Taye Diggs Confronts, Tackles Burglar After SAG Awards
Actor Taye Diggs had an eventful Sunday night. First, he presented an award at the Screen Actor's Guild Awards. Then, he confronted a burglar at his home.
After returning to his Studio City home from the awards night, Diggs and wife Idina Menzel (who plays Alphaba in the Broadway show "Wicked") caught an intruder in their digs -- specifically, their garage.
When the burglar tried to make a run for it, Diggs chased him down the street and tackled him, CNN reports. He detained the man until the police showed up.
The intruder was identified as 20-year-old Hassan Juma, who now faces felony burglary charges. Juma pleaded not guilty Tuesday, according to The Associated Press.
Burglary, which is sometimes confused with robbery, is essentially the crime of breaking into a dwelling with the intent to commit a felony therein. (Robbery, on the other hand, is the crime of using force or threats to commit a theft.)
In California, where the offense took place, burglary is punishable either as a first or second degree felony. Juma faces the more serious of the two; if convicted of first degree burglary, he could be sentenced to up to six years in state prison.
Diggs reportedly chased after Juma and when he caught up with him, he performed a citizen's arrest. That's basically an arrest without a warrant, which is constitutionally acceptable if the person making the arrest reasonably suspects the other of committing a felony.
Juma was then placed under real arrest, once LAPD officers arrived. He is now in custody and his bail has been set at $50,000 -- not too high, considering that he probably isn't a flight risk. After all, if he tries to flee, Taye Diggs may just track him down and tackle him again.
Related Resources:
- State Burglary Laws (FindLaw)
- What Procedures Must the Police Follow While Making an Arrest? (FindLaw)
- LL Cool J Rocks the Bell of Would-Be Burglar (FindLaw's Celebrity Jutsice)
- Simon Cowell Finds Woman with a Brick in His Bathroom (FindLaw's Celebrity Justice)
