United States v. Hensley

An informant told police that Thomas Hensley (defendant) drove the getaway car in an armed tavern robbery, and police issued a wanted flyer to nearby departments describing the robbery and requesting Hensley be located and held. Days later, officers from another department who were familiar with the flyer stopped Hensley's car, drew their weapons, and ordered Hensley and his passenger out. An officer saw a revolver under the passenger's seat, leading to an arrest and a search that turned up two more handguns; Hensley, a felon, was charged with unlawful firearm possession. The district court denied his motion to suppress the guns, but the appellate court reversed, holding Terry stops apply only to ongoing crimes, and the Supreme Court granted certiorari.