Opinion ID: 879076
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The citizen's report and defendant's admissions provided probable cause for the arrest.

Text: The threshold issue for the validity of an arrest is probable cause. The probable cause requirement is satisfied at the time of arrest if the facts and circumstances within the officer's personal knowledge, or upon information imparted to him by a reliable source, are sufficient to warrant a reasonable person to believe that the suspect has committed an offense. State v. Hamilton (1980), 185 Mont. 522, 528, 605 P.2d 1121, 1125, citing State v. Hill (1976), 170 Mont. 71, 74, 550 P.2d 390, 392. Undersheriff Fisher had reasonable grounds to suspect that defendant had committed a crime. The sheriff's office received information from an eyewitness to defendant's erratic driving. The office dispatched Undersheriff Fisher with a complete description of the truck, its license plate number, and its owner. In State v. Sharp (Mont.1985), 702 P.2d 959, 962, 42 St.Rep. 1009, 1013, this Court held that when information is provided by a citizen informant, such information is presumed to be reliable. In Sharp, the defendant was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol, after a citizen reported the erratic driving, complete with a vehicle description and license number. If an officer receives a tip from a reliable informant which includes a complete vehicle description, then the officer has a particularized reason to question a suspect. Sharp, 702 P.2d at 962. The scope of arrests has been broadened to allow an arrest for a past misdemeanor not committed in the officer's presence. Section 46-6-401(1), MCA, states: A peace officer may arrest when:... (d) he believes on reasonable grounds that the person is committing an offense or that the person has committed an offense and the existing circumstances require his immediate arrest. (Emphasis added.) In this case, the preservation of defendant's evanescent blood alcohol required immediate arrest. At a minimum, the citizen's report provided probable cause to investigate. Upon investigation, defendant voluntarily stepped outside his trailer. He appeared intoxicated and leaned against the door. He admitted drinking and driving. Defendant voluntarily took the field sobriety tests and failed. The citizen's tip, defendant's own admissions, and his personal observations gave Undersheriff Fisher full probable cause to arrest.