| Lawson Police Department, You Make the Call Answers |
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| The Answer |
The Appeals court found that the amount of information that Mrs. Williams gave to
the dispatcher was enough to provide the Officers with probable cause to make the
arrest. The specific information given showed that Mrs. Williams had current first
hand knowledge of Mr. Jones and his stated threats. In addition, the court found that
Mr. Jones posed an immediate threat to public safety and had the Officers not
arrested him, he would have been able to carry out his threats to harm others. The
court also ruled that the dispatchers knowledge of Mrs. Williams identity was
sufficient.
the dispatcher was enough to provide the Officers with probable cause to make the
arrest. The specific information given showed that Mrs. Williams had current first
hand knowledge of Mr. Jones and his stated threats. In addition, the court found that
Mr. Jones posed an immediate threat to public safety and had the Officers not
arrested him, he would have been able to carry out his threats to harm others. The
court also ruled that the dispatchers knowledge of Mrs. Williams identity was
sufficient.
Officer Jones responded to a call of an armed robbery that had just occurred. He
arrived at the scene five minutes later and spoke with the Mrs. Smith. Mrs. Smith said
that a black male armed with a hand gun had just robbed her and described her
attacker. She said that the suspect left in a white Mazda car and gave a partial license
plate number of MJK.
Officer Jones left and patrolled the area looking for the suspect. A few minutes later,
he found a white Mazda at a gas station three blocks from where the crime occurred
with a black male standing near the car. The license plate was MTK340. As Officer
Jones watched, the black male got into the drivers seat of the vehicle. The description
that Mrs. Smith had given of her attacker did not completely match the appearance of
the black male but was close.
Officer Jones along with other Police Officers, surrounded the Mazda and took Mr.
Williams into custody. When they searched the vehicle, Police found cocaine, a
handgun, and money. Mr. Williams was arrested and charged with the armed robbery.
At trial, Mr. Williams lawyers argued that Police did not have reasonable suspicion to
stop Mr. Williams in the parking lot. They argued that since Mrs. Smith had not given
the correct license plate or description, Officer Jones did not have enough grounds to
stop and later arrest Mr. Williams.
arrived at the scene five minutes later and spoke with the Mrs. Smith. Mrs. Smith said
that a black male armed with a hand gun had just robbed her and described her
attacker. She said that the suspect left in a white Mazda car and gave a partial license
plate number of MJK.
Officer Jones left and patrolled the area looking for the suspect. A few minutes later,
he found a white Mazda at a gas station three blocks from where the crime occurred
with a black male standing near the car. The license plate was MTK340. As Officer
Jones watched, the black male got into the drivers seat of the vehicle. The description
that Mrs. Smith had given of her attacker did not completely match the appearance of
the black male but was close.
Officer Jones along with other Police Officers, surrounded the Mazda and took Mr.
Williams into custody. When they searched the vehicle, Police found cocaine, a
handgun, and money. Mr. Williams was arrested and charged with the armed robbery.
At trial, Mr. Williams lawyers argued that Police did not have reasonable suspicion to
stop Mr. Williams in the parking lot. They argued that since Mrs. Smith had not given
the correct license plate or description, Officer Jones did not have enough grounds to
stop and later arrest Mr. Williams.
| Reasonable Suspicion Investigative Stop |