california hodari argued january decided april group youths including respondent hodari fled approach unmarked police car oakland california street officer pertoso wearing jacket police embossed front left car give chase pertoso follow hodari directly took circuitous route brought two face face parallel street hodari however looking behind ran turn see pertoso officer almost upon whereupon hodari tossed away small rock pertoso tackled police recovered rock proved crack cocaine juvenile proceeding hodari denied motion suppress evidence relating cocaine state appeal reversed holding hodari seized saw pertoso running towards seizure unreasonable fourth amendment state conceded pertoso reasonable suspicion required justify stopping hodari therefore evidence cocaine suppressed fruit illegal seizure held issue presented whether time dropped drugs hodari seized within meaning fourth amendment must answered negative answer question looks common law arrest constitute seizure person constitute arrest quintessential seizure person fourth amendment jurisprudence must either application physical force however slight absent submission officer show authority restrain subject liberty physical force applied case since hodari untouched pertoso dropped drugs moreover assuming pertoso pursuit constituted show authority enjoining hodari halt hodari comply injunction therefore seized tackled thus cocaine abandoned running fruit seizure cf brower inyo county nester motion exclude evidence properly denied mendenhall opinion stewart progeny distinguished pp reversed remanded scalia delivered opinion rehnquist joined white blackmun kennedy souter joined stevens filed dissenting opinion marshall joined post ronald niver deputy attorney general california argued cause petitioner briefs john van de kamp attorney general richard iglehart chief assistant attorney general john sugiyama senior assistant attorney general clifford thompson morris beatus deputy attorneys general clifford sloan argued cause amicus curiae urging reversal brief solicitor general starr assistant attorney general mueller deputy solicitor general bryson paul larkin james lozenski appointment argued cause respondent brief bradley briefs amici curiae urging reversal filed criminal justice legal foundation kent scheidegger charles hobson wayne county prosecuting attorney john pro se timothy baughman briefs amici curiae urging affirmance filed california attorneys criminal justice paul gabbert national association criminal defense lawyers paul morris briefs amici curiae filed appellate committee california district attorneys association ira reiner harry sondheim marvin cahn pro se justice scalia delivered opinion late one evening april officers brian mccolgin jerry pertoso patrol area oakland california dressed street clothes wearing jackets police embossed front back unmarked car proceeded west foothill boulevard turned south onto avenue rounded corner saw four five youths huddled around small red car parked curb youths saw officers car approaching apparently panicked took flight respondent hodari one companion ran west alley others fled south red car also headed south high rate speed officers suspicious gave chase mccolgin remained car continued south avenue pertoso left car ran back north along west foothill boulevard turned south avenue hodari meanwhile emerged alley onto ran north looking behind ran turn see pertoso officer almost upon whereupon tossed away appeared small rock moment later pertoso tackled hodari handcuffed radioed assistance hodari found carrying cash pager rock discarded found crack cocaine juvenile proceeding brought hodari moved suppress evidence relating cocaine denied motion without opinion california appeal reversed holding hodari seized saw officer pertoso running towards seizure unreasonable fourth amendment evidence cocaine suppressed fruit illegal seizure california denied state application review granted certiorari case comes us issue presented whether time dropped drugs hodari seized within meaning fourth amendment respondent argues drugs fruit seizure evidence concerning properly excluded drugs abandoned hodari lawfully recovered police evidence admitted addition course pertoso seeing rock cocaine least recognized provide reasonable suspicion unquestioned seizure occurred tackled hodari cf rios long understood fourth amendment protection unreasonable seizures includes seizure person see henry time founding present word seizure meant taking possession webster american dictionary english language bouvier law dictionary ed webster third new international dictionary purposes common law word connoted merely grasping applying physical force animate inanimate object question actually bringing within physical control ship still fleeing even though attack considered seized war prize cf josefa segunda wheat res capable manual delivery seized tak en custody pelham rose wall constitute arrest however quintessential seizure person fourth amendment jurisprudence mere grasping application physical force lawful authority whether succeeded subduing arrestee sufficient see whitehead keyes mass officer effects arrest person authority arrest laying hand purpose arresting though may succeed stopping holding restatement torts comment one commentator described constructive detention constitute arrest although party never actually brought within physical control party making arrest accomplished merely touching however slightly body accused party making arrest purpose although succeed stopping holding even instant bailiff tried arrest one fought fork said bailiff touched arrest cornelius search seizure ed omitted language fourth amendment course sustain respondent contention word seizure readily bears meaning laying hands application physical force restrain movement even ultimately unsuccessful seized broke grasp remotely apply however prospect policeman yelling stop name law fleeing form continues flee seizure result respondent wishes achieve produced indirectly suggesting pertoso show authority arrest appealing principle arrests seizures arrest requires either physical