United States v. Watson

Supreme Court of United States (1976)

Respondent/Defendant: Watson; an informant told a postal inspector that the defendant had stolen credit cards. The inspector told the informant to hold a meeting with the defendant and if the defendant had stolen credit cards with him, the informant was suppose to give a signal to the inspector. The meeting took place in a restaurant and the informant gave the signal and the defendant was arrested. Inspector found no credit cards with the defendant but upon the consent of the defendant, the inspector searched the car and found 2 stolen credit cards and the defendant was convicted. The court of appeals reversed claiming that the arrest was unlawful and the inspector could have secured a warrant before arresting the defendant.

Issue: Was the arrest unlawful?

Holding: No

Legal Reasoning: The court held that it was a common rule in the common law and it is accepted by majority of the states and Congress that a peace officer can arrest a person for felony or misdemeanor when it takes place in his presence and he can arrest a felon when he has reasonable grounds to believe that the felony took place. The court held that it was not ready to restrict this rule ant it ruled that the arrest was lawful and the ruling of the lower court was reversed.

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