A peace officer walked past an apartment and heard a child screaming 'Daddy stop hitting me.' The officer believed the child was in immediate danger. The officer entered and contacted the male. Did the officer act appropriately?

• A. No
• B. Only With Consent
• C. Yes, Because of Exigency
• D. Yes

Answer: (C)

Exigent circumstances let an officer enter a home without a warrant when there’s an immediate threat to life or safety. In this scenario, hearing a child scream about being hit gives the officer a reasonable belief that the child is in imminent danger. Waiting for a warrant could result in harm, so the officer’s quick entry to check on the child and intervene to protect them is appropriate. The officer can then address the situation with the adult inside to secure safety. Consent isn’t required here because the danger is urgent, though if consent were present it would also justify the action. The crucial point is the immediate risk to a child’s safety, which supports warrantless entry under exigent circumstances.