Section 279: Suppression of riot by person acting without order in case of

emergency
When any person, whether subject to military law or not, believes, on reasonable
grounds, that serious mischief will arise from a riot before there is time to procure the
intervention of a peace officer, it is lawful for him to use such force as he believes, on
reasonable grounds, to be necessary for the suppression of the riot, and as is
reasonably proportioned to the danger which he believes, on reasonable grounds, is to
be apprehended from its continuance.