Question

A woman contacted police and identified herself. She told the police a suspect had shown her marijuana in his car and told her that in a few minutes he would be driving to a specified geographical area with the drugs. The informant provided investigators specific details about the suspect's vehicle and license plate number. The police followed up on the information given to them by the concerned citizen and located the vehicle. They stopped the vehicle, conducted a search, and found drugs in the car. The suspect was subsequently arrested. Which statement below best reflects the credibility of the informant and the legality of the police actions (State v. Lindquist)?

a. The woman is credible and the officers had probable cause to search the vehicle and arrest the suspect.
b. The woman is not credible, and the officers lacked probable cause to search the vehicle.
c. The woman is credible, but the officers violated the suspect's rights by conducting a search without a warrant.
d. The woman is not credible, but the officers had exigent circumstances to search the vehicle.

Answer 1

The option a is the right answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that best reflects the credibility of the informant and the legality of the police actions in this case is option a. The officers had probable cause to search and the women is credible.

The woman contacted the police and provided specific details about the suspect's vehicle, including the license plate number.

This information, along with the fact that the suspect had shown her marijuana and planned to transport drugs to a specified area, gave the police probable cause to suspect that a crime was being committed.

Based on this probable cause, the officers were justified in stopping and searching the vehicle, and subsequently arresting the suspect.