Have you ever heard of a citizens arrest?
Ordinary citizens have the power and authority to pursue and apprehend criminal suspects. Inherently with this power comes the authority to conduct an investigation, to the extent such investigation itself does not break statute.
By your rationale, a homeowner who hears breaking glass in his driveway has no authority to go outside and see what the hell is going on.
Furthermore, I am actually shocked that some of the supposed conservatives on this site don’t acknowledge the authority of a citizen to patrol his own neighborhood, to go about armed, to approach someone with the intent of determining their intentions, and to defend himself when in fear for his life.
Martin did not observe the commission of a felony or other offense and he was told not to pursue by the police. Furthermore, from what I have read so far, Martin was not even trespassing. Zimmerman is not protected by a citizens arrest statute. He shouldn’t have pursued.
Florida law does not have any specific statutes on citizen’s arrest.
Read more: Florida Citizen’s Arrest Laws | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_7258531_florida-citizen_s-arrest-laws.html#ixzz1pzSeEqhh