Which scenario allows a warrantless arrest for assault?

Which scenario allows a warrantless arrest for assault?

• A. The assault occurs in your presence
• B. The assault occurred yesterday off premises
• C. You must have a warrant regardless
• D. The suspect is a minor

Answer: (A)

Warrantless arrests are allowed when you directly witness a crime being committed. If you observe an assault as it happens, you have firsthand evidence and probable cause to arrest right then and there, without needing a warrant. The other scenarios don’t meet that requirement: a past incident off the premises isn’t witnessed in the moment, so you don’t have the immediate basis for a warrantless arrest (and you’d generally need a warrant or another applicable exception). The suspect being a minor doesn’t automatically create a warrantless-arrest exception. So the scenario where the assault occurs in your presence is the one that allows a warrantless arrest.

Warrantless arrests are allowed when you directly witness a crime being committed. If you observe an assault as it happens, you have firsthand evidence and probable cause to arrest right then and there, without needing a warrant. The other scenarios don’t meet that requirement: a past incident off the premises isn’t witnessed in the moment, so you don’t have the immediate basis for a warrantless arrest (and you’d generally need a warrant or another applicable exception). The suspect being a minor doesn’t automatically create a warrantless-arrest exception. So the scenario where the assault occurs in your presence is the one that allows a warrantless arrest.