MCOLES State Licensing Practice Exam

What should an officer do when responding to a citizen detaining a minor for breaking into a property?

1. Release subject because citizen did not make a lawful arrest on the minor.

2. ID citizen and release.

3. Arrest the minor based on probable cause.

4. Take the citizen's statement and leave the minor alone.

The correct answer is: Arrest the minor based on probable cause.

When an officer responds to a situation where a citizen has detained a minor for breaking into a property, the appropriate action is to arrest the minor based on probable cause. In this scenario, if a reasonable person has evidence or circumstances that suggest the minor committed a crime (such as breaking and entering), the officer can take action to enforce the law. Probable cause means that there are sufficient grounds for believing that a crime has been committed and that the individual in question is responsible. In this case, the minor is directly implicated in the act of breaking into a property, which likely constitutes a crime. The officer’s primary role is to uphold the law and maintain public safety, which includes taking necessary actions against individuals involved in criminal activities. The other response options do not adequately address the situation. Simply releasing the subject without addressing the probable criminal activity does not fulfill the officer's duties. Identifying the citizen but then allowing the minor to go free does not protect property rights or maintain order. Taking the citizen's statement but neglecting the minor could potentially lead to further unlawful behaviors. Therefore, acting on probable cause to arrest the minor is the most appropriate and responsible response in this situation.