Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Criminal Law Blogs -> Fourth Circuit Blog

Criminal Law

: Fourth Circuit Blog

Suspicionless Stop In Wake of Gunshots Violates Fourth Amendment

By Jonathan Byrne

US v. Curry: One night four Richmond police officers were patrolling a neighborhood that ?had been the site of frequent gun violence,? including six shootings (two murders) in the past six months. They heard what sounded like a ?half dozen gunshots coming from the direction of a street called Walcott Place.? They arrived at Walcott Place about 35 second later, where they spotted several people, including Curry, walking away from the scene. The officers approached these men, shining flashlights at them and demanding that they lift their shirts so the officers could check for weapons. All but Curry complied. When he didn?t, officers tried to pat him down anyway, resulting in a ?brief struggle,? after which Curry was handcuffed. Officers ?then recovered a silver revolver from the ground near Curry...continue to full post

Full post as published by Fourth Circuit Blog on July 21, 2020 (boomark / email).