A valid arrest for a minor offence, made in order to investigate the arrestee for a more serious offence for which there are no legal grounds to make an arrest.
Origin
1960s; earliest use found in The Federal Reporter.
Definition of pretextual arrest in US English:
pretextual arrest
noun
US Law
A valid arrest for a minor offence, made in order to investigate the arrestee for a more serious offence for which there are no legal grounds to make an arrest.
Origin
1960s; earliest use found in The Federal Reporter.