Unfortunately you are wrong on this. You go by the totality of the circumstances. Freddie was in an area known for drug trafficking, he had a history of selling drugs and was known to a couple of the officers. He was observed in a hand-to-hand transfer of “something” with another male.
When Freddie saw the cops, he took off running as did the other subject. This is what the Supreme Court has ruled to be “reasonable suspicion” that a criminal act has taken place. The police have every right to pursue Freddie and initiate an investigation. As a result, they found the knife during the pat down. (Terry V Ohio) The knife, which they believed to be illegal under Baltimore City Code was the “probable cause” to arrest Mr. Grey.
There are multiple things going on here and a chronology of events. You do not need “probable cause” to initiate an investigation if the totality of the circumstances would cause a reasonable person to believe a crime had been committed.
I think the idea that some drug transaction was witnessed is still just a rumor, no? Is there any actual police officer or official who has stated that on the record?
The only official cause I have seen cited is that he ran from them in a high crime area. That might have given them reason to chase him and detain him for questioning, but it still wouldn’t give them any cause to arrest him.
“The knife, which they believed to be illegal...”
Yeah, “which they believed” are the key words there. I’m sure they knew it wasn’t illegal, because cops are not ignorant of such a common law that they have to make judgements on nearly every time they search someone. However, they also know that they can claim they thought the knife was illegal, and that covers their behinds against false arrest charges. So this seems like a classic fishing expedition by the cops, and they found just enough that they could take the guy for a ride, even if the charges would never stick in court.