Which of the following would be considered probable cause to arrest? A. A victim reports that their cell phone was stolen from their purse. The officer then finds that phone on a potential suspect in a nearby parking lot.
B. A victim reports that their cell phone was stolen from their purse. The officer then finds that phone on the ground near a suspect in a nearby parking lot.
C. A victim reports that a pair of AirPods has gone missing, and they are tracking them to a house down the street. Upon arriving, the owner of the house refuses to let the officer in.
D. A victim reports that a pair of AirPods has gone missing, and they are tracking them to a house down the street. Upon arriving, the owner of the house shows the officer a pair of AirPods but claims they are theirs and shows they are connected to their device.
The correct answer is A.
Explanation: Probable cause to arrest is established when there is sufficient evidence to suggest that a person has committed a crime. In option A, the officer finds the stolen cell phone in possession of a potential suspect, which directly ties the suspect to the crime. This creates a strong basis for probable cause.
In contrast, option B involves finding the phone on the ground, which does not directly link the suspect to the theft. Options C and D involve situations where the owner of the house obstructs entry or claims ownership of the stolen items, but the relationship to the crime is not as clear-cut as in option A.
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