What is required for an arrest for a misdemeanor if the crime did not occur in the officer's presence?

For an arrest in the case of a misdemeanor that did not occur in the officer's presence, probable cause and a warrant are essential. When a misdemeanor occurs outside of an officer’s direct observation, the officer must establish probable cause, which is a reasonable belief that a crime has been committed, based on evidence or information that supports the allegation.

The requirement for a warrant stems from the law's respect for individual rights and the need to maintain a balance between the enforcement of laws and protection from unreasonable governmental intrusion. A warrant serves as a legal document authorizing an officer to make an arrest based on the judicial system's assessment of the probable cause presented.

While factors such as intuition or immediate pursuit might inform an officer's judgment, they cannot substitute for the legal necessity of probable cause backed by a warrant in cases where the crime wasn't witnessed firsthand. Furthermore, a public witness might provide information, but this alone does not satisfy the legal threshold required for making an arrest without direct observation of the event by the officer.