You're right, but with a few asterisks. Citizen's arrest can only be for felonys. The citizen who is arresting also is liable in the scenario where the arrestee

You're right, but with a few asterisks. Citizen's arrest can only be for felonys. The citizen who is arresting also is liable in the scenario where the arrestee isn't guilty--- because then the citizen arrester could be liable for kidnapping. (Fact checking myself: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen%27s_arrest#United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen%27s_arrest#United_Stat... I'm almost right. It's any crime in your presence, or a felony not in your presence. And for an incorrect arrest, the charge would be false arrest, not kidnapping.)