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Tennessee v. Garner
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Tennessee v. Garner
Landmark Supreme Court Case
How did this affect Law Enforcement?
Decided on March 27, 1985, in a 6-3 Decision.
Courts Ruling
In this case law, the U.S. Supreme Court addressed the constitutionality of the Tennessee statue that authorized the use of deadly force by law enforcemnt in the event of the escape of a fleeing felon.
The revision of this statute, severly restriced circumstances of when law enforcement officers can use deadly force against a suspect. As stated previously, the use of deadly force should only be used if the suspect poses to be a threat to the officers or others.
Background
On October 3, 1974 in Memphis, Tenessee two officers were dispatched to answer a possible buglary in progress. When they arrived the saw a woman on her front porch gesturing the officers to the house next to her. The neighbor stated she heard glass breaking and she feared someone was breaking in the house nextdoor. As officers went behind the house, they heard a door slam and someone running through the backyard. The fleeing suspect 15 year-old Edward Garner stopped at the chain link fencing at the edge of the yard. While using his flashlight, the officer was able to see Garner and although he wasn't sure, he figured Garner did not have a weapon. The officer stated his presence causing Garner to begin climbing the fence. The officer was then convinced that if Garner successfully climbed the fence, he would eldue arrest. The officer shot him and the bullet hit Garner in the back of the head. He was transported to the hospital, but succomed to his injury during surgery.
The Court held that the Tenessee statue, violated the Fourth Amendment's prohibtion against unreasonable seizures. The Court reasoned that the use of deadly force against a fleeing suspect is a seizure under the Fourth Amendment, and such a seizure is only reasonable if it is necessary to prevent the suspect from posing a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to officers or others.