A traffic stop doesn’t end if officer has separate reasonable suspicion to detain
Facts In 2009, police conducted a routine traffic stop and arrested the person for possession of marijuana. That person then told police that ten pounds of marijuana would be in a black bag in the trunk of a dark colored rental car driven by a black male and parked in the back of a car wash […]
After invoking counsel, police can’t encourage parent to pressure 14 year old to further interrogation
Facts In 2008, Michael and Linda Porter were traveling to Pascagoula to watch Linda’s grandson play football. They stopped at a Conoco gas station in Moss Point to ask for directions to the football stadium. Michael exited the car to go into the gas station, and Linda stayed in the car. She saw three young […]
Exigent circumstances and probable cause allow search of car after arrest in this case
Facts In 2008, Shakeylia Anderson was picked up at her grandmother’s home by a man driving a white Ford Taurus. Her cousin saw the man and the car and her uncle had seen the name Bo on Anderson’s cell phone earlier that evening. Her body was found the next evening in a secluded wooded area. […]
Protective sweep of home proper after arrest
Facts A man, dressed in a navy hooded jacket and a white painter’s mask, approached Laura Rigdon at the Bank of Jones County and demanded money. $1,040.00 in various denominations were handed to the masked man who shoved the money in his pocket and then left. Rigdon told the police officers that she recognized the robber’s voice […]
Mississippi police don’t need to have perfect knowledge of other state’s laws on temporary tags
Facts In 2009, M.H.P. Trooper Harris Bryan pulled over a vehicle for an illegal temporary out of state license. The driver, Rodrigo Godinez, consented to a search and $20,800 was found in three separate bundles. A small amount of shake (loose marijuana) was also found in the vehicle. Two other adults were in the vehicle […]
Officers stopped vehicle based on reasonable suspicion that driver was wanted for murder
Facts In 2009, Jermaine Kelly was at his father’s house with his cousin Donta Davenport. Davenport later told police that two men kicked the back door open and demanded money. One had a handgun and one had an assault rifle. Davenport gave them money and fled the house. He then heard several gunshots before he […]