TCOLE Arrest, Search, and Seizure 3

Question 1

Under the 'knock and announce' rule in Texas, officers must announce their presence before entry UNLESS:

Accepted Answer

Exigent circumstances exist such as danger to life or likely destruction of evidence

Answer

Texas CCP Art. 15.25 and federal precedent allow officers to dispense with knock-and-announce when exigent circumstances, such as risk of violence or evidence destruction, exist.

Question 2

A consensual encounter between a police officer and a citizen becomes a Fourth Amendment seizure when:

Accepted Answer

A reasonable person would not feel free to decline the officer's requests or terminate the encounter

Answer

Florida v. Bostick established that a seizure occurs when, considering all circumstances, a reasonable person would not feel free to leave or refuse the officer's requests.

Question 3

When executing a search warrant, officers may detain occupants present at the scene primarily because:

Accepted Answer

Detention prevents flight, minimizes risk to officers, and facilitates orderly execution of the warrant

Answer

Michigan v. Summers held that the substantial interests in preventing flight, officer safety, and orderly search execution justify detaining occupants during a search.

Question 4

The 'Terry stop' standard requires an officer to have at minimum:

Accepted Answer

Reasonable articulable suspicion of criminal activity

Answer

Terry v. Ohio held that a brief investigative stop is constitutionally permissible when an officer has reasonable articulable suspicion of criminal activity.

Question 5

Which of the following does NOT establish exigent circumstances justifying a warrantless entry in Texas?

Accepted Answer

An anonymous tip with no corroboration alleging a noise violation

Answer

An uncorroborated anonymous tip about a minor violation lacks the reliability and urgency needed to constitute exigent circumstances for warrantless entry.

TCOLE - Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Practice Test

TCOLE - Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Practice Test

TCOLE Arrest, Search, and Seizure 3