What elements must be present to meet the probable cause standard for an arrest?

• A. An officer's personal wish.
• B. A hunch with no evidence.
• C. A reasonable belief based on facts and circumstances that crime is/was/soon to be committed.
• D. A conviction.

Answer: (C)

Probable cause to arrest means a reasonable belief, based on facts and circumstances known to the officer at the time, that a crime has been, is being, or is about to be committed by the person in question. This isn’t about what the officer wishes or a guess; it’s about objective evidence or information that would lead a reasonable person to conclude that a crime is or was being committed.

For example, seeing someone flee a scene with stolen items, or receiving reliable information that matches a suspect to an ongoing crime, can establish probable cause because it combines observable facts with a reasonable inference about wrongdoing.

The other options don’t fit because they rely on personal desire, no evidence, or a past adjudication. A personal wish is not evidence; a hunch without any corroborating information isn’t sufficient; and a conviction is the result of a trial, not something that justifies an arrest without new probable cause.