Uniformed officers are driving a marked car into an area known for heavy drug trafficking, intending to investigate drug activity and anticipating encountering drug customers and lookouts. One officer sees the suspect standing next to a building and holding an opaque bag. The suspect looks in the direction of the officers and flees. The officers turn their car, watch the suspect run through an alley, and eventually corner him on the street. One officer leaves the car, stops the defendant, and conducts a frisk of the defendant, discovering a concealed handgun.
-Which of the following statements is true regarding the legality of the "stop and frisk"?

Question

Uniformed officers are driving a marked car into an area known for heavy drug trafficking, intending to investigate drug activity and anticipating encountering drug customers and lookouts.  One officer sees the suspect standing next to a building and holding an opaque bag.  The suspect looks in the direction of the officers and flees.  The officers turn their car, watch the suspect run through an alley, and eventually corner him on the street.  One officer leaves the car, stops the defendant, and conducts a frisk of the defendant, discovering a concealed handgun.
-Which of the following statements is true regarding the legality of the "stop and frisk"?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The statement "A brief investigative stop can be justified by the circumstances" is true regarding the legality of stop and frisk. This allows law enforcement officers to briefly detain an individual if they have reasonable suspicion that the person may have been involved in criminal activity, and to conduct a limited search for weapons. The legality does not depend on the finding of any drugs or other contraband.

Uniformed Officers Are Driving a Marked Car into an Area