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Yep. You can’t use force to stop someone from doing something lawful (retreiving their own property), to protect yourself if you began or pursued the quarrel, or to protect a third party who began or pursued the quarrel (even if you didn’t know that at the time). The last one there makes “being a white knight” awful risky…
I would expect that breaking up a fight would usually be looked upon favorably even if you had to use some force in the process, provided it wasn’t excessive.
Aren’t they also removing the evidence? By the time the sheriff arrives, it’ll be their word against Rico’s.