Case Name: Commonwealth vs. Pedro Alabarces, Jr.
Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1982-04-13
Citations: 385 Mass. 1012
Docket Number: 
Parties: Commonwealth vs. Pedro Alabarces, Jr.
Judges: 
Reporter: Massachusetts Reports
Volume: 385
Pages: 1012–1012

Head Matter:
Commonwealth vs. Pedro Alabarces, Jr.
April 13, 1982.
David A. Robinson for the defendant.
Dianne M. Dillon, Assistant District Attorney, for the Commonwealth.

Opinion:
The sole issue in this case is the existence, vel non, of probable cause to believe that the defendant was committing or had committed an offense which would authorize the police to arrest him without a warrant (see Commonwealth v. Bowden, 379 Mass. 472, 476-477 [1980]), and to conduct a search incidental to the arrest. See Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471, 479 (1963). We agree with the analysis and conclusion of the Appeals Court (Commonwealth v. Alabarces, 12 Mass. App. Ct. 958 [1981]) that there was no probable cause for the arrest and hence, no legitimate basis for the search incidental to the arrest.
Judgment reversed.
Verdict set aside.
Judgment for the defendant.