Commonwealth v. Jefferson

OPINION BY BECK, J.:

¶ 1 The question we address is whether a police officer’s observation of an individual in a high crime area, coupled with that individual’s prompt flight upon observing the officer, combine to establish reasonable suspicion that criminal activity is afoot, thereby permitting a Terry1 stop. Based on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s recent decision in In the Interest of D.M., 566 Pa. 445, 781 A.2d 1161 (2001) (D.M.II), we are compelled to conclude that a Terry stop is warranted under such circumstances and, further, no violation of the state constitution occurs when such a…