Tennessee v. Garner relates to which concept?

• A. A fleeing suspect
• B. A suspect who is resisting arrest
• C. A non-threatening subject
• D. An unarmed civilian

Answer: (A)

The main concept is the limits on using deadly force in arrest scenarios, specifically with a fleeing suspect under the Fourth Amendment. Tennessee v. Garner held that deadly force may not be used to prevent the escape of a fleeing suspect unless the officer has probable cause to believe the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others. This ruling rejects the old idea that officers may always use deadly force on someone who runs, and it requires the force used to be reasonable given the danger actually posed. In practical terms, if a suspect is unarmed and not believed to be dangerous, shooting to stop the escape would be unconstitutional; if the suspect is armed or presents a real threat, deadly force may be justified to prevent escape. This case shapes how we think about use of force against fleeing suspects.