Which scenario exemplifies a voluntary encounter?

A scenario exemplifying a voluntary encounter occurs when an officer engages with an individual without any coercive elements, meaning that the person is free to leave or decline to engage with law enforcement. In this case, when an officer approaches a pedestrian without cause, it exemplifies a voluntary encounter because the pedestrian has not been seized or stopped in any legally significant way. They have the option to continue walking and do not have to answer any questions posed by the officer.

In contrast, when a police officer stops a driver for speeding, it involves a stop based on reasonable suspicion or probable cause, which constitutes a seizure of that person. Similarly, conducting a search after a suspect has been detained involves an interaction where the individual is not free to leave, marking it as a stop or detention rather than a voluntary encounter. Interviewing a suspect at their home also entails that the individual may feel compelled to answer questions due to the context and presence of law enforcement, which deviates from the nature of a truly voluntary encounter.