In Garner, how is 'dangerous' defined for purposes of deadly force?

In Garner, how is 'dangerous' defined for purposes of deadly force?

• A. Poses a threat of death or serious bodily harm to someone
• B. Has a history of violence
• C. Is armed with a weapon
• D. Has committed a violent felony

Answer: (A)

Dangerous, in Garner’s framework, means the person poses a threat of death or serious bodily harm to the officer or to others. That threshold is what justifies using deadly force—the force is allowed only when there is a reasonable belief that stopping the suspect is necessary to prevent imminent harm of that nature. It isn’t about past violence, being armed by itself, or a history of crimes; those factors may influence judgment, but the decisive point for deadly force is an imminent risk of death or serious bodily harm. So, the best answer is the one that states the person poses a threat of death or serious bodily harm to someone.

Dangerous, in Garner’s framework, means the person poses a threat of death or serious bodily harm to the officer or to others. That threshold is what justifies using deadly force—the force is allowed only when there is a reasonable belief that stopping the suspect is necessary to prevent imminent harm of that nature. It isn’t about past violence, being armed by itself, or a history of crimes; those factors may influence judgment, but the decisive point for deadly force is an imminent risk of death or serious bodily harm.

So, the best answer is the one that states the person poses a threat of death or serious bodily harm to someone.