# How much MORE trouble does running (on foot) from the cops get you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 9, 2012, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-more-trouble-does-running-on-foot-from-the-cops-get-you/640530 "2012-11-09T23:12:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-more-trouble-does-running-on-foot-from-the-cops-get-you/640530/21 "2012-11-11T17:13:04Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > Is SCOTUS like real life? Because they, in a case about a 15-year-old unarmed robbery suspect, said it was totes cool to shoot fleeing felons. In my world, people who say “totes cool” are not considered to be reliable interpreters of Supreme Court decisions. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-more-trouble-does-running-on-foot-from-the-cops-get-you/640530/22 "2012-11-11T17:35:17Z")
From the Texas Penal Code: 38.04. EVADING ARREST OR DETENTION. (a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally flees from a person he knows is a peace officer attempting lawfully to arrest or detain him. (b) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor, except that the offense is: (1) a state jail felony if the actor uses a vehicle while the actor is in flight and the actor has not been previously convicted under this section; (2) a felony of the third degree if: (A) the actor uses a vehicle while the actor is in flight and the actor has been previously convicted under this section; or (B) another suffers serious bodily injury as a direct result of an attempt by the officer from whom the actor is fleeing to apprehend the actor while the actor is in flight; or (3) a felony of the second degree if another suffers death as a direct result of an attempt by the officer from whom the actor is fleeing to apprehend the actor while the actor is in flight. © In this section, “vehicle” has the meaning assigned by Section 541.201, Transportation Code. (d) A person who is subject to prosecution under both this section and another law may be prosecuted under either or both this section and the other law. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-more-trouble-does-running-on-foot-from-the-cops-get-you/640530/23 "2012-11-11T17:46:58Z")
Fleeing from the police is reasonable suspicion, which gives the police enough to stop you even if they have no reason to suspect that you’ve done something wrong, or even if they have no suspicion that a crime has even been committed. [Illinois v. Wardlow](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_v._Wardlow). That was a 5-4 decision, though; four justices thought otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-more-trouble-does-running-on-foot-from-the-cops-get-you/640530/24 "2012-11-11T18:09:31Z")
In my experience, fleeing results in rotator cuff injuries, acromio-clavicular separations, dislocated shoulders, and distal upper extremity nerve injuries. At least those are the things my patients complain about having gotten due to running from the cops. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-more-trouble-does-running-on-foot-from-the-cops-get-you/640530/25 "2012-11-11T19:00:58Z")
> [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](#): > > In my world, people who say “totes cool” are not considered to be reliable interpreters of Supreme Court decisions. You’d think not, but here we are. What part of my interpretation of _Tennessee v. Garner_ is inaccurate? The 15-year-old was climbing a fence to get away, the officer didn’t believe he was armed, and he was not suspected of committing a violent crime. As far as I can tell, the reasonable suspicion that the suspect might harm someone else is just based on the fact that he’s suspected of committing a felony and the fact that he’s fleeing. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-more-trouble-does-running-on-foot-from-the-cops-get-you/640530/26 "2012-11-11T19:07:50Z")
Oops! My bad, I remembered how the original case went but I did forget that one little part about which way SCOTUS actually ruled on it. I guess it is true about ‘totes cool’ 😮 ---
**Author:** ![Willcross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Willcross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Willcross)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-more-trouble-does-running-on-foot-from-the-cops-get-you/640530/27 "2012-11-11T19:10:02Z")
Sometimes its just another charge to add to your list, that can be dropped to make a plea bargain more appealing. For example, my brother was driving with drunk and ran from the police (at normal speeds) in his car. For about 5 miles before stopping. Even running a few red lights that had no cars at them (small town). Court came and they said if he pleads guilty to the DUI they will drop the evasion and all the traffic incidents he incurred in the process of that. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-more-trouble-does-running-on-foot-from-the-cops-get-you/640530/28 "2012-11-11T19:10:16Z")
Well, just make sure you are NOT suspected of commiting a felony before you flee and you should be home free. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-more-trouble-does-running-on-foot-from-the-cops-get-you/640530/29 "2012-11-11T19:40:20Z")
Running and hiding can also result in the dogs being called out and set off after you (as happened to a young and stupid friend of many many moons ago). Personally I’d far rather be tackled by an angry cop than have an Alsatian run me down and grab me. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-more-trouble-does-running-on-foot-from-the-cops-get-you/640530/30 "2012-11-11T21:14:39Z")
Absolute worst-case scenario, fleeing the cops or avoiding arrest can get you killed. It’s happened before and it’ll probably happen again. It’s not supposed to happen, and the cops that do the killing usually get into a fuckton of trouble for it, but that’s not much consolation to the dead guy, or his family. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2012, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-more-trouble-does-running-on-foot-from-the-cops-get-you/640530/31 "2012-11-11T21:26:34Z")
I think the anti-running away from cops stuff here is selection bias. I don’t know this but would think that in general it’s a much better idea to run away in almost all cases. A friend of mine who I will call Limple Sinctus ran away from the police at 3amish on 1 January 2008 after crashing his car and thus avoided a drink driving charge. So I speak from experience of my friends. And justice was still done cause Limple Sinctus has never driven drunk again, which is presumably all that should be cared about - who cares if he’s actually punished for it or not so long as the roads are safer? ---
**Author:** ![dimmy\_derko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@dimmy\_derko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dimmy_derko)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-more-trouble-does-running-on-foot-from-the-cops-get-you/640530/32 "2012-11-12T13:33:36Z")
If a fleeing person hasn’t actually committed any violent crime yet, I don’t see any point in chasing them, especially if they are in a vehicle. All that is being done by pursuing is heighten the sense of desperation of these people, thus increasing the likelihood that they might commit a violent crime to try and ensure their getaway. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-more-trouble-does-running-on-foot-from-the-cops-get-you/640530/33 "2012-11-12T14:17:38Z")
There was a woman who robbed the local bank here a couple of years ago and tried to get away on foot. Funny how they didn’t shoot her or anything. One case of a 15 YO being shot, while shameful, does not define the entire country. In this case, they chased her down and caught her. I mean, she was like 300+ pounds. I don’t mean to refer to her weight but you shouldn’t attempt a foot getaway when you can’t actually run away. ---
**Author:** ![lawbuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@lawbuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawbuff)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-more-trouble-does-running-on-foot-from-the-cops-get-you/640530/34 "2012-11-12T16:29:20Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > Fleeing from the police is reasonable suspicion, which gives the police enough to stop you even if they have no reason to suspect that you’ve done something wrong, or even if they have no suspicion that a crime has even been committed. [Illinois v. Wardlow](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_v._Wardlow). That was a 5-4 decision, though; four justices thought otherwise. True, but the ILL SC decision was based on the ILL Constitution in addition to the 4th AM. So unless ILL SC precedent states any case decided by the ILL SC based on both the 4th AM and ILL’s parallel Clause that is reversed on 4th AM grounds, also negates the state constitutional protection, police in ILL still can not follow Wardlow. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-more-trouble-does-running-on-foot-from-the-cops-get-you/640530.md?page=1)