California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Houston, H035636, Monterey County Super. Ct. No. SS091423 (Cal. App. 2011):
"The citizen participant in a consensual encounter may leave, refuse to answer questions or decline to act in the manner requested by the authorities. [] Where a consensual encounter has been found, police may inquire into the contents of pockets [citation]; ask for identification [citation]; or request the citizen to submit to a search [citation]. It is not the nature of the question or request made by the authorities, but rather the manner or mode in which it is put to the citizen that guides us in deciding whether compliance was voluntary or not." (People v. Franklin (1987) 192 Cal.App.3d 935, 941.) "[N]ot all personal intercourse between policemen and citizens involves 'seizures' of persons. Only when the officer, by means of physical force or show of authority, has in some way restrained the liberty of a citizen may we conclude that a 'seizure' has occurred." (Terry v. Ohio (1968) 392 U.S. 1, 19, fn. 16.) Defendant has not
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