I believe there are many things wrong with your argument. Georgia law is clear on citizens arrest. If the offense is a felony and the offender is escaping or attempting to escape, a private person may arrest him upon reasonable and probable grounds of suspicion. There is no evidence that Arbery committed the crime of burglary, which is a felony, that day. One could argue that he was trespassing but that is considered a misdemeanor in the state of Georgia.
Another chink in your argument is that fact that not once had anything ever been reported stolen from the house under construction. The police said that the only theft crime they responded to in that area was the when Travis McMichael’s 9mm pistol was reported to have been stolen from his unlocked pickup on New Year’s Day. Almost two months before the day Arbery was shot and killed.
“The Glynn County Police Department said Thursday that it had no reports involving burglaries or home break-ins in the Satilla Shores neighborhood between Jan. 1 and Feb. 23. However, local media reported that one burglary, an automobile burglary, was reported to police in the Satilla Shores neighborhood during that time.”
First, a citizens arrest can be made for a misdemeanor. I have read multiple cases from the Georgia appellate courts on that issue. The non-lawyers who are commenting are misreading the statute. Second, probable cause is a very slight standard. The McMichaels were aware that this particular house had been targeted on previous occasions. The strongest point for the McMichaels on the issue of probable cause is the fact that the deceased sprinted out of the home as fast as he could, once he was spotted by the neighbors. That certainly raises a presumption that he was in the house for criminal purposes. The elder McMichael also said he could identify the fleeing suspect as the guy who had committed prior crimes.
Next, the media reports are in accurate as to prior incidents. The police report references four prior police reports involving this neighborhood, two of which occurred in December. The media only researched police incidents that were reported since January 1. Secondly, the owner of the victimized house apparently has heart problems and lives in a different city. He told the media that’s why he did not report prior incidents. Further, the neighbors indicated that many of the thefts occurred out of unlocked cars. These types of crimes are often not reported to police Finally, the neighbor who dial 911 told the operator that the house has been the subject of previous burglaries.
Local DA ...a woman...declined to charge
Did you know that....her statement of online
She is a republican
Now Atlanta is in charge
“There is no evidence that Arbery committed the crime of burglary, which is a felony, that day”
There was enough evidence for probable cause which was all the men needed to pursue or detain him.
That’s the bottom line.