(a) A law enforcement officer need not retreat or desist from efforts to effect the arrest, or from efforts to prevent the escape from custody, of a person he reasonably believes to have committed an offense because of resistance or threatened resistance of the arrestee. In addition to the use of physical force authorized under other sections of this chapter, he is, subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) and (c) of this section, justified in the use of such physical force as he reasonably believes is immediately necessary to effect the arrest or to prevent the escape from custody.

    (b) The use of any physical force in making an arrest is not justified under this section unless the arrest is lawful or the law enforcement officer reasonably believes the arrest is lawful.

    (c) A law enforcement officer in effecting an arrest or in preventing an escape from custody is not justified in using deadly force unless the use of deadly force is authorized under state or federal law.

    (d) The defendant shall have the burden of injecting the issue of justification under this section.

(Code 1964, § 7.665)

     State law reference(s)--Similar provisions, RSMo. § 563.046.