§ 4:203. Temporary questioning; search for weapons.(City)

A police officer may stop any person in a public place when:

(1)

He has reasonable cause to believe that such person has committed or is in the process of committing or is about to commit a crime, or is engaging in conduct which is defined as criminal in the Louisiana Criminal Code or in other acts of the legislature of the state or the ordinances of the city or the parish or in the constitution of the state.

(2)

Upon stopping such person, the police officer may question such person and may demand of him his name, address, and explanation of his actions.

(3)

When a police officer has stopped a person for questioning pursuant to this section, and observes or has observed conduct that causes such officer to reasonably believe that he or others are in danger of life or limb, he may conduct a limited search of such suspect's outer clothing for a dangerous weapon. If the police officer finds such a dangerous weapon, he may take it and keep it until completion of the questioning, at which time he shall either return it if lawfully possessed, or arrest such person.

(City Code 1951, Title 4, § 202)