Is it legal for a security guard to body slam a minor on the ground for no reason?

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Is it legal for a security guard to body slam a minor on the ground for no reason?

So my friend was at the store and he accidentally walked out with an un bought item and the security chased after us and told us to go back and we did and we were in a hurry to go somewhere and my friend said,

Asked on August 8, 2016 under Personal Injury, California

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 7 years ago | Contributor

Yes, it is illegal--e.g. it is assault--for a security guard to attack someone for no reason. But what you describe is not "no reason":  your friend committed shoplifting (walking out with an unbought--i.e. stolen--item) then refused to stop when he was told. There is considerable latitude for private security to use force to stop criminal acts or criminals from escaping; it is unlikely that any legal action would be taken against or be successful against the guard, unless he truly used wildly excessive force and your friend suffered significant injuries.


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