Answering a subject truthfully is not coercion for Miranda purposes
Facts In 2011, Mickey Johnson, his fianceé Chiquita Clay, and Gamilla Truss were in Johnson’s home when law enforcement officers arrived to execute a search warrant. During the search, officers located a plastic bottle containing crack cocaine. Following the search, the officers arrested Johnson and transported him and Clay – whom they did not arrest […]
Even if officer lacks reasonable suspicion for traffic stop, fruit of poisonous tree does not extend to new crime of evasion
Facts In 2008, Robert Williams was driving east on I-220 in Madison County, Mississippi, when Madison County Sheriff’s Deputies saw his vehicle cross the fog line on the right side of the road. Williams was driving a rental car listed in someone else’s name and appeared extremely nervous. He denied having any drugs in the car […]
Disobeying order to stay off phone justified disorderly conduct conviction
Facts Mark Matthews and Brittany Sullivan had a daughter, Macy Kate, in 2008. Because they were not married, custody arrangements were established by a final judgment of filiation and support filed in Madison County Chancery Court, granting joint legal and physical custody to both parents. The custody agreement provided that Matthews had custody of Macy […]
Written waiver not required for valid confession
Facts In 2010, parked cars were obstructing traffic outside a night club so officers called a tow truck to assist. As the tow truck driver was attaching a vehicle to his wrecker, a Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Ivana Merritt, struck the side of the wrecker and ran over Robert Bounds (he survived), carrying him about […]
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 […]