During an exigent circumstance, can police chase a felon attempting to flee?

In situations where exigent circumstances arise, law enforcement officers are granted the authority to pursue suspects without the need for a warrant. This concept is grounded in the principle of "hot pursuit," which allows police to act swiftly to prevent the escape of a felon, particularly when there is an immediate threat to public safety or when evidence may be destroyed.

When officers are engaged in hot pursuit, they are allowed to follow a fleeing suspect in order to apprehend them. This legal provision is critical in maintaining the effectiveness of law enforcement, enabling officers to act quickly to control potentially dangerous situations. Hot pursuit is not limited to just the felony itself; it can extend to any situation where the suspect poses a clear and immediate danger or where evidence could be compromised.

In contrast, warrants and probable cause are more relevant in other scenarios where law enforcement does not have an immediate need to act. While officers typically need probable cause to make arrests or conduct searches, the hot pursuit doctrine provides them the flexibility to pursue fleeing suspects in a way that is justified by the urgency of the circumstances. This context underlines why the assertion that police can chase a felon attempting to flee under these conditions is accurate.