Opinion
No. 06-60227 Summary Calendar.
March 23, 2007.
Robert Louis Williamson, Brandon, MS, for Plaintiffs-Appellants.
Arnold Datron Lee, Butler, Snow, O'Mara, Stevens Cannada, Paul Neville, City Attorney's Office, Jackson, MS, for Defendants-Appellees.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. (3:04-CV-574).
Before DeMOSS, STEWART, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
Appellants brought a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claim below, alleging their Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights were violated because they were arrested and detained without probable cause. Plaintiffs also raised pendant state law claims. Appellees moved for summary judgment arguing, inter alia, that the undisputed facts established probable cause and that the suit was barred by qualified immunity. The district court granted Defendants' motion, finding the arrest and detention supported by probable cause and holding that, in the alternative, Appellants' claims were barred by qualified immunity.
The court also dismissed Appellants' state law claims, a ruling they do not appeal.
Based on our de novo review, we agree with the district court that the undisputed facts establish that probable cause existed as a matter of law. Probable cause exists when the facts and circumstances as known to the officers at the time would "warrant a prudent man [to] believe[] that the [Appellants] had committed or [were] committing an offense." Martin v. Thomas, 973 F.2d 449, 453 (5th Cir. 1992). It is irrelevant that the Appellants were not ultimately convicted. See Morris v. Dillard Dep't Stores, Inc., 277 F.3d 743, 754 (5th Cir. 2001).
Because we find Appellants' arrest supported by probable cause, we need not decide whether Appellees are entitled to qualified immunity. We affirm.
AFFIRMED.