Give an example of an exigent circumstance.

Exigent circumstances refer to situations that justify law enforcement taking immediate action without a warrant due to an urgent need to prevent potential harm or the destruction of evidence. In the context of the options provided, a situation where evidence may be destroyed or a suspect may escape if delay occurs perfectly exemplifies this principle.

For example, if law enforcement officers are in pursuit of a suspect who has committed a violent crime, they may enter a residence without a warrant if they have reasonable belief that the suspect is inside and might escape or that there is evidence of the crime that could be quickly destroyed if they wait to obtain a warrant. This immediate response is based on the necessity to act swiftly to protect public safety and preserve important evidence, making it a clear scenario of exigent circumstances.

In contrast, the other options involve scenarios that don't fit the exigent circumstances definition, such as having a warrant (which indicates pre-planned actions) or routine surveillance (which are typically methodical and do not necessitate immediate action). These do not present the same urgency and immediate threat that exigent circumstances address.