Terry stop
n.— «In any event, Desjaridns said police have the right to perform what is called a “Terry” stop, named for the U.S. Supreme Court case Terry v. Ohio. In that case, an officer observed an individual loitering outside of a store, wearing long overcoat in the middle of July. The officer performed a search and determined the individual was armed. The individual was charged with attempted robbery although no robbery actually occurred.» —“When a Citizen’s Right to be Left Alone Meets an Officer’s Authority to Ask” by Sherwood Olin Lincoln County News (Newcastle, Maine) Dec. 26, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
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