What is a Terry Stop?

A Terry Stop refers to a brief detention of a person by law enforcement officers based on reasonable suspicion that the individual may be involved in criminal activity. This concept derives from the U.S. Supreme Court case Terry v. Ohio, which established that police can stop and question a person if they have specific and articulable facts suggesting that the person is engaged in wrongdoing, even if they do not have enough evidence to make an arrest.

During a Terry Stop, officers are allowed to conduct a limited search for weapons if they believe the individual may be armed and dangerous. The primary objective is to ensure the safety of the officers and the public while allowing for the possibility of investigating suspicious behavior without the need for a formal arrest. This legal framework balances the need for police to act on their suspicions and individuals' rights against unreasonable searches and seizures.

The other options describe different police actions that do not align with the definition of a Terry Stop. A formal arrest involves a higher standard of probable cause and results in taking an individual into custody. Collecting evidence is generally conducted through different legal processes, and interrogation refers to questioning individuals in the context of a criminal investigation.