Document: 469 U.S. 221 105 S.Ct. 675 83 L.Ed.2d 604 UNITED STATES, Petitioner,v.Thomas J. HENSLEY. No. 83-1330. Argued Nov. 5, 1984. Decided Jan. 8, 1985. Syllabus Following an armed robbery in the Cincinnati suburb of St. Bernard, Ohio, a Bernard police officer, on basis information obtained from informant that respondent had driven getaway car during robbery, issued "wanted flyer" to other departments area. The flyer stated was wanted for investigation described him and date location asked pick up hold police. Subsequently, after inquiring without success as whether warrant outstanding respondent's arrest, officers Covington, Ky., another suburb, stopped automobile seen driving. One recognized passenger convicted felon and, upon observing revolver butt protruding underneath passenger's seat, arrested passenger. After search uncovered handguns, also arrested. Respondent then indicted federal charge being possession firearms. moved suppress handguns evidence grounds Covington violation Fourth Amendment principles announced Terry v. 392 1, 88 1868, 20 889. Federal District Court denied motion, he convicted. Appeals reversed, holding stop improper because crime investigated not imminent or ongoing, but rather already completed, insufficient create reasonable suspicion committed crime, therefore his conviction rested through illegal arrest. Held: 1. Where have been unable locate person suspected involvement past ability briefly person, ask questions, check identification absence probable cause promotes strong government interest solving crimes bringing offenders justice. Restraining action until is would only hinder might enable suspect flee remain at large. law enforcement interests stake these circumstances outweigh individual's be free detention no more extensive than permissible ongoing crimes. When suspicion, grounded specific articulable facts, they encounter involved connection with completed felony, may made investigate suspicion. Pp. 227-229. 2. If has facts supporting offense, reliance justifies identification, pose detain while attempting obtain further information. It objective reading determines department one can defensibly act it. Assuming make flyer, course admissible if who possessed justifying stop, occurred significantly intrusive permitted issuing department. 229-233. 3. Under above principles, investigatory under Amendment, discovered admissible. justification did evaporate when completed. reasonably felony large time arose by A brief earliest opportunity fully consistent principles. police, objectively read supported part department, justified length intrusiveness occurred. And it irrelevant intended long enough confirm existence warrant, longer period. 233-236. 713 F.2d 220 (CA 6 1983), reversed remanded. Kathryn A. Oberly, Washington, D.C., petitioner. Edward G. Drennen, II, Florence, respondent. Justice O'CONNOR delivered opinion Court. 1 We granted certiorari this case, 467 1203, 104 2383, 81 342 (1984), determine subject attempt find out arrest issued. conclude such stops are appropriate circumstances. 2 * On December 4, 1981, two men robbed tavern Ohio. Six days later, Kenneth Davis, interviewed passed along Thomas Hensley robbery. Officer Davis written statement immediately metropolitan 3 twice aggravated both alleged event were located. warned use caution consider dangerous. 4 Police Department's received teletype headquarters Department 10, 1981. Kentucky approximately five miles Bernard. aloud each change shift between 10 16, Some acquainted Hensley, periodically looked places known frequent. 5 Terence Eger saw white Cadillac convertible middle street. driver's seat move on. As drove away, inquired radio there Hensley's Before dispatcher could answer, separate cars patrol interrupted say Ohio Hensley. officers, Daniel Cope David Rassache, subsequently testified heard several occasions, recalled sought only, their experience issuance usually followed warrant. While checked see issued, Holman Street address where occasionally stayed, Rassache went second location. difficulty confirming Unable she called mistaken belief originated Cincinnati. transferred call its records which placed hold. In meantime, reported sighted approaching Street. turned flashing lights pulled over curb. left car, advised "Cincinnati hunting warrant," App. 49, yet confirmed approached service drawn pointed into air. He seated next step car. 7 Moments arrived passenger, Albert Green, felon. stepped open door observed seat. Green handgun wrapped jacket front third bag back discovery weapons, 8 state charges against dismissed, grand jury Eastern firearms 18 U.S.C.App. § 1202(a)(1). impermissibly 889 (1968). Judge held proper motion. bench trial sentenced years prison. 9 United States Sixth Circuit conviction. (1983). panel noted justifiably arrest; nor attempted fact Reviewing Court's decisions applying Terry, concluded investigative narrow exception probable-cause requirement, manifested "clear intention restrict settings involving crimes." F.2d, 225. Since encountered almost weeks reason believe investigating crime. Because familiar led issue lacked sufficient justify stop. reversed. disagree, now reverse. II protects right people secure persons, houses, papers, effects unreasonable searches seizures. supra, subsequent cases, that, persons limited See Dunaway New York, 442 200, 207-211, 99 2248, 2253-2256, 60 824 (1979). particular, agents moving occupants criminal activity. Brignoni-Ponce, 422 873, 881, 95 2574, 2580, 45 607 (1975) (within borders, Government preventing entry aliens permits particular vehicle contains aliens). Although stopping detaining constitute seizure within meaning governmental officer's based driver passengers remaining intrusion. Delaware Prouse, 440 648, 653-655, 1391, 1395-1397, 59 660 11 prerequisites lacking: first, completed; second, engaged either analysis correct, indeed respondent, cannot stand. accordingly turn related issues department's flyer." 