A police officer saw two men walking back and forth in front of a store and pausing to stare in the store window. He later saw a third man join them. The officer then approached them, identified himself, and asked their names. They mumbled something, at which point the officer frisked one of the suspects and felt a weapon. He later removed the weapon. He also found a weapon on a second suspect. Both were charged with carrying a concealed weapon. They moved to suppress the evidence. The Court held that the Fourth Amendment does apply to stop and frisk procedures such as those followed in this case. However, where a reasonably prudent officer is warranted in believing that his safety or that of others is endangered, he may make a reasonable search for weapons. In this case, the officer's original stop was good. He had reason to think that they were contemplating a daylight robbery and were armed. He had the right to stop and investigate and to do a pat down for weapons.
1. Summarize the Court's decision in the Terry case.
2. When may an officer make a reasonable search for weapons?