A citizen contacts the local police department and alleges that a particular person is dealing drugs out of his home. The citizen states that (s)he thought the police should know, but that (s)he does not "want to get involved by giving my name." What information would the officer need to state in the affidavit to satisfy the first prong of Aguilar-Spinelli (basis of knowledge)?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The officer would need to state how, when, and where the informant obtained the information in order to establish the basis of knowledge. Providing the name of a high school student who purchased drugs or information about how the drug dealer obtained the drugs would not necessarily establish the reliability of the informant's information. The reasons to believe that the informant was providing truthful information would satisfy the second prong of Aguilar-Spinelli (veracity), but they are not necessary to establish the basis of knowledge.

A Citizen Contacts the Local Police Department and Alleges That