503.090 Use of physical force in
law enforcement.
(1) The use of physical force by a
defendant upon another person is justifiable when the defendant, acting under
official authority, is making or assisting in making an arrest, and he:
(a) Believes that such force is necessary to
effect the arrest;
(b) Makes known the purpose of the arrest or
believes that it is otherwise known or cannot reasonably be made known to the
person to be arrested; and
(c) Believes the arrest to be lawful.
(2) The use of deadly physical force by a
defendant upon another person is justifiable under subsection (1) only when:
(a) The defendant, in effecting the arrest, is
authorized to act as a peace officer; and
(b) The arrest is for a felony involving the
use or threatened use of physical force likely to cause death or serious
physical injury; and
(c) The defendant believes that the person to
be arrested is likely to endanger human life unless apprehended without delay.
(3) The use of physical force, including deadly
physical force, by a defendant upon another person is justifiable when the
defendant is preventing the escape of an arrested person and when the force
could justifiably have been used to effect the arrest under which the person is
in custody, except that a guard or other person authorized to act as a peace
officer is justified in using any force, including deadly force, which he
believes to be necessary to prevent the escape of a person from jail, prison, or
other institution for the detention of persons charged with or convicted of a
crime.
