He did sign a citizen's arrest form. Tell you right now. Okay? So, you're going to have to go to jail. >> For how long? >> That's not up to me. >> On August 28th, 2025, a California deputy responded to a domestic disturbance at a shared residence. A couple, together 6 years, two children, recently separated, was fighting over jealousy, threats, and a thrown phone. What followed raises three critical legal questions. When can an officer arrest with without a warrant? What rights does a cohabitant hold? And what does signing a citizen's arrest form actually mean? >> How's it going, man? Can you come out here talk to me? What's going on, dude? >> I don't know. >> She's in the house. >> She's trying to kick me out. Cuz I caught her up in my lies and [ __ ] with her boyfriend. >> I remember last time I was out out here there was issues with like another guy. >> Right. >> So, is it like the same issue? >> No, it's not the same. Well, no, it's not. And then she she come up in the my room trying to kick me out and [ __ ] I wasn't even doing anything to her. Because her boyfriend was texting her talking crazy to her. >> Talking What is that mean? >> Apparently he was threatening her some [ __ ] And then uh she took my phone while we were upstairs. Wouldn't give it back at all. She come out here, open the door, threw my phone. Literally [ __ ] cracked it. And then she threw my [ __ ] out here. And then I tried to go go back in. And she uh >> She threw this stuff out here? >> Yeah. Yeah. And then she tried uh blocking me from going back in the house. And then when I got into like the doorway where uh the side that he's standing on. >> Uh-huh. >> She [ __ ] just started hitting me. >> What she hit you with? >> Just her my and [ __ ] And then she went crazy. >> Do you need medical attention at all? >> No. >> Okay. So, she started punching you? >> She she started slapping me and [ __ ] And then I was like >> How many times did she slap you? >> She was like at least five or six times. >> Okay. And that's just your arm? >> Well, yeah, cuz I like blocked my [ __ ] body and [ __ ] >> Okay. >> And then that's when I called you guys. >> Okay. And have you been out here ever since? >> No, I was inside. Just by the fact that I separated so I went to the bathroom. >> So, she hit you a couple times. And she threw your cell phone. >> Yep. And then threw my [ __ ] out. >> Okay. And after she hit you, what happened? >> I called you guys and I was on the phone with dispatch. >> And where were you at in the house? >> In the bathroom. >> In the bathroom. Okay. Um so, she hit you in your arms, and she used both hands to hit you? >> Yeah. And then she before all this, she refused to give me my phone so I could try to find somewhere to go cuz I have nowhere else to go. My dad's in rehab and [ __ ] so I have nobody else to go to. >> Okay. >> And then she could have easily left and just went to her [ __ ] mom's house or something. >> And you guys have kiddos inside, right? >> Mhm. There's two of them up there sleeping. >> Are they uh you're both parents of the kiddos, like biological parents of both of them? >> But what am I supposed to do cuz I wasn't going to a [ __ ] broker's [ __ ] >> Okay. What were you looking to have done tonight? >> Either her removed or her replacement tonight and go to somewhere else and find somewhere to go cuz I have nowhere to go. >> Okay. How much uh >> Literally no nowhere to go. >> What kind of phone you got there? >> It's just one of those Obama phones. >> Okay. It's a little blue one. How much do you think that costs? How much do you think it would cost to fix it? >> This one? [ __ ] To be honest, I don't even know. >> You don't know how much it would cost to fix the screen and stuff? >> Mhm. Honestly, I don't. >> Okay. >> I haven't had a look into it for this one yet. >> Yeah. Do you think it would >> Maybe like 40, 50 bucks, maybe. >> Okay. >> Under California Penal Code Section 836 C1, officers at domestic violence calls may make a warrantless arrest upon probable cause, even for unwitnessed misdemeanors. Here, the officer chose not to invoke that authority directly. Instead, he required a citizen's arrest form, placing the evidentiary burden on the complainant, rather than asserting officer-initiated probable cause. The qualifying relationship was properly established under Penal Code Section 13700, 6 years of dating, two biological children in common, current cohabitation, and recent sexual contact. All four factors present, no ambiguity. This means both the battery allegation and the vandalism charge carry domestic violence implications under California law. >> I'm going to talk to her real quick. >> Okay. >> Hey, Haley. What's going on tonight? >> I just threw his phone out. >> Okay. That's not all that happened tonight. What happened tonight? >> I threw his phone out the door. >> Okay. If