Opinion ID: 2762561
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Officers’ Use of Force

Text: “[O]fficers may use force during a Terry-type detention to the extent that such steps are reasonably necessary to protect their personal safety and to maintain the status quo during the course of the stop.” United States v. Mosley, 743 F.3d 1317, 1328–29 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, 135 S. Ct. 184 (2014) (alteration in original) (internal quotation marks omitted). “Under certain circumstances, the steps officers may permissibly take to protect their safety include drawing their weapons, placing a suspect in handcuffs, or forcing a suspect to the ground.” Id. at 1329. But a greater use of force can transform an investigative detention into an arrest requiring probable cause. See United States v. Melendez-Garcia, 28 F.3d 1046, 1051 (10th Cir. 1994) (“[I]f police officers’ actions exceed what is reasonably necessary under the totality of the circumstances, the stop may only be justified by probable cause or consent.”). As we recently explained: “Determining whether the force used to effect a particular seizure is reasonable under the Fourth Amendment requires a careful balancing of the nature and quality of the intrusion on the individual’s Fourth Amendment interests against the countervailing governmental interests at stake.” This test “requires careful attention to the facts and circumstances of each case. Statements of counsel are not evidence. See Mason v. United States, 408 F.2d 903, 907 (10th Cir. 1969). -11- particular case, including the severity of the crime at issue, whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of the officers or others, and whether he is actively resisting arrest or attempting to evade arrest by flight.” Further, “[t]he ‘reasonableness’ of a particular use of force must be judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather than with the 20/20 vision of hindsight.” Moreover, “[t]he calculus of reasonableness must embody allowance for the fact that police officers are often forced to make split-second judgments—in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving—about the amount of force that is necessary in a particular situation.” Mosley, 743 F.3d at 1329 (quoting Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 396–97 (1989) (citations omitted)). Here, the decision to frisk Mr. Bong for weapons was justified. But when Officer Thatcher began the patdown, Mr. Bong resisted by attempting to back away from the car on which Officer Thatcher had ordered Mr. Bong to place his hands. Fearing Mr. Bong had another weapon, Officer Thatcher sought to maintain control of Mr. Bong’s hands. As the two struggled, Officer Thatcher used a “hip toss” to bring Mr. Bong to the ground. Aplt. Appx. at 92. While the two were on the ground, Officer Thatcher continued to hold onto Mr. Bong’s hands. Only when it appeared Mr. Bong was about to stand did Officer Thatcher kick him several times in the abdomen, thereby dislodging a black object. According to Officer Thatcher, he believed the object to be a gun and alerted Officer Springob to the danger. At that point, Officer Springob entered the fray, and the officers were able to restrain Mr. Bong. -12- Under these circumstances, we agree with the district court that the degree of force used by the officers was reasonable and justified.5 Accordingly, we affirm the denial of Mr. Bong’s motion to suppress.