The police in Aurora, Colorado suspected that a person who robbed a Wells Fargo bank was in the area so they stopped cars and handcuffed about 40 people, asking them for permission to search their cars.
From an ABC News report:
Police said they had received what they called a “reliable” tip that the culprit in an armed robbery at a Wells Fargo bank committed earlier was stopped at the red light.
“We didn’t have a description, didn’t know race or gender or anything, so a split-second decision was made to stop all the cars at that intersection, and search for the armed robber,” Aurora police Officer Frank Fania told ABC News.
From some of the passengers:
"Cops came in from every direction and just threw their car in front of my car," said Sonya Romero, who was one of the drivers handcuffed. "We all got cuffed until they figured out who did what."
Ben Barker watched the ordeal and told 7NEWS police were armed with shot guns and rifles.
"We didn't know if we were in the line of fire or what the hell was happening," Romero said.
The Aurora police chief, Daniel Oates,
apologized but said "the ends justify the means since the suspect was caught."
Oates called the stops lawful and necessary.
“The law is clear that investigative detentions are lawful for a reasonable period of time,” Oates said. “Reasonableness is determined by the facts and circumstances at issue, and the facts and circumstances were the suspect was in one of 19 cars.”