you threw his phone out the door, why did you throw his phone out the door? >> Because he wouldn't leave. >> Okay. >> Well, he has standing here, does he not? Like he lives here. >> Mhm, for 2 weeks. >> We were here before and he was living here. That was months ago. >> he took he he willingly left and went to his sister's house and stayed there for about a month. >> Regardless, you took his phone, you threw it out. What else happened? >> I As soon as I threw the phone out, I went to shut the door and he stepped in the door. >> Okay. Then what happened? >> That's it. >> That's it? >> And then he was like, "I'm calling the cops. You put your hands on me and this and this and that and that." That's all that happened. I slammed the door shut on him. >> Okay. You didn't touch him at all? >> No. >> You didn't hit him? >> I did not. >> Okay. Um >> I did not put my hands on him. >> Okay. So, if we look at the video footage from that camera right there. >> I did not put my hands on him. Look at it. Please. >> It's not going to show you slapping him. >> No. >> It's not going to show you pushing him. >> No. >> Nothing like that. >> No. >> Okay. >> I slammed the door shut on him. >> That's That's the only camera. >> Okay. Sit tight right there for me, okay? What's that, dude? >> I said that's the only camera that's over here. >> This one right here? >> Yeah. >> Okay. And she's pretty adamant that she didn't put her hands on you. >> I hope it shows it. >> And she put her hands on you. Okay. So, you just wanted him out of the house. What Like how did this >> Because >> How did this all start? >> My ex-boyfriend and him he he invited my ex-boyfriend over last weekend and they were drunk for 3 days straight together going back and forth about me and this and this and that talking about how they both have the way they have sex with me this and this and that. We've been fighting about this for the last week. And I was I'm just over it. And then he starts texting him tonight talking about I was with Raheem and this >> Hold on. How's it going, man? >> How's it going, man? >> You got ac- Do you have access to that camera on your door right there? Does it work? >> My wife does, she's not home. >> She's not home? Uh is she like available by chance? >> I can try and get a hold of her. >> Yeah, I'm I'm just trying to get like some video of something that may or may not have taken place like right here. >> Yeah, I can try and get a hold of her, but >> If you don't mind, brother, that would be That would be awesome. Thank you. Anyway, sorry. Sorry to cut you off. Go ahead. >> Um he started texting us when I was talking to some guy Raheem. And then Zay started texting me sideways talking about you're with Raheem and this and this and that. We better pray for you and your little babies and this and this and that. I can show He said, "You two and your two kids, for goodness sake, I'll keep them in my prayers." And then um >> Who is this? Your ex-boyfriend? >> Yeah. But these are all things that he were told he was told by AJ which are not true. >> Who's AJ? >> Him. >> Okay. >> Did you see anything? I didn't see anything. They were just They were yelling. >> That guy walked out. He's going to try and call his wife. Does he get access to your camera? >> He put his hands on me. I just I did. I slammed the door on him. I did. I slammed the door trying to shut it before he came back in. >> Okay. But you threw his phone out here, too. Correct? >> Yes, I did do that. >> And why did you throw his phone out here? >> Cuz he would not leave. I have asked several times in the last week just for him to get out. I just want him out. There's always fighting. I can't do this [ __ ] I don't This is my house. >> I understand that. >> My lease, my kids are on it, and he's not on [ __ ] >> I understand. But I mean for that to happen, California's very uh they they favor a person. Like they don't they don't they wouldn't favor you because you're on the lease. You know what I mean? Um it's really easy to create standing at a residence in California. So, what I would recommend to you is to go through the formal eviction process. Okay? And have them formally evicted. And I know that's obviously probably I know. >> I'm going to be dead before I get out. >> What do you mean? >> That man has put hands on me. We have police records. I'm I cannot do this [ __ ] He cannot. I need him out. We He was almost arrested in Eureka for putting hands on me, putting bruises on my body. I had bumps on my head. I cannot keep doing this. >> Okay. Why wasn't he arrested? >> Because I said I don't want to press charges, and I left. I left. I'm not leaving my house. I need him to leave my house. >> Okay. So, let's get back to what happened. So, there was some conversation between him and your ex. >> And he wanted to throw it, and I told him I can't do this. If