What must a citizen do after making an arrest?

When a citizen makes a citizen's arrest, the appropriate action is to take the arrestee to a peace officer or magistrate. This aligns with the legal responsibilities placed on private individuals who conduct an arrest without the immediate presence of law enforcement. The reason for this requirement is to ensure that the arrested individual is processed through the proper legal channels, as the responsibility of ensuring the legal rights of the arrestee and adhering to judicial procedures falls beyond the scope of the average citizen.

Taking the arrestee to a peace officer or magistrate enables trained law enforcement personnel to handle the situation from that point forward, allowing for the necessary legal assessments, charges, and proceedings to occur. This action also helps to maintain the integrity of the arrest process and ensures that the rights of all parties involved are upheld.

In contrast, other actions, such as releasing the arrestee immediately, informing them of their charges, or contacting the media, do not reflect the legal procedure following a citizen's arrest and can lead to complications or violations of the arrestee's rights.