force described absent submission assertion authority mere words constitute arrest hand actual physical touching essential apparent inconsistency two parts statement explained fact assertion authority purpose arrest followed submission arrestee constitutes arrest arrest without either touching submission perkins law arrest iowa footnotes omitted respondent contends position sustained mendenhall test formulated justice stewart opinion mendenhall adopted later cases see michigan chesternut ins delgado person seized within meaning fourth amendment view circumstances surrounding incident reasonable person believed free leave see also florida royer opinion white seeking rely upon test respondent fails read carefully says person seized seized whenever necessary sufficient condition seizure precisely seizure effected show authority mendenhall establishes test existence show authority objective one whether citizen perceived ordered restrict movement whether officer words actions conveyed reasonable person application objective test basis decision case principally relied upon respondent chesternut supra concluded police cruiser slow following defendant convey message free disregard police go business address chesternut however question whether mendenhall test met message defendant free leave conveyed fourth amendment seizure occurred see kennedy concurring quite relevant present case however decision brower inyo county case police cars flashing lights chased decedent miles surely adequate show authority stop fatal crash blockade issue whether death held consequence unreasonable seizure violation fourth amendment even consider possibility seizure occurred course chase explained show authority produce stop discussed opinion justice holmes involving situation much different present case revenue agents picked containers dropped moonshiners pursuing without adequate warrant containers excluded product unlawful seizure defendant acts associates disclosed jug jar bottle seizure sense law officers examined contents abandoned nester true sum assuming pertoso pursuit present case constituted show authority enjoining hodari halt since hodari comply injunction seized tackled cocaine abandoned running case fruit seizure motion exclude evidence properly denied reverse decision california appeal remand proceedings inconsistent opinion ordered footnotes simple reason involves neither post arcane knowledge legal history irrelevant english law proscribed unlawful attempt take presumptively innocent person custody post consulted common law explain meaning seizure contrary dissent portrayal expand rather contract meaning since one normally think mere touching person suffice neither usage common law tradition makes attempted seizure seizure common law may made attempted seizure unlawful certain circumstances made many things unlawful elevated constitutional proscriptions ever done dissent wrong saying terry ohio broadened range encounters encompassed within term seizure post terry unquestionably involved conduct constitute seizure novelty expanding acceptable justification seizure beyond probable cause dissent correct katz unequivocally reject notion common law arrest defines limits term seizure fourth amendment post assert defines limits term seizure defines limits seizure person katz stands proposition items subject seizure common law telephone conversations seized fourth amendment quite different saying constitutes arrest seizure person changed justice stevens justice marshall joins dissenting narrow construction word seizure represents significant view unfortunate departure prior case law construing fourth amendment almost quarter century ago two landmark cases one broadening protection individual privacy broadening powers law enforcement officers rejected method fourth amendment analysis today majority endorses particular adopts definition seizure unfaithful long line fourth amendment cases even defining seizure first time definition chooses today profoundly unwise decision assumes without acknowledging police officer may fire weapon innocent citizen implicate fourth amendment long misses target purposes decision following propositions dispute first officer pertoso began pursuit respondent officer lawful basis either stopping arresting respondent see app ante second officer chase amounted show force soon respondent saw officer nearly upon see ante third act discarding rock cocaine direct consequence show force see pet cert fourth correctly demonstrates common law arrest occurred officer tackled respondent see ante thus quite right concluding abandonment rock fruit common law arrest equally clear however officer succeeded touching respondent dropped rock even subdue arrest occurred see ante event assuming touching precipitated abandonment evidence fruit unlawful common law arrest distinction actual case hypothetical case distinction common law torts assault battery touching converts former latter although distinction assault battery important pleading purposes see chitty pleading distinction take constitutional dimensions mistakenly allows common law distinction define interpretation fourth amendment time fails recognize existence another telling distinction distinction arrest attempted arrest teaches us distinction battery assault critical correct understanding common law arrest see ante arrest requires either physical force absent submission assertion authority however facts case describe actual arrest rather unlawful attempt take presumptively innocent person custody attempt unlawful common law thus wants define scope fourth amendment based common law look common law arrest common law attempted arrest according facts case first question whether common law define scope outer boundaries constitutional protection unreasonable seizures even contrary settled precedent traditional common law analysis controlling still necessary decide whether unlawful attempt make arrest considered seizure within meaning fourth amendment whether exclusionary rule apply unlawful attempts today takes narrow view seizure odds broader view adopted almost years ago