Which case supports a brief stop of a suspicious individual to determine identity or to maintain the status quo while obtaining more information?

• A. Adams v Williams
• B. United States v Chadwick
• C. Chimel v California
• D. Carroll v United States

Answer: (C)

A brief investigatory detention to determine identity or to maintain the situation while gathering more information rests on the stop-and-frisk concept. The police may briefly detain a person when they have reasonable suspicion that criminal activity is afoot, and during that short detention they can ask questions and, if there’s a real threat of danger, conduct a limited frisk for weapons. This approach directly supports keeping the status quo and learning more before deciding on further action.

The case that best illustrates this practice is Adams v. Williams. In that decision, the Supreme Court allowed a brief stop and a limited frisk based on credible information and suspicious behavior, so the officer could determine identity and assess safety while obtaining more information. This outcome fits Terry v. Ohio’s framework, which permits such a temporary detention when the facts give rise to reasonable suspicion.

This principle is distinct from other cases listed. Chimel v. California addresses searches conducted after a lawful arrest and limits the search to areas within the arrestee’s immediate reach, not a brief preventive stop. Carroll v. United States concerns the automobile exception—searches of vehicles with probable cause due to their mobility. United States v. Chadwick deals with the seizure of a container and when a warrant is required to search its contents.