Officers frequently choose not to arrest a suspect when they can and should, for various reasons, including the most suspect reason - they have reached their quota for the day. According to the police culture, it's one of the most important parts of police work. According to TV shows like Cops , it's the most common feature. Here's some of the most typical behaviors at each stage of an encounter. You don't need to focus on the exact percentages, just the behaviors and their rank order of use.
Restraint can be verbal or physical.
The Manners and Customs of the Police . The Police and the Public.