Final answer:
The officer most likely used pepper spray, which is a non-lethal chemical agent common in law enforcement for controlling situations deemed reasonable by standards of police practice. The correct option is b.
Step-by-step explanation:
If an officer is found guilty of using chemical agents to exert control in a situation where a reasonable officer would have done the same, the officer most likely used pepper spray.
This is because pepper spray is a common non-lethal chemical agent used by law enforcement for subduing individuals when necessary.
Its use requires training, and military police and security personnel are often pepper sprayed themselves during their training to understand its effects.
Pepper spray is deemed a means to induce temporary incapacitation to ensure control of a situation, which aligns with the use of force in circumstances that are deemed reasonable for officers to manage confrontations.
Although the deployment of pepper spray can be controversial, it is considered a standard tool in law enforcement's array of options when faced with resistance or aggression, provided that its use is appropriate to the situation. The correct option is b.