California Private Investigator Practice Exam

Can an employer place an employee under private person's arrest for embezzlement if the crime occurred over time?

1. Yes, only if the crime was committed in sight

2. No, arrests cannot be made for such cases

3. Yes, for a felony not committed in sight

4. No, only law enforcement can make such arrests

The correct answer is: Yes, for a felony not committed in sight

An employer can indeed place an employee under private person's arrest for embezzlement, even if the crime occurred over time, as long as the offense qualifies as a felony. Under California law, a private person can make an arrest for a felony if they have reasonable cause to believe that the person has committed a crime, regardless of whether it occurred in their immediate presence. Embezzlement is typically charged as a felony, especially when the amount involved exceeds a certain threshold. This means that an employer who has evidence or reasonable cause to suspect that their employee has committed embezzlement can take appropriate action to detain the individual until law enforcement can take over. In this context, the options suggesting that only law enforcement can make arrests, or that no arrests can be made for such cases, do not align with the provisions for private arrests in California. Hence, the option which states an employer can arrest for a felony not witnessed directly aligns with the definition of private arrest powers under state law.