Legal Question in Criminal Law in Virginia

I was issued a warrant of arrest based soley on verbal testimony given to police officers from my ex, while he was obviously drunk and intoxicated. There was no outside evidence or anything presented besides my ex's testimony. Is this valid probable cause for arrest? Can unsupported testimony alone be probable for someone's arrest? It's pretty ridiculous to me. Like if I step on glass in my house can I call the police and blame my friend then they issue a warrant for my friend? Pretty much that's what happened to me.


Asked on 10/05/16, 10:36 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Yes, it's possible that the mere testimony of an alleged victim of a crime may be enough

to establish probable cause for the arrest of the alleged perpetrator, However, if such

testimony is totally without corroboration, the prosecutor may decide to dismiss the

charge(s) depending upon the other relevant facts in the case. And, therefore, you

would be well advised in this situation to engage the services of a competent criminal

defense counsel to represent you (if you haven't already done so).

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Answered on 10/07/16, 7:32 am


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