Opinion ID: 4525522
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Tip Was Reliable

Text: Information relayed to police by a third party can support a Terry stop if “the communication . . . possessed sufficient indicia of reliability.” Brown, 448 F.3d at 250. A key factor in this reliability analysis is the identity of the tipster: while anonymous tips may be reliable enough, see Navarette, 572 U.S. at 404, courts give greater weight to tips from “known informant[s] whose reputation[s] can be assessed and who can be held responsible if [their] allegations turn out to be fabricated.” Florida v. J.L., 529 U.S. 266, 270 (2000). 4 McNulty knew the tipster’s “precise identity.” (App. at 77.) The two had several previous interactions, during which the tipster had provided credible information leading to at least one arrest. See Adams v. Williams, 407 U.S. 143, 146 (1972) (affirming constitutionality of Terry stop based on tip where the “informant was known to [the officer] personally and had provided [the officer] with information in the past”). And on the day in question, the tipster contacted McNulty directly through her private cell phone, on which McNulty had the tipster’s name saved. See United States v. Nelson, 284 F.3d 472, 482 (3d Cir. 2002) (holding a tip reliable where informant “had a previous relationship with the police,” “used a private line,” and “asked for [a specific police officer] by name”). Cephas argues more was needed noting, among other things, that McNulty had no face-to-face interaction with the tipster, and that the tipster did not explain or provide the basis for the information provided. But we have always examined the “totality of the circumstances,” with “no single factor [being] dispositive or even necessary.” United States v. Johnson, 592 F.3d 442, 449 (3d Cir. 2010). Here, on balance, we conclude the tip was reliable. Cf. United States v. Torres, 534 F.3d 207, 212 (3d Cir. 2008) (concluding an anonymous tip was reliable because police knew the identity of the informant’s employer).