A Group in an Alley

  On a routine patrol, an officer noticed three people talking and laughing in an alley around 6 p.m. Two of the individuals were known drug addicts who had their hands in their pockets. When the officer approached the group, the group dispersed. The officer stopped one of the individuals and frisked her.During the frisk, the officer discovered an illegal weapon. The person was charged and has now filed a motion to suppress, arguing that the officer did not have articulable facts to support reasonable suspicion to investigate the group. The defendant also argues that talking and laughing with drug addicts in an alley is not criminal conduct, and there was no justification for the frisk. Using the cases of , 443 U.S. 47 (1979) and , 392 U.S. 40 (1968), analyze the scenario by determining whether the defendants motion to suppress the weapon should be granted by discussing the following: Whether the officer had articulable facts to support reasonable suspicion or were they instead relying upon a hunch, instinct, or curiosity when they approached the group in the alley? Whether the frisk was appropriate by analyzing whether the officer had reasonable suspicion to believe that the suspect was armed and dangerous? Support your reasoning and answers to each question with the case law provided.