Arresting Officers Not Immune From Suits, Court Rules

Citizens arrested on improper warrants can sue the arresting officer for damages if they can show he was incompetent or knowingly broke the law, the Supreme Court ruled today.

The unanimous ruling affirmed a decision by the U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals, which said police officers may be liable even in cases where they properly obtain an arrest warrant from a judge, but lack the necessary probable cause to do so.