Unlawful Arrest.

• A. When the agent's actions exceed the limits of a lawful brief investigative inquiry.
• B. When probable cause exists.
• C. When the subject consents.
• D. When the suspect flees.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that a lawful investigative stop is supposed to be brief and based on reasonable suspicion, just enough to determine whether more evidence of a crime exists. If the officer oversteps that limited purpose—by prolonging the stop, asking intrusive questions, or taking steps like a search or detention beyond what’s necessary to confirm or dismiss suspicion—the person isn’t being held for a proper investigative purpose anymore. That overreach turns the situation into an arrest, and because it wasn’t grounded in the proper legal basis, it becomes unlawful.

Think of it as the line between a quick, permissible check and a full arrest: once the officer’s actions extend beyond the permissible scope of the brief inquiry, the restraint becomes unlawful. The other scenarios can lead to lawful outcomes: probable cause supports a legitimate arrest, consent can make actions lawful if voluntary, and fleeing alone doesn’t by itself render an arrest unlawful since pursuit or further investigation can be warranted under law.