What must an officer articulate to support reasonable suspicion?

To support reasonable suspicion, an officer must articulate specific facts that indicate a law violation may occur. Reasonable suspicion is a lower threshold than probable cause and requires that an officer observe particular behavior or circumstances that would lead a reasonable person to believe that criminal activity is afoot. This can include factors such as erratic driving, nervousness, or being in a high-crime area.

This requirement emphasizes the importance of objective observations rather than subjective impressions. While personal beliefs and feelings could influence an officer's intuition, they do not provide the concrete basis needed for reasonable suspicion. Similarly, while witness statements can be informative, they are not necessary to establish reasonable suspicion; officers can rely on their firsthand observations. A suspect's criminal history might offer context or background but does not serve as immediate, specific grounds for suspicion at a particular moment. Thus, articulating specific observable facts is fundamental to establishing the legal standard of reasonable suspicion.