J - S68033 - 19

NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

Appellant v. DENNIS KREASHKO

Appellee : : : : : : : : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 867 WDA 2019 Appeal from the Suppression Order Entered May 6, 2019 In the Court of C ommon Pleas of Armstrong County Criminal Division at No(s): CP - 03 - CR - 0000122 - 2018 BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J.E., LAZARUS, J., and PELLEGRINI, J. * MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.E.: FILED JANUARY 17, 2020 Appellant, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, appeals from the order entered in the Armstrong County Court of Common Pleas, which granted the suppressi on motion of Appellee, Dennis Kreashko. 1 We affirm. In its opinions, the trial court accurately set forth the relevant facts and procedural history of this case. Therefore, we have no reason to restate them. The Commonwealth raises one issue for our review: WHETHER THE TRIAL CO URT ERRED WHEN IT SU PPRESSED THE EVIDENCE IN THIS MATTER, FINDING THA T [APPELLEE] HAD BEEN UNLAWFULLY DETAINED WHERE [APPELLEE’S] VEHICLE WAS LAWFULLY DETAIN ED AS IT

_________________ ____________________ _______ * Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court. 1 The Commonwealth timely filed a notice of appeal on June 4, 2019, pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 311(d) (allowing Commonwealth to appeal as of right in criminal case from pretrial order, where Commonwealth certifies in notice of appeal that order will terminate or substantially handicap prosecution).J - S68033 - 19

- 2 - WAS IMPROPERLY LICEN SED AND WAS GOING TO BE TOWED AND THE TRIA L COURT DID NOT CONS IDER [APPELLEE’S] CONSENT TO SEARCH THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT HIS VE HICLE WAS GOING TO BE TOWED? (Commonwealth’s Brief at 4) (emphasis omitted). When the Commonwealth appeals from a suppression order, the relevant scope and standard of review are:

We consider only the evidence from the defendant’ s witnesses together with the evidence of the prosecution that, when read in the context of the entire record, remains uncontradicted. As long as there is some evi dence to support them, we are bound by the s uppression court’ s findings of fact. Most importantly, we are not at liberty to reject a finding of fact which is based on credibility. Commonwealth v. Goldsborough , 31 A.3d 299, 305 (Pa.Super. 2011), appeal denied , 616 Pa. 651, 49 A.3d 442 (2012) (internal citation omitted). “The suppression court’ s conclusions of law, however, are not binding on an appellate court, whose duty is to determine if the suppression court properly applied the law to the facts.” Id. (internal citation omitted). Commonwealth v. Parker , 152 A.3d 309, 315 ( Pa.Super. 2016) . After a thorough review of the record, the Commonwealth’s brief, 2 the applicable law, and the well - reasoned opinions of the Honorable James J. Panchik, we conc lude the Commonwealth’s issue merits no relief. The trial court opinions comprehensively discuss and properly dispose of the question presented. ( See Suppression Memorandum and Order, filed May 6, 2019, at

_________________ ____________________ _______ 2 Appellee declined to file a brief.J - S68033 - 19

- 3 -

6 - 10 ; Rule 1925(a) Opinion, filed June 25, 2019, at 3 - 6 ) (finding: police engaged in continued detention of Appellee after initial stop of Appellee’s vehicle was already complete; Appellee was not free to leave at this point; although Officer Antal testified that Appellee was asked to exit vehicle becau se it was going to be impounded, Deputy Gahagan’s testimony and officers’ conduct , after Appellee had exited vehicle , indicate d that purpose was to continue to investigate whether Appellee was driving under influence; Appellee’s pupils not responding to light , coupled with Appellee’s movements in vehicle , did not provide particularized suspicion that exceeds mere hunch or possibil ity of criminal activity; court specifically found Officer Antal’s testimony at preliminary hearing not credible, particularly where defense counsel did not have opportunity to cross - examine Officer Antal after Deputy Gahagan offered contradictory testimon y more than one year later at suppression hearing ; all additional information supporting Appellee’s eventual arrest was discovered after officers removed Appellee from his vehicle; in other words, information officers had at time they asked Appellee to exi t his vehicle was insufficient to support continued detention ; further, officers decided to impound Appellee’s vehicle only after they had already detained Appellee; Commonwealth offered no argument that Appellee’s continued detention was lawful, so court properly suppressed all evidence as fruit of poisonous tree; Commonwealth did not raise, brief, or present any testimony at suppression hearing to support its now - proffered “inevitable discovery”J - S68033 - 19

- 4 -

argument; moreover, Commonwealth did not est ablish that poli ce followed standard policy for conducting inventory searches of impounded vehicles ). Accordingly, we affirm based on the trial court’s opinions. Order affirmed. Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary
Date: 1/17/2020Circulated 01/10/2020 02:59 PM



### IN THE C O UR T O F C O M:M O N 

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### an d th e m o t i o n i s n o w r i p e fo r d e c i s i o n . F o r th e r e a s o n s th a t fo ll o w , th e C o urt w ill g r an t th e m o t i o n an d s u p p r e s s a ll e vi d e n c e o b t a i n e d a f t e r th e i n i t i a l tr a ffi c s t o p o f D e fe n d an t ' s v e h i cl e . 

