Which element of an arrest specifically describes the officer's intent to take the person into custody?

• A. Authority
• B. Intent
• C. Force
• D. Submission

Answer: (B)

The essential idea here is that an arrest isn't just about having power or using hands-on control; it hinges on the officer’s state of mind to take the person into custody. The officer must intend to arrest the person, which means there’s a deliberate decision to detain them as a captive worthy of restraint. This intent is what distinguishes an actual arrest from a simple detention or stop. You demonstrate that intent by actions like informing the person they are under arrest and applying restraint to seize custody.

Authority is about having the legal power to act, and force is the method used to effect the seizure. Submission is the suspect’s reaction, not the officer’s mental state. So the element describing the officer’s intent to take someone into custody is intent.