katz considered whether electronic surveillance conducted without trespass without seizure material object fell outside ambit constitution justice black powerful dissent rejected narrow view fourth amendment held electronic eavesdropping search seizure within meaning amendment thus endorsed position expounded two dissenting justices olmstead time giving effect principle underlying fourth amendment refused place unduly literal construction upon brandeis dissenting direct operation literal meaning words used measure purpose scope provisions principles established applied fourth amendment safeguards evils like equivalent embraced within ordinary meaning words butler dissenting thus although closely divided supposed olmstead surveillance without trespass without seizure material object fell outside ambit constitution since departed narrow view decision rested indeed expressly held fourth amendment governs seizure tangible items extends well recording oral statements overheard without technical trespass local property law silverman much acknowledged recognized fourth amendment protects people simply areas unreasonable searches seizures becomes clear reach amendment turn upon presence absence physical intrusion given enclosure conclude underpinnings olmstead goldman eroded subsequent decisions trespass doctrine enunciated longer regarded controlling government activities electronically listening recording petitioner words violated privacy upon justifiably relied using telephone booth thus constituted search seizure within meaning fourth amendment fact electronic device employed achieve end happen penetrate wall booth constitutional significance question remaining decision whether search seizure conducted case complied constitutional standards justice black reasoning rejected remarkably similar reasoning adopted today criticizing judges justice black wrote deny common sense requires often said bill rights safeguards given liberal construction principle however justify construing search seizure amendment applying eavesdropping seizure conversations since see way words fourth amendment construed apply eavesdropping closes matter interpreting bill rights willingly go far liberal construction language takes simply good conscience give meaning words never thought certainly common ordinary usage distort words amendment order keep constitution date bring harmony times never meant power effect make us continuously functioning constitutional convention first task establish point encounter fourth amendment becomes relevant must decide whether officer mcfadden seized terry whether conducted search suggestion use terms stop frisk police conduct outside purview fourth amendment neither action rises level search seizure within meaning constitution emphatically reject notion quite plain fourth amendment governs seizures person eventuate trip station house prosecution crime arrests traditional terminology must recognized whenever police officer accosts individual restrains freedom walk away seized person omitted distinctions classical theory thus serve divert attention central inquiry fourth amendment reasonableness circumstances particular governmental invasion citizen personal security search seizure talismans therefore reject notions fourth amendment come play limitation upon police conduct officers stop short something called technical arrest search ii fares better tries explain proper definition term seizure open question today terry addition stating seizure occurs whenever police officer accosts individual restrains freedom walk away noted seizure occurs officer means physical force show authority way restrained liberty citizen touchstone seizure restraint individual personal liberty way ibid emphasis added today reaction respondent reliance terry demonstrate show force cases common law arrest occurs unless arrestee submits see ante answer however plainly insufficient given holding terry fourth amendment applies stops need justified probable cause absence arrest mendenhall adhere view person seized means physical force show authority freedom movement restrained looked whether citizen questioned remains free disregard questions walk away able intrusion upon person liberty privacy require particularized objective justification constitution test seizure formulated mendenhall whether view circumstances surrounding incident reasonable person believed free leave ibid examples seizures include threatening presence several officers display weapon officer physical touching person citizen use language tone voice indicating compliance officer request might compelled ibid unwillingness today adhere reasonable person standard formulated justice stewart mendenhall marks unnecessary departure fourth amendment case law today draws novel conclusion even though seizure occur unless mendenhall reasonable person standard met see ante fact standard met necessarily mean seizure occurred see ibid mendenhall necessary sufficient condition seizure effected show authority true seizure requires whether reasonable person felt free leave following passage opinion ins delgado best seriously misleading noted elsewhere obviously personal intercourse policemen citizens involves seizures persons officer means physical force show authority restrained liberty citizen may conclude seizure occurred terry ohio supra applying test relatively straightforward situation resembling traditional arrest see dunaway new york protection unreasonable seizures also extends seizures involve brief detention short traditional arrest evolved cases determination initially consensual encounter police officer citizen transformed seizure detention within meaning fourth amendment view circumstances surrounding incident reasonable person believed free leave mendenhall supra omitted see florida royer plurality opinion even though momentary seizure occurs whenever objective evaluation police officer show force conveys message citizen entirely free leave words liberty restrained significant way understood mendenhall definition necessary sufficient describe fourth amendment seizure evident passage