The devil is in the details. 

As reported by TMZ, there was only one police officer in attendance at the 2022 Oscars, and he did not witness the incident as he was backstage when it all went down. Unfortunately, because the officer did not witness the altercation firsthand, he did not have the authority to arrest Smith for the misdemeanor battery offense. Still, had audience members approached the officer and requested to make a citizen’s arrest, Smith could have been apprehended that way. As outlined on the Golden state’s official legislative information website, “A private person may arrest another for a public offense committed or attempted in his presence.” Alas, not one of the thousands in attendance at the award show did so. “If i was at the oscar’s i would performed a citizens arrest on will smith,” one user tweeted. 

It’s reported, however, that after Will Smith put his hands on Chris Rock, many viewers at home immediately contacted the Los Angeles Police Department and told officials they had witnessed an assault. Nevertheless, the LAPD’s hands were still tied as those particular individuals only witnessed the act of violence on television instead of firsthand.