Opinion ID: 1359837
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: the post-arrest delay

Text: Even if an arrest is made pursuant to valid legal process and therefore unactionable, imprisonment following the arrest may under some circumstances become unlawful. Kellogg v. State, 94 Wash.2d 851, 621 P.2d 133 (Wash. 1980). Generally, a person who makes an arrest, or his principal or employer, is liable for false imprisonment if he fails to take the arrested person before a court or magistrate within a reasonable time or without unnecessary delay. See Lemel v. Smith, 64 Nev. 545, 187 P.2d 169 (1947); State v. Gilbert, 105 Ariz. 475, 467 P.2d 63 (Ariz. 1970); Annot., 98 A.L.R.2d 966, 971 (1964). However, even if a delay becomes unreasonable, only the officers who actively participate in the unlawful detention (or their principals or employers) are liable for false imprisonment. Lemel v. Smith, supra ; Plancich v. Williamson, 57 Wash.2d 367, 357 P.2d 693 (Wash. 1960). The plaintiff in a false imprisonment action bears the burden of proving that the delay following his valid arrest was unlawful. See Hernandez v. City of Reno, 97 Nev. 429, 634 P.2d 668 (1981); Rounds v. Bucher, 137 Mont. 39, 349 P.2d 1026 (Mont. 1960). A few hours may constitute an unnecessary delay; whether the defendant proceeded with due diligence depends on the circumstances of the particular case. Lemel v. Smith, supra ; Annot., 98 A.L.R.2d at 991-99. See Madsen v. Hutchison, 49 Idaho 358, 290 P. 208 (Idaho 1930) (delay of five hours after arrest on warrant unreasonable as matter of law where magistrates available during that time and no countervailing circumstances shown). The trier of fact should resolve the question of unnecessary delay whenever the facts are disputed. It becomes a question of law for the court only when all the facts are conceded or clearly established. Lemel v. Smith, supra ; Anderson v. Foster, 73 Idaho 340, 252 P.2d 199 (Idaho 1953); Annot., 98 A.L.R.2d at 993-96. The district court properly ruled in the first instance that summary judgment was inappropriate concerning the reasonableness of the delay between Nelson's arrest and his release. The rationales for the police department and county policies and actions in this case are not clearly set forth in the parties' affidavits, and the trier of fact ultimately must balance these reasons against Nelson's strong desire and obvious ability to post the $29 bail without delay. The district court eventually granted summary judgment to respondents on this issue on the basis of appellants' stipulation. We reverse this grant of summary judgment and remand for trial on the reasonableness of the delay as to all parties except Officer Freeman. Freeman's potential liability for delay ceased when he promptly turned Nelson over to the officers who were responsible for taking Nelson to jail. [3]