MARYLAND CRIMINAL LAW: POLICE
POWERS, ARRESTS & WARRANTS — 100
COMPREHENSIVE MULTIPLE-CHOICE
QUESTIONS
Part 1: Statutory Basis for Warrantless Arrests (Questions 1–25)
Question 1
Under Maryland Criminal Procedure § 2-202(a), a police officer may arrest
without a warrant a person who commits or attempts to commit a felony
or misdemeanor in the officer's presence. This authority is best described
as:
A) Discretionary and requiring supervisory approval
B) Mandatory upon observing any offense
C) A statutory grant of arrest authority based on presence
D) Limited to felonies only
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Maryland Criminal Procedure § 2-202(a) expressly grants
police officers authority to arrest without a warrant for felonies or
misdemeanors committed or attempted "in the presence or within the
view" of the officer .
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Question 2
An officer observes a suspect commit a misdemeanor. Under Maryland
law, which of the following is TRUE regarding the officer's warrantless
arrest authority?
A) The officer may not arrest because misdemeanors require warrants
B) The officer may arrest under § 2-202(a) because the misdemeanor
occurred in the officer's view
C) The officer must first obtain a summons
D) The officer may only issue a citation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Section 2-202(a) explicitly includes misdemeanors committed in
the officer's presence or view as grounds for warrantless arrest .
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Question 3
Under Maryland Criminal Procedure § 2-202(b), an officer may arrest
without a warrant when the officer has probable cause to believe a felony
or misdemeanor is being committed in the officer's view and:
,A) The suspect admits guilt
B) The officer reasonably believes the person committed the crime
C) A victim signs a complaint
D) The suspect flees
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Section 2-202(b) authorizes warrantless arrest based on
probable cause and reasonable belief that the person committed the crime
being committed in the officer's view .
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Question 4
Maryland Criminal Procedure § 2-202(c) permits a warrantless felony
arrest when:
A) The felony occurred in the officer's presence
B) The officer has probable cause to believe a felony was committed and
the person committed it, regardless of presence
C) The suspect has a prior criminal record
D) A witness identifies the suspect within 24 hours
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Section 2-202(c) allows warrantless arrest for a felony not
committed in the officer's presence if the officer has probable cause to
believe the felony was committed and the person committed it .
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Question 5
Which of the following is NOT a requirement for a warrantless
misdemeanor arrest under Maryland Criminal Procedure § 2-202?
A) The offense must occur in the officer's presence or view
B) The officer must have probable cause
C) The officer must personally witness the entire offense
D) The officer must reasonably believe the person committed the crime
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The statute requires the offense be "in the presence or within
the view" of the officer, but does not require witnessing the "entire"
offense. The officer may act upon probable cause under subsection (b) .
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Question 6
POWERS, ARRESTS & WARRANTS — 100
COMPREHENSIVE MULTIPLE-CHOICE
QUESTIONS
Part 1: Statutory Basis for Warrantless Arrests (Questions 1–25)
Question 1
Under Maryland Criminal Procedure § 2-202(a), a police officer may arrest
without a warrant a person who commits or attempts to commit a felony
or misdemeanor in the officer's presence. This authority is best described
as:
A) Discretionary and requiring supervisory approval
B) Mandatory upon observing any offense
C) A statutory grant of arrest authority based on presence
D) Limited to felonies only
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Maryland Criminal Procedure § 2-202(a) expressly grants
police officers authority to arrest without a warrant for felonies or
misdemeanors committed or attempted "in the presence or within the
view" of the officer .
,---
Question 2
An officer observes a suspect commit a misdemeanor. Under Maryland
law, which of the following is TRUE regarding the officer's warrantless
arrest authority?
A) The officer may not arrest because misdemeanors require warrants
B) The officer may arrest under § 2-202(a) because the misdemeanor
occurred in the officer's view
C) The officer must first obtain a summons
D) The officer may only issue a citation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Section 2-202(a) explicitly includes misdemeanors committed in
the officer's presence or view as grounds for warrantless arrest .
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Question 3
Under Maryland Criminal Procedure § 2-202(b), an officer may arrest
without a warrant when the officer has probable cause to believe a felony
or misdemeanor is being committed in the officer's view and:
,A) The suspect admits guilt
B) The officer reasonably believes the person committed the crime
C) A victim signs a complaint
D) The suspect flees
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Section 2-202(b) authorizes warrantless arrest based on
probable cause and reasonable belief that the person committed the crime
being committed in the officer's view .
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Question 4
Maryland Criminal Procedure § 2-202(c) permits a warrantless felony
arrest when:
A) The felony occurred in the officer's presence
B) The officer has probable cause to believe a felony was committed and
the person committed it, regardless of presence
C) The suspect has a prior criminal record
D) A witness identifies the suspect within 24 hours
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Section 2-202(c) allows warrantless arrest for a felony not
committed in the officer's presence if the officer has probable cause to
believe the felony was committed and the person committed it .
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Question 5
Which of the following is NOT a requirement for a warrantless
misdemeanor arrest under Maryland Criminal Procedure § 2-202?
A) The offense must occur in the officer's presence or view
B) The officer must have probable cause
C) The officer must personally witness the entire offense
D) The officer must reasonably believe the person committed the crime
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The statute requires the offense be "in the presence or within
the view" of the officer, but does not require witnessing the "entire"
offense. The officer may act upon probable cause under subsection (b) .
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Question 6
