The Teen by the Intersection
At 3:10 p.m., Officer Ramos responds to a report of a 'suspicious male' standing near a busy intersection. On arrival, Ramos sees a 14-year-old boy, Eli, pacing on the sidewalk, wearing headphones, flapping his hands. He does not make eye contact when Ramos says, 'Hey, buddy, what's your name?' He repeats 'Route 9' and walks toward the crosswalk against the light. Cars are moving at 35 mph. His mother is 200 yards away, calling his name, but Eli does not turn. Ramos grabs Eli's wrist to pull him back from the curb. Eli screams, drops to the ground, and pulls his arm away. A crowd begins filming. Ramos has handcuffs on his belt.
1. What does Ramos likely know about Eli's behavior, and what should he do differently in the first 30 seconds?
Read the worked answer
Eli's pacing, hand-flapping, headphones, lack of eye contact, repeated phrase, and failure to respond to his name are consistent with autism, a developmental disability, or sensory overload. Ramos should not interpret the behavior as defiance. In the first 30 seconds, he should reduce stimulation: turn off or lower the siren, avoid crowding Eli, get low, use short sentences, and give him space and time to process. He should ask the mother for help from a safe distance and use her as a communication bridge. He should not grab Eli unless there is an immediate danger; at the curb, the approaching traffic is the danger, so a brief physical redirect may be justified, but it should be the minimum necessary. Ramos should request EMS and a crisis-trained responder, clear the crowd, and avoid handcuffing unless Eli poses a risk to himself or others that cannot be managed otherwise.
2. Was grabbing Eli's wrist justified? What force options are available if he runs into traffic?
Read the worked answer
A brief grab to prevent Eli from stepping into moving traffic can be justified as an imminent-safety measure, even without probable cause to arrest. The key is proportionality. Ramos should use the least force necessary, explain what he is doing in simple language, and release the hold once the immediate danger passes. If Eli runs toward traffic, Ramos may need to intervene physically to prevent serious injury, but a tackle or takedown near a roadway creates its own dangers. He should call for backup and traffic control, use his body as a barrier, and redirect rather than restrain if possible. Handcuffs are not a treatment for autism; they are justified only if Eli is actively dangerous and lesser measures have failed. If handcuffed, Ramos must monitor breathing, position, and duration, and should remove them as soon as safely possible. He should document the traffic threat and the exact force used.
3. How should Ramos write the report and explain the handcuff decision if he uses them?
Read the worked answer
The report should be factual and free of diagnostic labels. Ramos should describe Eli's pacing, hand-flapping, headphones, repeated phrase, lack of response to his name, the mother's distance and calls, the crosswalk signal, and the speed and proximity of traffic. He should quote the commands he gave and note that Eli did not respond. If he grabbed Eli's wrist, he should explain the immediate danger and the duration of the contact. If he used handcuffs, he must explain why lesser measures failed, what Eli was doing that created a risk, how long the handcuffs remained on, whether they were double-locked, and how Eli was monitored. He should document the mother's statements and any medical or crisis response. Body-camera footage should be preserved. The report should avoid words like 'uncooperative' without specifics and should not suggest Eli was charged unless he was. The goal is to show a reasoned, disability-aware response, not to justify force after the fact.