Opinion ID: 2972527
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Frisk of the Plaintiffs

Text: The plaintiffs’ claim under the Fourth Amendment in this incident is similar to their claim in Incident # 1. Here, the facts indicate that the officers received a call regarding four bicycle riders riding double, looking into garages, and acting suspicious. The officers observed the youths riding double, a violation of state law, and therefore lawfully stopped the plaintiffs. See Mich. Comp. Laws 257.658(1)-(2). Thus, the district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of the officers with regard to the initial lawfulness of the stop is affirmed. The plaintiffs further allege, however, that the even if there was a proper basis for the initial stop, as we have held there was, the detention, frisk, and confiscation of the bikes was unreasonably intrusive and not reasonably related to the scope of the initial detention and therefore a violation of the Fourth Amendment. We agree that the frisk and seizure of the bikes was unreasonable, but the length of the detention was not, and therefore reverse the district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of the officers and remand for further proceedings consistent with this holding. The facts, as alleged by the plaintiffs, make out a recoverable Fourth Amendment claim. During this stop, the officers conducted pat-down searches of the plaintiffs, and again, their only justification is a conclusory reference to “officer safety.” The officers have not, however, alleged No. 03-2204 Bennett, et al. v. City of Eastpointe, et al. Page 10 any facts that would create a reasonable suspicion that the plaintiffs were armed and dangerous. Therefore, the pat-down searches violated the Fourth Amendment. Terry, 392 U.S. at 27. The mere fact that an officer has the authority to arrest an individual does not, and never has, automatically permitted the officer to conduct a pat-down search should he choose not to effectuate the arrest. Knowles, 525 U.S. at 117-19. For an officer to conduct a search incident to arrest, there must be an actual arrest. Otherwise, unless the officer points to specific facts that demonstrate reasonable suspicion that the individual is armed and dangerous, the Fourth Amendment tolerates no frisk. Id.