Any person, including a police officer, may be found guilty of criminal contempt if an information and summons is disposed of in:

• A. Authorized circumstances
• B. A timely manner
• C. An unauthorized manner
• D. A proper legal venue

Answer: (C)

The correct answer is based on the understanding of what constitutes criminal contempt in relation to legal procedures. Criminal contempt occurs when there is a disregard of the court's authority, rules, or orders. In this context, when an information and summons is disposed of in an unauthorized manner, it implies that the process was not carried out according to established legal protocols or guidelines.

If a police officer or any individual mishandles this process, it undermines the legal system and can disrupt the enforcement of the law. Therefore, acting outside the authorized procedures can lead to criminal contempt charges, as it signifies a failure to respect the judicial process.

The other options do not capture the essence of actions that lead to criminal contempt as effectively. Authorized circumstances, timely manner, and proper legal venue focus on adherence to correct procedures rather than indicating breaches in protocol. Hence, it's the unauthorized handling that directly relates to the offense of criminal contempt.