opinion jacobsen seizure property occurs meaningful interference individual possessory interests see place brennan concurring result texas brown stevens concurring judgment see also chadwick hale henkel concept seizure property much discussed cases definition follows definition seizure person within meaning fourth amendment meaningful interference however brief individual freedom movement see michigan summers reid georgia per curiam mendenhall opinion stewart brown texas cupp murphy davis mississippi terry ohio finally noteworthy michigan chesternut state asked us repudiate reasonable person standard developed terry mendenhall delgado royer decided however adhere traditional contextual approach opinion described justice stewart analysis mendenhall test applied determining whether person seized within meaning fourth amendment noted since embraced test ibid moreover commenting virtues test explained focused police officer conduct test objective standard looking reasonable man interpretation conduct question allows police determine advance whether conduct contemplated implicate fourth amendment free leave concept words nothing particular suspect choice flee rather submit assessment probability successful flight otherwise police encouraged utilize threatening sufficiently slow chase technique whenever lack even reasonable suspicion needed terry stop lafave search seizure ed supp danger logic proceeds upon distinctions stop arrest seizure person frisk search twofold seeks isolate constitutional scrutiny initial stages contact policeman citizen suggesting rigid model justification regulation amendment obscures utility limitations upon scope well initiation police action means constitutional regulation terry ohio iii case officer show force taking form chase adequately conveyed message respondent free leave whereas mendenhall nothing record sugges respondent objective reason believe free end conversation concourse proceed way respondent attempted end conversation began soon found literally free leave confronted officer running toward eventually tackled ground interval time moment respondent saw officer fast approaching moment tackled thus brought control officer question whether fourth amendment implicated earlier later moment facts case somewhat unusual appropriate note issue arise show force took form command freeze warning shot sound sirens accompanied patrol car flashing lights situations may significant time interval initiation officer show force complete submission citizen least facts case concludes timing seizure governed citizen reaction rather officer conduct see ante one consequence conclusion point interaction citizen police officer becomes seizure occurs reasonable citizen believes longer free go rather officer exercises control citizen view interests effective law enforcement personal liberty better served adhering standard allows police determine advance whether conduct contemplated implicate fourth amendment chesternut range possible responses police show force multitude problems may arise determining whether moment submission create uncertainty generate litigation cases course immediately apparent moment suspect submitted officer show force example victim killed officer gunshot tennessee garner police officer may seize unarmed nondangerous suspect shooting dead hidden roadblock brower inyo county submission unquestionably complete example william james caldwell brower wounded apprehended correct say seizure occurred therefore fourth amendment implicated even pursuing officer justification whatsoever initiating chase opinion brower suggests officer responsibility depend character victim evasive action wrote brower independent decision continue chase eliminate respondents responsibility termination movement effected roadblock garner independent decision flee eliminated memphis police officer responsibility termination movement effected bullet officer effects arrest touching citizen apparently accept fact seizure occurred even arrestee thereafter break loose flee case constitutionality seizure evaluated time officer acted category seizures analyzed way searches namely police action justified took place anomalous best fashion different rule subcategory show force arrests cases within new subcategory period time citizen liberty restrained yet completely submitted show force motorist pulled highway patrol car come immediate stop even motorist intends obey patrol car signal officer decides make kind random stop forbidden delaware prouse flashing lights vehicle comes complete stop sees license plate expired justify action ground seizure became lawful initiated completed airport setting may drug enforcement agent approach group passengers gun drawn announce baggage search rely passengers reactions justify investigative stops holding today majority fails recognize coercive intimidating nature behavior creates rule may allow behavior go unchecked deterrent purposes exclusionary rule focus conduct law enforcement officers discouraging improper behavior part reaction citizen show force present case officer pertoso succeeded tackling respondent dropped rock cocaine rock unquestionably excluded fruit officer unlawful seizure instead analysis exclusionary rule application attempt make unconstitutional seizure beyond coverage fourth amendment matter outrageous unreasonable officer conduct may early know consequences holding carried logical conclusion encourage unlawful displays force frighten countless innocent citizens surrendering whatever privacy rights may still soon however note irony fact justification result analysis rules common law arrest antedated decisions katz terry yet even days common law provided citizen protection attempt make unlawful arrest see nn supra central message katz terry protection fourth amendment provides average citizen rigidly confined ancient common law precept message today majority conveys common law rather understanding fourth amendment developed last quarter century defines limits scope seizure today defines seizure commencing egregious police conduct rather submission citizen thus delays