# Iowa Code § 804.8: Use of force by peace officer making an arrest

> Iowa · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TXVI_C804_S804.8

## Section

- **Citation:** Iowa Code § 804.8
- **Heading:** Use of force by peace officer making an arrest
- **Jurisdiction:** Iowa
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** IA Code / Title XVI / Chapter 804 / Section 804.8

## Text

(1) A peace officer, while making a lawful arrest, is justified in the use of any force which the peace officer reasonably believes to be necessary to effect the arrest or to defend any person from bodily harm while making the arrest. However, the use of deadly force or a chokehold is only justified when a person cannot be captured any other way and either of the following apply:

(1) (a) The person has used or threatened to use deadly force in committing a felony.

(1) (b) The peace officer reasonably believes the person would use deadly force against any person unless immediately apprehended.

(2) A peace officer making an arrest pursuant to an invalid warrant is justified in the use of any force which the peace officer would be justified in using if the warrant were valid, unless the peace officer knows that the warrant is invalid.

(3) For purposes of this section, “chokehold” means the intentional and prolonged application of force to the throat or windpipe that prevents or hinders breathing or reduces the intake of air.

[C51, §2844; R60, §4553; C73, §4205; C97, §5200; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §13472; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §755.8; C79, 81, §804.8]2013 Acts, ch 90, §238; 2020 Acts, ch 1037, §2

## Nearby sections

- [Iowa Code § 804.1 Arrest by warrant — complaint and citation defined.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TXVI_C804_S804.1.md)
- [Iowa Code § 804.2 Contents of arrest warrant.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TXVI_C804_S804.2.md)
- [Iowa Code § 804.3 Order for bail — endorsed on warrant.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TXVI_C804_S804.3.md)
- [Iowa Code § 804.4 Manner of executing warrant.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TXVI_C804_S804.4.md)
- [Iowa Code § 804.5 Arrest defined.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TXVI_C804_S804.5.md)
- [Iowa Code § 804.6 Persons authorized to make an arrest.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TXVI_C804_S804.6.md)
- [Iowa Code § 804.7 Arrests by peace officers.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TXVI_C804_S804.7.md)
- [Iowa Code § 804.7A Arrests by federal law enforcement officers.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TXVI_C804_S804.7A.md)
- [Iowa Code § 804.7B Arrests by out-of-state peace officers.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TXVI_C804_S804.7B.md)
- [Iowa Code § 804.8 Use of force by peace officer making an arrest.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TXVI_C804_S804.8.md)
- [Iowa Code § 804.9 Arrests by private persons.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TXVI_C804_S804.9.md)
- [Iowa Code § 804.10 Use of force in arrest by private person.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TXVI_C804_S804.10.md)
- [Iowa Code § 804.11 Arrest of material witness.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TXVI_C804_S804.11.md)
- [Iowa Code § 804.12 Use of force in resisting arrest.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TXVI_C804_S804.12.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TXVI_C804_S804.8. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.