Probable cause to arrest is defined as articulable facts and circumstances that would lead a reasonable police officer, in light of their experience and training, to believe that a particular person has committed, is committing, or is about to commit a crime.

• A. Articulable facts and circumstances that would lead a reasonable officer to believe that a person has committed, is committing, or is about to commit a crime
• B. A hunch or intuition
• C. A warrant from a magistrate
• D. Eyewitness testimony alone

Answer: (A)

Probable cause to arrest means facts and circumstances that a reasonable officer, given training and experience, could articulate as showing that a particular person has committed, is committing, or is about to commit a crime. This standard is about more than a hunch; it requires specifics you could explain in court—things you can point to and describe, not just a gut feeling.

Why this is the best fit: it directly expresses that the belief must be grounded in articulable information and a rational connection to criminal activity, viewed through the lens of a reasonable officer. It also makes clear that the belief is about involvement in a crime, not a mere suspicion.

Why the other options don’t fit as well: a hunch or intuition isn’t enough because it lacks the required factual basis that can be articulably explained; a warrant from a magistrate is a remedy that follows probable cause, not the definition of it; eyewitness testimony alone can be part of the evidence, but the standard for arrest isn’t satisfied by testimony without the underlying facts and circumstances that justify the belief of criminal involvement.