Under Section 5 Rule 113, what constitutes 'just committed' and 'personal knowledge'?

Under Section 5 Rule 113, what constitutes 'just committed' and 'personal knowledge'?

• A. Just committed requires immediate arrest; personal knowledge means observation at scene.
• B. Just committed means within 24 hours; personal knowledge means knowledge from magistrate.
• C. Just committed is not required if there is probable cause; personal knowledge means knowledge from a police bulletin.
• D. Just committed allows any time after; personal knowledge means information from informants.

Answer: (A)

Under Section 5, Rule 113, a peace officer may arrest without a warrant when the offense has just been committed and the offender is present, or when the officer has personal knowledge that the offense has just been committed. “Just committed” means the crime has just occurred and the arrest should be made promptly, i.e., an immediate or near-immediate arrest rather than a delayed one. “Personal knowledge” means knowledge the officer actually has through his own senses at the scene—what he observed—not information obtained from informants, reports, or bulletins. Information from sources other than the officer’s own observation does not count as personal knowledge for purposes of an arrest without a warrant.

Under Section 5, Rule 113, a peace officer may arrest without a warrant when the offense has just been committed and the offender is present, or when the officer has personal knowledge that the offense has just been committed. “Just committed” means the crime has just occurred and the arrest should be made promptly, i.e., an immediate or near-immediate arrest rather than a delayed one. “Personal knowledge” means knowledge the officer actually has through his own senses at the scene—what he observed—not information obtained from informants, reports, or bulletins. Information from sources other than the officer’s own observation does not count as personal knowledge for purposes of an arrest without a warrant.