in CA, which has essentially de-criminalized just about everything under about a $1,000 loss. However, the Deputy was willing to take a report and send me a "Citizen's Arrest" form. Since it was a misdemeanor not witnessed by a Peace Officer, this is their process. I filled it out, and submitted a chronology along with multiple videos in support. Fortunately the blockhead drove right by the license plate camera and I got his plate #. This report and the "Citizen's Arrest" form then gets submitted to the DA for any action or non-action. As we all know, non-action is the likely outcome. I looked up the Deputy's report this morning (Sheriff's log) and it was listed as a call about "littering."
I'm not familiar with the "Citizen's Arrest" process. The last flagrant dumper I reported (lucky me) happened to have an outstanding warrant, so he went off to jail that night. Does anyone know how the "Citizen's Arrest" process in CA works, and is there any downside to pursuing this?
My wash is in CA, which has essentially de-criminalized just about everything under about a $1,000 loss. However, the Deputy was willing to take a report and send me a "Citizen's Arrest" form. Since it was a misdemeanor not witnessed by a Peace Officer, this is their process. I filled it out, and submitted a chronology along with multiple videos in support. Fortunately the blockhead drove right by the license plate camera and I got his plate #. This report and the "Citizen's Arrest" form then gets submitted to the DA for any action or non-action. As we all know, non-action is the likely outcome. I looked up the Deputy's report this morning (Sheriff's log) and it was listed as a call about "littering."
I'm not familiar with the "Citizen's Arrest" process. The last flagrant dumper I reported (lucky me) happened to have an outstanding warrant, so he went off to jail that night. Does anyone know how the "Citizen's Arrest" process in CA works, and is there any downside to pursuing this?
Last edited: