The following excerpt is from Hopkins v. City of Sierra Vista, Ariz., 931 F.2d 524 (9th Cir. 1991):
Seemingly innocent conduct may become suspicious in light of the initial tip. Gates, 462 U.S. at 243 n. 13, 103 S.Ct. at 2335 n. 13. An officer's experience may also be considered in determining probable cause. United States v. Fouche, 776 F.2d 1398, 1403 (9th Cir.1985) (" 'Conduct innocent in the eyes of the untrained may carry entirely different "messages" to the experienced or trained observer.' "). An officer's knowledge of a person's character or previous contact with the police is relevant, but not dispositive. See Beck v. Ohio, 379 U.S. 89, 97, 85 S.Ct. 223, 228, 13 L.Ed.2d 142 (1964) ("[T]he officer's knowledge of the petitioner's physical appearance and previous record [is not] either inadmissible or entirely irrelevant upon the issue of probable cause. But to hold that knowledge of either or both of these facts constituted probable cause would be to hold that anyone with a previous criminal record could be arrested at will.").
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