California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Avilez, F075036 (Cal. App. 2020):
" '[I]f the detaining officer himself [or herself] does not have personal knowledge of facts justifying the detention, but acts solely on the basis of information or direction given him through police channels, the prosecution must establish in court, when challenged, evidence showing that the officer who originally furnished the information ... was in possession of facts amounting to circumstances short of probable cause which would have justified him to personally make the detention.' [Citation.]" (People v. Orozco (1981) 114 Cal.App.3d 435, 444.)
In such situations, the prosecution can meet its evidentiary burden by introducing direct evidence about the source for the information, such as calling the police dispatcher at the suppression hearing to testify about the information conveyed to the field officer. (People v. Brown, supra, 61 Cal.4th at p. 983.) It may also be satisfied by "proof of
Page 35
transmission to one police department of official information from a different police agency ...." (People v. Armstrong (1991) 232 Cal.App.3d 228, 246.)
The above passage should not be considered legal advice. Reliable answers to complex legal questions require comprehensive research memos. To learn more visit www.alexi.com.