P. v. Zuniga
In the early morning, while defendant Marcelino Zuniga was arguing with his girlfriend behind a vehicle in the middle of a street, a police officer approached the scene. After a brief discussion with defendant, the officer arrested him for public intoxication. A subsequent search of defendant and the vehicle (in which he had been a passenger) revealed he was in possession of cocaine. The trial court denied defendants motion to suppress evidence, and he pled guilty to possession of a narcotic for sale. The court sentenced him to one year in jail. Defendant appeals, contending the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress. Defendant argues his arrest was not supported by probable cause because he had committed no observed violation of the law and thus [a]ny later search of his person and/or the vehicle cannot be justified based upon that illegal detention and arrest. Court disagree and affirm the judgment.
Comments on P. v. Zuniga