Probable cause to search exists when

• A. The officer has a warrant.
• B. A credible tip alone justifies a search.
• C. The facts and circumstances within their knowledge, and of which they had reasonably trustworthy information, are sufficient to warrant a belief that seizable property would be found in a particular place or on a person.
• D. The suspect's statement alone justifies a search.

Answer: (C)

Probable cause to search exists when the officer has a reasonable belief, based on the facts and circumstances known to them and information they find trustworthy, that seizable property will be found in a particular place or on a specific person. This standard requires more than a hunch and looks at the whole picture rather than a single factor. It’s the standard that justifies issuing a search warrant or conducting a search in approved circumstances. A warrant is the tool used when probable cause is shown, not the source of the probable cause itself. A credible tip by itself isn’t enough unless it’s corroborated by additional reliable information, and a suspect’s statement alone typically doesn’t justify a search unless it’s supported by other facts that establish probable cause.