Credible information exists that would cause a reasonable and prudent person to believe a particular suspect committed or is committing a specific offense is ______.

• A. Confidence
• B. Reasonable Doubt
• C. Evidence
• D. Probable Cause

Answer: (D)

Probable cause is the threshold that justifies action like an arrest or a search. It means there are credible facts or information that would cause a reasonable and prudent person to believe that a particular suspect committed or is committing a specific offense. It’s more than a mere hunch, but it stops short of absolute proof. The belief must be grounded in the facts and circumstances known to the officer at the time, and it can be formed from observations, reliable tips, or physical evidence—evaluated together under the totality of the circumstances. For example, combining a witness identifying the suspect at the scene with corroborating behavior or items linking them to the crime would support probable cause to act.