Legal Question in Criminal Law in District of Columbia

Re: Detaining criminals by a security officer at a bar

I CAN ONLY PROVIDE SOME GENERAL ADVICE. FOR EXAMPLE, A SECURITY GUARD CAN DETAIN A SHOPLIFTER IN THE STORE UNTIL POLICE ARRIVE. HOWEVER, THERE ARE ALWAYS LAWSUITS WHERE THE DEFENDANT SUES THE STORE FOR BATTERY, FALSE IMPRISONMENT ETC. A SHOPLIFTER HERE IN FLORIDA DIED ON A STORE AISLE WHILE BEING DETAINED FOR SHOPLIFTING AND THE OFFICER WAS CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER. SO, MY ADVICE IS TO PROCEED CAUTIOUSLY WHEN TOUCHING OR DETAINING A PATRON. YOU CAN ASK A PATRON TO LEAVE OR PLACE HANDS ON HIM/HER TO REMOVE HIM TO PROTECT YOURSELF OR OTHERS BUT I WOULD NOT TRY TO PHYSICALLY DETAIN SOMEONE YOU SUSPECT IS DEALING DRUGS, PROSTITUTING ETC. I WOULD JUST ASK AN UNDERAGE PERSON TO LEAVE, A DRUG DEALER TO LEAVE, REFUSE ADMITTANCE WITH SUSPECT ID. I WOULD ASK THEM AS FIRMLY BUT PROFESSIONALLY AND AS PRIVATELY AS POOSBLE AS TO NOT ESCALATE THE SITUATION. I WOULD DETAIN A VIOLENT PERSON UNTIL POLICE ARRIVE BUT I WOULD TREAT HIM AS PROFESSIONALLY AS POSSIBLE AND WITH AS LITTLE FORCE AS POSSIBLE FOR THE SITUATION. YOUR LIABILITY AND THE CLUBS LIABILITY IS VERY VULNERABLE IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG. THE BOTTOM LINE IS A SECURITY OFFICER IS NOT AFFORDED ANY MORE RIGHTS TO RESTRAIN OR USE FORCE THAN ANYONE ELSE. I HOPE THIS HELPS.