Officers Said It Was a Terry Stop the Defense Said It Was Custodial Interrogation

In Fairborn Ohio, Daryl Cole was sitting in the backseat of a truck in a Menards parking lot when two officers responded to a suspicious person call. Within minutes he was out of the vehicle, not free to leave, and being questioned as part of an active theft investigation. No Miranda rights were read. The stop lasted approximately forty minutes. Officers showed him photographs, accused him and others of hitting multiple Menards locations, searched the vehicle, and issued trespass notices before letting everyone go without an arrest. The defense argued this was not a Terry stop — it was custodial interrogation from the moment Cole was told he could not leave. The state argued officers were conducting a lawful investigative detention the entire time. The judge had to draw the line between the two. And that line is one of the most debated questions in Fourth Amendment law. Disclaimer: This video is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The proceedings shown are matters of public record. Third party materials if any remain the property of their respective owners and are used for commentary criticism reporting and educational purposes only. If you are facing a legal matter consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before making any decisions.