Final answer:
No, a belief in the possibility that a person committed a crime is not sufficient probable cause to support the issuance of an arrest warrant. Probable cause requires evidence of a crime.
Step-by-step explanation:
No, a belief in the possibility that a person committed a crime is not sufficient probable cause to support the issuance of an arrest warrant. Probable cause is a legal standard that requires law enforcement officers to demonstrate to a judge that there is enough evidence to believe that a crime has been committed or that evidence will be found. It is a higher threshold than just a belief in the possibility of a crime.
For example, let's say the police apprehend two individuals they suspect of committing an armed robbery. They have evidence that both suspects are guilty of carrying an unlawful weapon, and though they strongly suspect at least one of the two individuals has committed the more serious crime of armed robbery, they have no direct evidence to back up their suspicions. In this case, they would need to gather more evidence and establish probable cause before seeking an arrest warrant.