What must an officer do to support probable cause for a search warrant?

To support probable cause for a search warrant, an officer must provide factual and reliable information that a crime has occurred and that evidence related to that crime can be found at the specific location to be searched. Gathering witness statements that provide direct evidence can greatly enhance the credibility of the warrant application.

Hearsay, on the other hand, generally refers to secondhand information and may not hold up as strong evidence for establishing probable cause. The reliability of hearsay often needs to be evaluated, but it alone does not satisfy the probable cause requirement unless it can be corroborated by other evidence or statements.

Obtain consent from the property owner is an entirely different concept, which allows for a search to be conducted without a warrant. Consent negates the need for probable cause since it is a voluntary agreement by the owner of the property being searched.

Conducting a preliminary investigation is a step that often leads to the gathering of evidence but does not, by itself, guarantee probable cause. It’s about collecting facts that can collectively establish the grounds for the warrant.

Performing surveillance of the location can help gather information that may support a claim of probable cause, but it cannot solely fulfill the requirement. Surveillance might provide additional context; however, establishing probable cause generally requires a