[Bill]

Originally Posted by Mick

This is, of course, the right answer. Apparently the LEO had PC on the salesmen, but not on the homeowner. Once the LEO had identified that these were the men in question, he should tell them they are detained. When the homeowner then asks the LEO to leave his property, he should have done so with the men he was detaining. LEO escalated the situation, instead of handling it professionally.

BTW, the homeowner was unquestionably a dick.

I would say it was reasonable, articulable suspicion, not actually probable cause. All he had at the time was a complaint from another resident or residents. He apparently didn't witness the peddlers commit any crime, the reason he didn't just walk to them and slap the cuffs on.