Arrest Without Warrant In Michigan

A police officer may arrest without a warrant if he has probable cause to believe that a felony has been committed and that the suspect committed it. MCL 764.15; MSA 28.874; People v. Champion, 452 Mich 92, 115; 549 NW2d 849 (1996). Such reasonable or probable cause necessary to effectuate an arrest exists where the facts and circumstances within the officer's knowledge and of which he has reasonably trustworthy information are sufficient in themselves to warrant a man of reasonable caution in the belief that an offense has been or is being committed. Id. "Only a probability or substantial chance of criminal activity, not an actual showing of criminal activity," need be shown to validate the arrest. People v. Lyon, 227 Mich App 599, 611; 577 NW2d 124 (1998), citing Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 243 n 13; 103 S Ct 2317, 2335 n 13; 76 L Ed 2d 527 (1983). Generally, relevant evidence is admissible, and irrelevant evidence is inadmissible. MRE 402; People v. Starr, 457 Mich 490, 497; 577 NW2d 673 (1998). Evidence is relevant if it has any tendency to make the existence of a fact which is of consequence to the action more or less probable than it would be without the evidence. MRE 401; People v. Crawford, 458 Mich 376, 388; 582 NW2d 785 (1998).