Question

Case 14.1
Officer Jamison is on patrol in his typical neighborhood, when he notices a young woman standing alone near the local bank. When she sees his patrol car, she turns around and starts walking in the other direction. Officer Jamison pulls up alongside the young woman and notices that she has quite a few tattoos on her arms and is clutching a paper bag. Officer Jamison pulls over and gets out of his car, asking the woman if he could have a word with her. She stops and stares at the officer, but says nothing. When Officer Jamison asks for her identification, she begins to walk away. Officer Jamison does not recognize the woman and has a hunch that she may have drugs or other contraband in the paper bag. He then tells the young woman, "Halt. What are you doing in this neighborhood and why won"t you tell me who you are?" When she fails to comply, Jamison steps in her path and crosses his arms, saying, "Young lady, I asked you a fair question. So, will you please answer me?" At this time, she reverses course and starts to walk the other way down the open sidewalk.

Could a judge determine that stepping in front of the young woman constituted an investigative detention?
a. If the young woman believes she was not free to go.
b. Only if a reasonable person would have believed they were not free to go.
c. Only if the young woman does not have any illegal drugs in the bag.
d. If witnesses suspected the young woman possessed drugs in the bag.

Answer

This answer is hidden. It contains 68 characters.