Under federal practice, when does an investigative stop become an arrest?

• A. When the person submits to questioning.
• B. When the person is handcuffed.
• C. When the officer obtains probable cause.
• D. When the person is read their rights.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that a stop is a temporary detention, and it becomes an arrest when the person is no longer free to leave—that is, when they are in custody. Handcuffing is the clearest sign of that loss of freedom, so it marks the moment the investigative stop becomes an arrest.

Questioning or submitting to questioning can happen during a stop without converting it to an arrest. Obtaining probable cause can justify an arrest, but it doesn’t by itself change the status of the stop; custody is what does. Reading rights (Miranda) is required when custody and interrogation occur, but it does not define the moment of arrest by itself.