If an officer approaches a citizen without reasonable suspicion, what is the citizen's status?

When an officer approaches a citizen without reasonable suspicion, the citizen's status is that they are free to leave. This situation arises from the legal principle that without reasonable suspicion or probable cause, an individual is not detained and does not have a legal obligation to remain in the presence of law enforcement.

The implications of this principle are significant because it emphasizes the idea of personal liberty and the rights of individuals to move about freely unless there is justifiable reason to restrict their freedom. In such encounters, the citizen may choose whether or not to engage with the officer, and they have the right to walk away from the interaction without facing legal consequences. This establishes the foundational respect for civil liberties in law enforcement interactions.