you're going to be talking [ __ ] about me, causing people to threaten me in my home, you need to get out. I let you stay here as a courtesy so you had somewhere to go. >> Okay. And then what what happened after that? Like what happened leading up to you throwing his phone? >> I took his phone from upstairs. I came downstairs. I sat on the couch. I I told him multiple times, "Please step outside and I'll hand you your phone. Please leave and I'll give you your phone. Please please just leave. Like please." And that's He said, "No no no, I'm not going anywhere. I'm not leaving. I'm not doing this. I'm not doing that." And I I threw the phone outside. Not my brightest moment, but I did. I threw the phone outside. He went to go get it and as soon as I went to slam the door shut, he was already in the door stopping me, shoving me and the door backwards. I got stuck behind the back of the door. I did not put my hands on him. >> Okay. >> Hayley's disclosure of prior abuse by AJ, a near arrest in Eureka, documented injuries, does not affect tonight's vandalism charge, but is material context for any parallel domestic battery proceeding. On eviction, the officer's advice was accurate. Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1161, cohabitation creates legal standing that requires a formal unlawful detainer to terminate, regardless of who holds the lease. Under Penal Code Section 837, a citizen may arrest another for a public offense committed in their presence. Hayley admitted on camera that she threw AJ's phone. That admission, combined with documented screen damage, satisfies both elements. The charge is misdemeanor vandalism under Section 594. Estimated damage of $40 to $50, well below the $400 felony threshold. The officer correctly warned AJ that false statements on the form carry civil liability exposure, affirmed by the California Supreme Court in Ribas versus Clark, 1985. >> Yeah, be here real quick. Okay, so based off of what you're telling me, ma'am, they're both misdemeanors in California. Um them her hitting you, what's How long are you guys on >> We've been together for like 6 years. >> You were together for 6 years. How long have you guys been broken up? >> A month. >> A month. Do you guys have two kids in common, correct? >> Mhm. >> Um, How old are your kiddos? >> Uh, two and one. >> Two and one. Okay. Um, are you guys even though you guys are broken up, are you guys still in like a sexual relationship? Anything like that? >> Uh, we had sex a few days ago. >> Okay, so I would say yes. So you were dating for 6 years. Were you dating or were you married for 6 years? >> dating. >> Dating for 6 years. You got two kids in common. You've had sex as early as recently as a few days ago. >> Mhm. >> Okay. Um, so based off of what you're describing to me, they're misdemeanors, right? So, because you guys were in a relationship, you guys have two kids in common, um, that would qualify as domestic violence in California. But, because you don't have any injury, correct? No injury. And it was this one. >> I like it still stings, but like >> It stings? >> Yeah, but it doesn't hurt. >> like complaint of pain. >> Yeah. >> Okay, but no formal No formal injury, right? >> No. >> Okay. Um, >> And it hurt Oh, it might be scratches there. >> I don't know. All right, it doesn't I'll be honest, it doesn't really look like it to me. >> Yeah. >> Uh, because there's no like visible injury, it's going to qualify as misdemeanor domestic violence. Uh, the other issue is your phone. It's technically vandalism. Okay. So, where I'm at, uh, in California, they're both misdemeanors. I didn't witness these misdemeanors. So, what would need to happen would be that you would need to sign a citizen's arrest form for um, the vandalism to your phone. You said it probably cost like >> Like 50 bucks. >> 50 bucks. So, that would So, that would be misdemeanor vandalism because she openly admitted to throwing your phone and there's clearly damage to your phone to your phone screen. So, you would need to sign a citizen's arrest form for that because I didn't witness them. Is that something that you're willing to do? Okay. So, essentially what that entails is you'd sign a citizen's arrest form saying, "Hey, these things, although Deputy Farmer didn't witness these things, these things happened and they're true and for you know, everything's true." If it came out in court that these things weren't true for some reason, and I'm not saying they're not, but I just gave everybody their spiel. If it came out in court that these things weren't true, uh you could be held civilly liable, which means she could civilly sue you. You know, whatever comes out of that comes out of that. You know what I mean? They could get you for money, get you for, you know, realistically anything that you owe. Okay. >> You understand You understand that? >> Yeah. >> It also says that you're going to um show up in court. You're not going to just let this fall to the wayside. You're going to show up in court, whatever court appearances it may take, and I would possibly be testifying on the domestic violence aspect, but the vandalism aspect would be you. So, anything related to the vandalism aspect, vandalism aspect, you would show up in court and testify to that. I wouldn't testify to that. >> Well. >> Okay. Does that make sense? >> Yeah. >> Is that something you're willing to sign? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um if you could just hold your phone up for me so I can confirm the condition and it wasn't damaged in any way, shape, or form. >> Uh just up here. >> And this was damaged prior? >> Yeah. >> Okay, but this was not damaged prior. >> This right here was. That top part was damaged. >> all this >> This was not. This was freshly damaged tonight when she threw your phone. >> Yep. >> Okay. All right. I got to grab a form out of my car and fill it out real quick. I'll be right back with you, okay? >> has an opportunity to sign a citizen's arrest form on that. I don't know how that's going. I'm just trying to be honest with you about what's going on. >> He did sign a citizen's arrest form. Tell you right now. Okay. So, you're going to have to go to jail. >> For how long? >> That's not up to me. Okay. So, can I can I can I can I Put your hands behind your back for me, okay? Hands behind your back. Okay. Do you have anything inside that you need that you want to go to jail with you? No? Just your phone in your back pocket, is that all you need? Yeah. You want shoes? Yeah. You want some Do you think we can get you socks? You probably don't want to be barefoot in there. Can I grab you something? I want to get your phone out of your back pocket here, okay? >> [laughter] >> I don't want to go to jail. I [laughter and gasps] don't >> Okay. Come on. Come on. Stay right here for me, okay? >> [laughter] >> All right, take your vape out of your hand. >> What the [ __ ] Can I talk to him for a second? >> I don't He wants to talk to you. Okay. Go ahead and have a seat. Go ahead and have a seat, please. >> Please tell me what are my babies doing? >> I already got your infant carrier. They're already out here. I can't let you go back in the house, okay? Go ahead. >> What What the [ __ ] >> Hayley was arrested for misdemeanor vandalism via citizen's arrest. A domestic battery referral under section 243 E1 was also indicated. No court disposition is available at the time of this analysis. Based on the footage and applicable statutes, the arrest appears legally supported. Deputy Farmer receives a B plus. He correctly applied sections 13700 and 837, issued the mandatory civil liability warning, sought third-party camera evidence, and executed the arrest with minimal force. The deduction, when Hayley disclosed a documented history of physical abuse by AJ, no safety assessment or emergency protective order was initiated on camera, a response option that was available and arguably warranted. Hayley receives a B minus. She cooperated honestly, but that honesty became the evidentiary basis for her own arrest. Under Section 594, motive does not negate malice. Throwing AJ's phone, however provoked, met the statutory definition of vandalism. Her prior decision to decline prosecution in Eureka left an alleged abuse pattern unresolved with consequences that carried directly into this incident. AJ receives a C+. His citizen's arrest was legally valid and his account was consistent with the physical evidence. However, AJ invited Haley's ex-boyfriend to the shared home, spent 3 days drinking with him, and shared intimate personal information about Haley that directly triggered the argument. Signing a citizen's arrest form sends the mother of two sleeping children to jail, a legal act, but one with co-parenting consequences that extend well beyond tonight. Three lessons. First, in California, cohabitation creates legal standing, removal requires a formal unlawful detainer under Section 1161, not a demand or a police call. Second, any statement made to a responding officer can establish probable cause. Haley's honest admission became the basis for her own arrest. Honesty and legal strategy are not always the same thing. Third, a citizen's arrest form carries civil liability, court obligations, and potential criminal exposure. It is not a neutral administrative step. At the time of this analysis, the outcome of any charges or proceedings remains unknown. Based on California law and the evidence on camera, the arrest appears legally supportable, but the full consequences of this night have almost certainly not yet been resolved. Let us know if there is an interaction or legal topic that you would like us to discuss in the comments below. Thank you for watching.