Page 42 - Critical Tasks in Law Enforcement 2020-2021 Sessioin
P. 42

Task: Arrest in a Public Place






          U.S. v. Watson, 423 U.S. 411 (1976).

               A police officer who has probable cause to believe that a citizen has


               committed a felony may take that citizen into custody without a
               warrant when the citizen is located in a public place.






          • For Constitutional purposes, no distinction has been made with

               respect to arrest for misdemeanors in a public place.

          • Warning: The arrest laws of most states place statutory limits on the

               power of police officers in making misdemeanor arrests.

















                                     ©2021 Jack Ryan  Legal & Liability Risk Management Institute                                    41
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