Bishop v. City of Spokane

*168¶1 — This is a civil suit for false arrest. The question is whether the police had probable cause to arrest the plaintiff for “obstructing a law enforcement officer.” Spokane Municipal Code (SMC) 10.07.032. It required that the officer have reasonably trustworthy information that the plaintiff here willfully hindered, delayed, or obstructed the officer in the discharge of his duties. The officer’s car blocked the plaintiff’s driveway. He had stopped another car in front of the plaintiff’s house. The plaintiff then drove around the officer’s car, after the officer refused to move it. He…