(a) A private person may arrest another for any public offense:
(1) Committed in his presence;
(2) Where a felony has been committed, though not in his presence, by the person arrested; or
(3) Where a felony has been committed and he has reasonable cause to believe that the person arrested committed it.
(b) An arrest for felony may be made by a private person on any day and at any time.
(c) A private person must, at the time of the arrest, inform the person to be arrested of the cause thereof, except when such person is in the actual commission of an offense, or arrested on pursuit.
(d) If he is refused admittance, after notice of his intention, and the person to be arrested has committed a felony, he may break open an outer or inner door or window of a dwelling house.
(e) It is the duty of any private person, having arrested another for the commission of any public offense, to take him without unnecessary delay before a judge or magistrate, or to deliver him to some one of the officers specified in Section 15-10-1, who must forthwith take him before a judge or magistrate.
Structure Code of Alabama
Title 15 - Criminal Procedure.
Article 1 - Arrest Before Indictment.
Section 15-10-1 - Officers Authorized to Make Arrests.
Section 15-10-3 - Arrest Without Warrant - Generally; Written Report; Protection Orders.
Section 15-10-6 - Offense Committed in Presence of Judge or Magistrate.
Section 15-10-7 - Arrests by Private Persons.
Section 15-10-8 - When Notice of Arrest for Capital Felony to Be Given to Governor or Chief Justice.
Section 15-10-9 - Rearrest After Escape or Rescue.
Section 15-10-10 - Where Warrant to Be Executed; Endorsement When Executed in Different County.
Section 15-10-12 - When Defendant to Be Taken Before Judge or Magistrate Issuing Warrant.
Section 15-10-14 - Detention and Arrest of Person Suspected of Larceny of Goods Held for Sale.