Terry V. Ohio Case Brief
Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1 (1968)
“Unreasonable search and seizures”
One of the many things learned at state police academies around the country is the “Terry pat”. What a Terry pat is, is a basic pat down of a suspects outer clothing, searching for weapons. The name came be known by a Superior Court case in the 1960’s, known as Terry v. Ohio. The case originated back in October 1963, involving John W. Terry and Richard Chilton. The two men were seen on a corner by veteran police detective, Martin McFadden, of the Cleveland Police Department, Ohio. According to the officer, the two men were acting in a suspicious way, by peering into the same store window. The two men were seen making multiple trips toward the window, when a third man came into the scenario. The officer suspected the men of “casing” the store for robbery. The officer followed the men and then stopped and questioned them. He first grabbed Terry and conducted a pat down and located a pistol on the inside of his jacket. Finding the weapon, he ordered the men into the nearby store, where a more invasive search ensued. He then removed Terry’s jacket and removed the weapon from its holster. A weapon was also found on Chilton, and both were charged with carrying concealed weapons. …show more content…
Constitution, protecting them against unreasonable search and seizures. The court rejected the defenses opinion, in that the weapons were seized due to a lawful search incident to arrest. The motion to suppress was denied because the court found that the officer had cause to believe the men were acting suspiciously, the seizer and question was warranted and the officers own right to safety had the right the pat down the suspects’ outer clothing, believing that the suspects may be
“Unreasonable search and seizures”
One of the many things learned at state police academies around the country is the “Terry pat”. What a Terry pat is, is a basic pat down of a suspects outer clothing, searching for weapons. The name came be known by a Superior Court case in the 1960’s, known as Terry v. Ohio. The case originated back in October 1963, involving John W. Terry and Richard Chilton. The two men were seen on a corner by veteran police detective, Martin McFadden, of the Cleveland Police Department, Ohio. According to the officer, the two men were acting in a suspicious way, by peering into the same store window. The two men were seen making multiple trips toward the window, when a third man came into the scenario. The officer suspected the men of “casing” the store for robbery. The officer followed the men and then stopped and questioned them. He first grabbed Terry and conducted a pat down and located a pistol on the inside of his jacket. Finding the weapon, he ordered the men into the nearby store, where a more invasive search ensued. He then removed Terry’s jacket and removed the weapon from its holster. A weapon was also found on Chilton, and both were charged with carrying concealed weapons. …show more content…
Constitution, protecting them against unreasonable search and seizures. The court rejected the defenses opinion, in that the weapons were seized due to a lawful search incident to arrest. The motion to suppress was denied because the court found that the officer had cause to believe the men were acting suspiciously, the seizer and question was warranted and the officers own right to safety had the right the pat down the suspects’ outer clothing, believing that the suspects may be