12 This first case we addressed our previous less cause, seized about commit e.g., committing moment Adams Williams, 407 143, 92 1921, 32 612 (1972). Noting Florida Royer, 460 491, 103 1319, 75 229 (1983), struck down particularly clearly context 13 do agree prior opinions contemplate inflexible rule precludes activity unless To extent all, suggested some withstand scrutiny. Thus Cortez, 449 411, 417, n. 2, 101 690, 695, 66 621 (1981), indicates footnote "[o]f course, officer question conduct." Place, 462 696, 2637, 77 110 decided barely month before Circuit's opinion, acknowledged authority "when reasonable, been, is, activity." Id., 702, S.Ct., 2642 (emphasis added). Michigan Summers, 452 692, 699, 7, 2587, 2592, 69 340 (1981). Indeed, Royer itself suggests certain seizures justifiable even "if crime." U.S., 498, 1324 (plurality opinion) 14 At least, dicta suggest automatically shorn merely escaped scene. precise limits difficult define. way identify apply same test used bounds intrusions investigations That test, standard reasonableness embodied balances nature quality intrusion personal security importance 703, 2642; 698-701, 2592-2594. balancing applied crimes, think need always required. 15 factors balance somewhat different conduct. situations differ. general present "that effective prevention detection." 22, 1880. does necessarily promote directly Similarly, exigent require pressing afterwards. Public safety threatened appears going lawful business currently process violating law. Finally, making wider range choose Brown Texas, 443 47, 51, 2640, 61 357 (1979); ALI Model Code Pre-Arraignment Procedure (Prop.Off. Draft 1972). 16 Despite differences, investigation, interim Particularly felonies threat public safety, solved detained promptly possible. 17 decide today all however serious, permitted. automatic barrier erected B indicating felony. "the permit seize simply neighboring circulated reflecting desire individual involve arresting department." apparently rests omission Ibid. 19 discussed Whiteley Warden, 401 560, 91 1031, 28 306 (1971). Whiteley, county sheriff Wyoming burglary. message statewide network describing suspect, property taken. least version indicated 564, 1035. specify gave breaking entering. message, Laramie searched Supreme Court, Harlan, ultimately excluded. so ruling, however, noted: "We not, entitled strength bulletin. Certainly aid executing warrants assume requesting offered magistrate requisite support independent judicial assessment cause. Where, contrary turns true, otherwise insulated challenge decision instigating rely fellow arrest." 568, 1037. 21 language bulletin properly defendant though unaware established Maryland, 479 566, 569 (CA5 1973). supports proposition incident bulletin, admissibility those relying themselves aware colleagues seek assistance. era suspects increasingly mobile likely across jurisdictional boundaries, matter common sense: minimizes volume concerning must transmitted jurisdictions enables jurisdiction jurisdiction. 22 Neither any why should able Faced issue, Ninth although acts required knowledge creating Robinson, 536 1298, 1300 (1976). conducted directions often swiftly, expected cross-examine foundation information." 1299. 23 argued report agency authorize distinction significant. promoted allowing bulletins flyers considerable, minimal. weigh favor permitting 229, 24 ex rel. Kirby Sturges, 510 397, 400-401 (CA7) (Stevens, J.), cert. denied, 421 1016, 2424, 44 685 (1975), questions 146, 1923, (1972) ("A suspicious individual, order identity maintain status quo momentarily obtaining information, most light time"). violates Amendment. situation, good-faith defense civil suit. Scheuer Rhodes, 416 232, 94 1683, 40 90 (1974); Pierson Ray, 386 547, 87 1213, 288 (1967); Turner Raynes, 611 92, 93 (CA5) (officer good faith invalid suit) 900, 269, 129 (1980). Cf. 21-22, 1879-1880 ("it imperative judged standard: available 'warrant man belief' taken appropriate?"). III 25 remains sets 26 outset, assume, arguendo, implied Pet. Cert. 14a. lacking, 223, regardless party contends 27 testimony informant. evidence, wealth detail revealed informant, coupled her admission tangential participation sufficiently reliable credible "to arouse [Hensley] needed underly stop." circumstances, carried indicia reliability," 147, 29 Turning satisfies today. An entire lead experienced questioning inform wished him. well period scene period; what matters flyer. 30 sure, request Instead, Our detention, headquarters, justified. Given distance communicate lengthy exceed 709, 2645. Nor mean endorse Bernard's actions forseeably violate actually 31 authorized take steps necessary protect officers' conduct Long, 463 1032, 1049-1050, 3469, 3480-3481, 1201 (1983); Pennsylvania Mimms, 434 106, 110-111, 98 330, 333-334, 54 331 (1977) (per curiam ). Having plain view Texas Brown, 730, 1535, 502 (1983) opinion), compartment immediate control. York Belton, 453 454, 2860, 768 having additional weapons search, himself brief. underlies 33 judgment remanded proceedings opinion. 34 ordered. 35 BRENNAN, concurring. 36 I join With respect effect "right . [his] perso[n]" guaranteed case—although doubt seriously infringed privacy—lasted mere moments, ante, 224-225, gun ripened full-scale For like these, (1968), "defined special category 'seizures' substantially arrests requiring replaced test." 210, 2255, 228. Such full regard serious privacy implicated relatively nonintrusive supra. Of classifiable purposes, needed. governed provided text itself.

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