Arrest Without Probable Cause In Miami-Dade
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Establishing Probable Cause for Arrests For example, if an officer observes someone engaging in suspicious behavior, such as repeatedly entering and exiting a building late at night in an area known for burglaries, this might contribute to establishing probable cause.
Some courts and scholars have suggested probable cause could, in some circumstances, allow for a fact to be established as true to a standard of less than 51%, but as of August 2019, the United States Supreme Court has never ruled that the quantification of probable cause is anything less than 51%.
So the victim's statement is one piece of evidence that will be considered in determining whether there is enough evidence, or probable cause, for law enforcement to make an arrest of the offender. The victim's statement could be compelling enough for an arrest.
Probable cause is not defined in Florida, but is generally understood to mean that the evidence is more likely than not that the person committed the crime. The evidence can come in the form of an affidavit, complaint or deposition of a law enforcement officer.
The presentation of any of these facts would allow an officer to perform a search and make an arrest. Be aware that minor traffic violations (e.g. speeding, broken tail-light, or expired registration) are not considered probable cause.
Probable cause is generally understood to be a reasonable basis for a prudent person's belief that a crime has been committed (in the case of an arrest) or that evidence of a crime is present in a given place (in the case of a search).
The burden of proof for establishing probable cause does not demand absolute certainty or conclusive evidence of criminal activity. Rather, it requires a reasonable basis or suspicion backed by factual evidence that would lead a prudent person to believe that a crime has been, is being, or will be committed.
