Opinion ID: 3061741
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: False Arrest/Imprisonment (Counts 1 and 4)

Text: German first argues that the district court erred in granting qualified immunity to the Defendants on German’s false arrest claim. We agree with the district court that the Defendants should be granted qualified immunity on this claim because they had probable cause, or at least arguable probable cause, to arrest German. “The existence of probable cause at the time of arrest . . . constitutes an absolute bar to a section 1983 action for false arrest.” Case v. Eslinger, 555 F.3d 1317, 1326-27 (11th Cir. 2009) (citations and quotation marks omitted). In addition, “[q]ualified immunity . . . protects officers who ‘reasonably but mistakenly conclude that probable cause is present.’” Garczynski v. Bradshaw, 573 F.3d 1158, 1167 (11th Cir. 2009) (citations and quotation marks omitted). “To determine whether arguable probable cause exists, courts must look to the totality of the circumstances.” Davis v. Williams, 451 F.3d 759, 763 (11th Cir. 2006). “Arguable probable cause exists where reasonable officers in the same circumstances and possessing the same knowledge as the Defendants could have believed that probable cause existed to arrest Plaintiff.” Brown v. City of 4 Huntsville, Ala., 608 F.3d 724, 734 (11th Cir. 2010) (internal quotation omitted). “Whether a particular set of facts gives rise to probable cause or arguable probable cause for arrest depends . . . on the elements of the crime.” Crosby v. Monroe County, 394 F.3d 1328, 1333 (11th Cir. 2004). Here, German was arrested for violating Florida Statute § 843.02, the elements of which require that “(1) the officer was engaged in the lawful execution of a legal duty; and (2) the action by the defendant constituted obstruction or resistance of that lawful duty.” Davis, 451 F.3d at 764. Defendant Sosa claims that he saw cannabis in German’s mouth, and that he believed German was resisting him by chewing and swallowing what he believed was evidence of a crime. German has provided no evidence either that Sosa did not possess these beliefs, or that these beliefs were objectively unreasonable based on the totality of the circumstances. Thus, Defendants had at least arguable probable cause to arrest German. Brown, 608 F.3d at 734. We therefore agree with the district court that Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity on the false arrest/false imprisonment claims.