
Can police officers stop and frisk me?
Yes, if the officer has reasonable suspicion to do so. Stop and frisks, otherwise known as Terry stops (after the Supreme Court case in which they were created) allows police officers to stop and frisk suspects to ensure their own safety. Although police officer are not allowed to makeTerry stops specifically to seize evidence, in certain circumstances, illegal contraband obtained during such stops will be admissible in court. For instance, if police had reasonable suspicion to stop and frisk someone, but had no reason to believe they were armed, then evidence is not admissible; however, if police had reasonable suspicion and reason to believe that the suspect was armed, and the evidence was something that, based on its plain feel, could immediately be determined to be a weapon or contraband, the evidence is admissible.