Can police search a shoplifter's purse for evidence without a formal arrest?

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Hey guys, it's Anthony Bandiero Here attorney and senior legal instructor for Blue to Gold law enforcement training, bringing a roadside chat. This question comes from an officer in Colorado. And the question is, can police search a shoplifting suspects purse for evidence without making an arrest?

And the answer is going to be yes. Definitely, as far as yes, in Colorado, but I believe the answer is yes, everywhere. But let's go through this. Now. Generally speaking, if you have probable cause for somebody, right, and you search them, and you find evidence and you arrest them, Most courts are going to call that a search incident to arrest but Anthony, the search came before the rest that didn't come incident to well, the supre ...