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Terms Used In Maryland Code, CRIMINAL PROCEDURE 2-203

  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Person: includes an individual, receiver, trustee, guardian, personal representative, fiduciary, representative of any kind, corporation, partnership, business trust, statutory trust, limited liability company, firm, association, or other nongovernmental entity. See
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
(a) A police officer without a warrant may arrest a person if the police officer has probable cause to believe:

(1) that the person has committed a crime listed in subsection (b) of this section; and

(2) that unless the person is arrested immediately, the person:

(i) may not be apprehended;

(ii) may cause physical injury or property damage to another; or

(iii) may tamper with, dispose of, or destroy evidence.

(b) The crimes referred to in subsection (a)(1) of this section are:

(1) manslaughter by vehicle or vessel under § 2-209 of the Criminal Law Article;

(2) malicious burning under § 6-104 or § 6-105 of the Criminal Law Article or an attempt to commit the crime;

(3) malicious mischief under § 6-301 of the Criminal Law Article or an attempt to commit the crime;

(4) a theft crime where the value of the property or services stolen is less than $1,000 under § 7-104 or § 7-105 of the Criminal Law Article or an attempt to commit the crime;

(5) the crime of giving or causing to be given a false alarm of fire under § 9-604 of the Criminal Law Article;

(6) indecent exposure under § 11-107 of the Criminal Law Article;

(7) a crime that relates to controlled dangerous substances under Title 5 of the Criminal Law Article or an attempt to commit the crime;

(8) the wearing, carrying, or transporting of a handgun under § 4-203 or § 4-204 of the Criminal Law Article;

(9) carrying or wearing a concealed weapon under § 4-101 of the Criminal Law Article;

(10) prostitution and related crimes under Title 11, Subtitle 3 of the Criminal Law Article; and

(11) violation of a condition of pretrial or posttrial release under § 5-213.1 of this article.