When can police officers conduct a patdown search, also known as a Terry frisk? The North Carolina Court of Appeals addressed this question in State v. Rowdy, providing insight into the balance between individual rights and law enforcement’s need to protect their personal safety.

If you’re facing criminal charges, it’s helpful to understand the key aspects of patdown searches, including what they are, and when a “frisk” may be justified.

In this post, we discuss the legal principles at play, such as reasonable suspicion and the scope of a search, and examine how officer training and experience may factor into the equation.