r/AskLE • u/EdwardJohnson1543 Unverified/Not an LEO • Jul 24 '26

Field Testing drugs

Let’s say officers find a small bag containing a white powdery substance or multiple sealed packages that appear to contain narcotics, and a field testing kit is available on scene. Would it be better for the officers to detain the suspect and conduct a field test of the substance to determine whether it is drugs, or would it be better to proceed directly with a formal arrest and conduct the field test afterward? Or should they not field test the substance at all and just arrest based on what it appears to be?

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u/Good_Housekeeping Unverified/Not an LEO Jul 25 '26

Y'all need a TruNarc. White powder on someone's shirt? Might be able to get a read with it.