Legal Question in Family Law in California
what can police officers do in a civil standby with custody cases and is it legal for them to grab someone's arm that is not willing to talk wtih them because she really has no direct involvment with the dispute between the parties
1 Answer from Attorneys
The answer provided is general in nature and cannot replace the information provided by a qualified attorney during an office meeting.
In response to your question, keep in mind that the police are usually the first responders in domestic disputes. The job of the police is to keep the peace. If an officer directs you to comply with his instructions during an investigation and you fail to do so, you could be subjected to criminal charges for impeding an officer during the course of his duties/investigation. Police are allowed to use reasonable force if needed to control a situation.
If you feel the officer went beyond reasonable behavior, you can contact the police department internal affairs division and register a complaint against the officer.