Which statement is false about the use of force during an arrest to bring a suspect into custody?

• A. Force may only be used to affect a custodial arrest. (myth)
• B. Force may be used to defend life and prevent harm.
• C. Force may be used to restrain a fleeing suspect.
• D. Force may be used to overcome resistance.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that use of force is not limited to simply bringing a person into custody. While applying force can be part of making a custodial arrest, it’s not restricted to that purpose. Officers may use reasonable and proportional force to defend life and prevent imminent harm, to restrain a fleeing suspect, and to overcome resistance when necessary to achieve safe containment or compliance. The key is that any force used must be appropriate to the level of threat or resistance and limited to what is necessary at the moment, with de-escalation and safety as guiding principles.

So the statement that force may only be used to affect a custodial arrest is false. In practice, force serves multiple legitimate purposes during enforcement, all governed by reasonableness and proportionality.