If an officer has reasonable suspicion that a person is armed, what action may the officer take?

When an officer has reasonable suspicion that a person is armed, the officer is permitted to conduct a pat down of the outer layer of clothing. This action is rooted in the legal standard established by the U.S. Supreme Court in Terry v. Ohio, which allows officers to perform a limited search for weapons when they have a reasonable belief that the individual may be armed and dangerous. The primary purpose of this "stop and frisk" procedure is to ensure the safety of the officer and others in the vicinity by checking for any immediate threats.

A pat-down is not a search for evidence of a crime but rather a protective measure. The officer can only feel for weapons and cannot search for other items or contraband unless the search reveals something that gives the officer probable cause for further investigation. This limited authority is essential to balance the officer's need to protect themselves and ensure public safety with the individual's rights against unreasonable searches.

The other options involve actions that either exceed the officer’s authority without sufficient justification, such as making an arrest or aggressively questioning without probable cause, or conducting a more invasive search of belongings that goes beyond what is permissible in the context of reasonable suspicion alone.