Can Police Help EMS Force an Overly Intoxicated Person to the ER?
This is an interesting question. An officer in Tennessee asked, “We responded to assist EMS on a medical call, and now EMS is forcing a subject to go to the hospital against their will. They’ve asked for police help to escort the subject to the ambulance, which may require force because the subject is refusing […]
Can Police Search a Shoplifters Purse for Evidence Without a Formal Arrest?
This question comes from an officer in Colorado: “Can police search a shoplifting suspect’s purse for evidence without making an arrest?” The answer is yes—not just in Colorado, but likely in most jurisdictions. Let’s break it down. General Rule: If you have probable cause that someone has committed a crime, you can search them for […]
Purses, Bags and Backpacks
This question is: Can you look inside a woman’s purse, or a man’s backpack during a pat down? The answer is, “Maybe.” Here’s how this works. We know that patdowns are an overall minimally intrusive way to protect yourself from weapons and blunt objects during a Terry stop. And, if you have reason to believe […]
Unconscious Person ID
Can you search an unconscious person’s property for their ID? Generally, we cannot search people for identification if they’re only being detained. They do have to identify themselves. They don’t have to physically provide an ID, but if they fail to identify, then that has legal consequences. Searching them for their ID is a different […]