[header] How to react when stopped by the police [title] Ask why you were stopped. [step] A police officer may stop and temporarily detain you if he suspects you were engaged in illegal activity. This is called a " terry stop. 
" under this scenario, the officer can only ask you questions about the particular suspicious activity he observed. [substeps] Ask the officer why you were stopped so that you know what kinds of questions he is legally permitted to ask you.