(A) To use, or to attempt to offer to use, force upon or toward the person of another is not unlawful in the town in the following cases:
(1) When necessarily committed by a public officer in the performance of any legal duty, or by any other person assisting him or her, or acting by his or her direction;
(2) When necessarily committed by any person in arresting one who has committed any felony, and delivering him or her to a public officer competent to receive him or her in custody;
(3) When committed either by the party about to be injured, or by any other person in his or her aid or defense, in preventing, or attempting to prevent, an offense against his or her person, or any trespass or other unlawful interference with real or personal property in his or her lawful possession; provided, the force used is not more than sufficient to prevent such offense, and that the same shall be necessary for the self-defense of his or her person or property;
(4) When committed by a parent or authorized agent of any parent, or by any guardian, master, or teacher, in the exercise of a lawful authority to restrain or correct his or her child, ward, apprentice, or scholar, provided restraint or correction has been rendered necessary by the misconduct of such child, ward, apprentice, or scholar, or by his or her refusal to obey the lawful command of such parent or authorized agent, or guardian, master, or teacher, and the force used is reasonable in manner and moderate degree;
(5) When committed by a carrier of passengers, or the authorized agents or servants of such carrier, or by any person assisting them at their request, in expelling from any carriage, interurban car, vessel, or other vehicle, any passenger who refuses to obey a lawful and reasonable regulation prescribed for the conduct of passengers, if such vehicle has first been stopped and the force used is not more than is sufficient to expel the offending passenger, with a reasonable regard to his or her personal safety;
(6) When committed by any person in preventing an idiot, lunatic, insane person, or other person of unsound mind, including persons temporarily or partially deprived of reason, from committing an act dangerous to himself or herself or to another, or enforcing such restraint as is necessary for the protection of his or her person, or for his or her restoration to health, during such period only as shall be necessary to obtain legal authority for the restraint or custody of such person;
(7) In preventing or interrupting an intrusion upon the lawful possession of property; and
(8) To preserve the peace or prevent the commission of an offense.
(B) Where force is permitted to affect a lawful purpose, only that degree of force necessary to effect such purpose shall be used.
(Prior Code, § 10-112)