Opinion ID: 403620
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Probable Cause to Arrest Fleming and Rolenc

Text: 15 The district court correctly relied on three factors to find that Bobko had probable cause to arrest Fleming and Rolenc: (1) Bobko's knowledge of Fleming's earlier cocaine transactions-both the specific incidents involving Pepitone, Emerich, and Leverance, and the pattern observed when people came to Fleming's house; (2) Bobko's observation that Rolenc and Fleming were each carrying paper bags, not of the type associated with Fleming's art business; and (3) the indications Bobko had that Rolenc's arrival was anticipated by Fleming. These factors are especially telling as to Fleming, but this is not a case of Rolenc being tarred with Fleming's brush. Ybarra v. Illinois, 444 U.S. 85, 100 S.Ct. 338, 62 L.Ed.2d 238 and Sibron v. New York, 392 U.S. 40, 88 S.Ct. 1889, 20 L.Ed.2d 917, are not apposite. The small rectangular object Rolenc was carrying, the speed with which he was met at the door, and Fleming's appearance also with a small bag all suggested to Bobko that a drug transaction-necessarily involving a buyer and a seller-was about to take place. Fleming and Rolenc try to suggest that Bobko was relying on a drug courier profile as did the agents in Reid v. Georgia, 448 U.S. 438, 100 S.Ct. 2752, 65 L.Ed.2d 890 (Br. 35, 50), but that is inconsistent with the extent and particularity of Bobko's personal observations. They also argue that Rolenc might have been simply an art customer (Br. 35-36). Probable cause does not, however, require that every inference in the chain be susceptible only of nefarious explanations. It is sufficient if Bobko had enough evidence to lead a reasonably prudent person to believe that (Fleming and Rolenc) had committed or (were) committing a criminal act. United States v. Gaston, 620 F.2d 635, 638 (7th Cir. 1980). The Gaston standard is satisfied in this case. 16