point fourth amendment becomes relevant encounter limits range encounters come heading seizure today qualification fourth amendment means innocent citizens may remain secure persons unreasonable searches seizures discretion police sacrifice freedom always accompanies expansion executive unreviewable law enforcement powers sensitive purposes fourth amendment insist greater rewards society decreeing sacrifice makes today alexander bickel presciently wrote many actions government two aspects immediate necessarily intended practical effects perhaps unintended unappreciated bearing values hold general permanent interest immediate concern containing criminal activity poses substantial though unintended threat values fundamental enduring respectfully dissent fourth amendment constitution protects right people secure persons houses papers effects unreasonable searches seizures katz terry ohio gratuitous quotation proverbs see ante mistakenly assumes innocent residents reason fear sudden approach strangers previously considered rejected analysis real world fails describe experience many residents particularly members minority see generally johnson race decision detain suspect yale long matter common knowledge men entirely innocent sometimes fly scene crime fear apprehended guilty parties unwillingness appear witnesses true accepted axiom criminal law wicked flee man pursueth righteous bold lion alberty officer pronounces words arrest without actual touching immediately runs away escape technical sense arrest otherwise officer touched arrestee purpose apprehending touching manifested purpose arrest one lawful authority completes apprehension although succeed stopping holding even instant perkins law arrest iowa footnotes omitted one undertakes make arrest without lawful authority attempts unlawful manner guilty assault ordered submit asserted authority guilty battery lays hands unlawful purpose footnotes omitted ven without touching officer may subject liability undertakes make arrest without privileged law example officer might guilty assault attempted arrest without privilege even succeed touching furthermore submitted arrest without physical contact officer liable false imprisonment gold bissell wend recently held fourth amendment protects people places katz wherever individual may harbor reasonable expectation privacy justice harlan concurring entitled free unreasonable governmental intrusion course specific content incidents right must shaped context asserted constitution forbids searches seizures unreasonable searches seizures elkins terry ohio hester case majority largely relies decided years terry case defendant even argue seizure person holding hester abandoned moonshine whiskey seized simply address question whether fruit constitutional violation seizure person whiskey abandoned applied principle brown texas recognized circumstances officer may detain suspect briefly questioning although probable cause believe suspect involved criminal activity required traditional arrest however required officers reasonable suspicion based objective facts individual involved criminal activity citations omitted noteworthy relied heavily cases commentary antedated katz terry essential teaching decision terry individual right personal security freedom must respected even encounters police fall short full arrest consistently reaffirmed ins delgado brennan concurring part dissenting part petitioner argues fourth amendment never implicated individual stops response police show authority thus petitioner us rule lack objective particularized suspicion poison police conduct matter coercive long police succeed actually apprehending individual michigan chesternut california appeal noted case involves pursuit officer pertoso pursue respondent ran fashion cut confront head rationale chesternut action reasonably perceived intrusion upon one freedom movement maneuver intended block otherwise control direction speed one movement app pet cert determine constitutionality seizure must balance nature quality intrusion individual fourth amendment interests importance governmental interests alleged justify intrusion tennessee garner citation omitted even common law officer shoots arrestee privileged guilty aggravated assault death results arrest attempted arrest authorized arrester guilty manslaughter extreme cases murder perkins iowa tennessee garner even dissent agreed majority police officer shot fleeing suspect seized suspect shooting dissenting purpose fourth amendment prevent arbitrary oppressive interference enforcement officials privacy personal security individuals ins delgado quoting see mendenhall terry ohio ever since inception rule excluding evidence seized violation fourth amendment recognized principal mode discouraging lawless police conduct lafave search seizure pp ed incriminating admissions attempts dispose incriminating evidence common predictable consequences illegal arrests searches thus admit evidence encourage fourth amendment violations future cases justice brandeis wrote eloquently overarching purpose fourth amendment makers constitution sought protect americans beliefs thoughts emotions sensations conferred government right let alone comprehensive rights right valued civilized men protect right every unjustifiable intrusion government upon privacy individual whatever means employed must deemed violation fourth amendment olmstead brandeis dissenting today opinion lost sight purposes terry ohio justice jackson presaged development wrote illegal search seizure usually single incident perpetrated surprise conducted haste kept purposely beyond supervision limited judgment moderation officers whose interests records often stake search citizen choice quietly submit whatever officers undertake resist risk arrest immediate violence brinegar jackson dissenting right secure searches seizures one difficult protect since officers chief invaders enforcement outside may convinced many unlawful searches homes automobiles innocent people turn nothing incriminating arrest made courts nothing never hear jackson dissenting least dangerous branch