Colorado’s second-highest court on Thursday concluded a Wheat Ridge officer lacked probable cause to arrest a man because the information suggesting criminal activity was too minimal to act upon.
Corporal Jeremy Schmitz was patrolling a truck stop off of Interstate 70 when he encountered a Toyota 4Runner that a database identified as stolen. The vehicle was locked and empty, so Schmitz went inside to review the surveillance video.
While in his vehicle, Schmitz saw the driver of the 4Runner exit the truck stop. He immediately drew his gun and arrested the driver, Daniel Orona. Police searched him and found bank cards and a driver license that did not belong to him…