### I . F A C T S AND P R O C E D U RAL H I S T O RY T h e fi n d i n g s o f fa c t th a t fo ll o w ar e b a s e d o n th e t e s t i m o ny p r e s e n t e d a t th e h e ari n g o n M ar c h 7 , 2 0 1 9 , 

### t o g e th e r w i th th e t e s t i m o ny p r e s e n t e d a t th e p r e l i m i n ar y h e ari n g F e b r

u ar y 1 3 , 2 0 1 8 . 1 1. 

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### a . m . , O f fi c e r D av i d An t a l o f th e G il p i n T o w n s h i p P o li c e D e p artm e n t w a s o n p a tr o l a l o n g R i v e r

1 T h e p art i e s s t i p u l at e d t o th e C o urt ' s r e c e i p t o f th e ' p r e l i m i n ar y h e ar i n g tr an s c r i p t fo r p ur p o s e s o f d i s p o s i n g o f D e fe n d an t ' s o mn i b u s m o t i o n . T h e arr e s t i n g o ffi c e r i n th i s c a s e , O ffi c e r D avi d An t a l o f th e G i l p i n T o w n s h i p P o li c e D e p artm e n t , w a s n o t p r e s e n t a t th e h e ar i n g o n M ar c hrt , 2 0 19 . H e n o l o n g e r w o rk s fo r th at d e p artm e n t an d c o u l d n o t b e l o c at e d b y th e C o mm o nw e a lth
. Arm s tr o n g C o un ty D e p u ty S h e r i ff R o b e rt G ah a g an w a s th e C o mm o nw e a l th ' s o n l y w i tn e s s . T h e C o urt r e n d e r s h e r e i n n o o p i n i o n w i th r e g ar d t o th e p r o p r i e ty o f th e C o mm o nw e a l th ' s r e l i an c e o n th e p r e l i m i n ar y h e ar i n g tr an s c r i p t t o s a t i s f y i t s e vi d e n t i ar

y b ur d e n . S

e e D e f t ' s M e m o r an d

um o f L aw i n O p p o s i t i o n , 3 / 11 / 1 9 , a t p . 3 .C o mm . v . Kr e a s h k o

N o . C P · 0 3 · C R · 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 · 2 0 1 8 R o a d/ S t a t e R o ut e 6 6 i n G il p i n T o w n s h i p , Arm s tr o n g C o un ty . H e w a s dr i vi n g a m ark e d p o li c e v e h i cl e an d w a s i n fu ll un i fo rm . 2 . A t th a t t i m e , O f

fi c e r An t a l h a d b e e n a p o li c e o ff i c e r fo r a p p r o x i m at e l y tw o y e ar s . f 3 . O ff

i c e r An t a l p u ll e d o ff o f R i v e r R o a d t o m o n i t o r tr a ff i c . A s i l v e r P o n t i a c th a t w a s tr av e li n g b e h i n d O ff i c e r ' s An t a l' s v e h i cl e c o n t i nu e d o n R i v e r R o a d
. N o t i ci n g th e l o u d e x h au s t o f th e P o n t i a c , O ffi c e r An t a l p u ll e d b a c k o n t o R i v e r R o a d an d fo ll o w e d th e P o n t i a c fo r a s h o rt d i s t an c e . 4 . A s h e fo ll o w e d , O f fi c e r An t a l r an th e l i c e n s e p l a t e numb e r o n th e P o n t i a c . T h e 9 1 1 d i s p a t c h e r a dvi s e d th a t th e l i c e n s e p l at e w a s r e g i s t e r e d t o a C h r y s l e r c o nv e rt i b l e i n th e C i ty o f P i tt s b ur g h
. T h e r e gi s tr at i o n a l s o w a s e xp i r e d
. 5 . O f fi c e r An t a l a c t i v a t e d h i s e m e r g e n c y li g h t s an d c o n d u c t e d a tr a ffi c s t o p . O n c e s t o p p e d , h e a p p r o a c h e d th e dr i v e r o f th e v e h i cl e , D e fe n d an t h e r e i n , an d a s k e d fo r h i s l i c e n s e , r e g i s tr a t i o n , an d p r o o f o f i n s ur an c e . D e fe n d an t p ro v i d e d th e r e qu e s t e d d o c um e n t s . 6 . Wh i l e s p e ak i n g w i th D e f e n d an t , O f

fi c e r An t a l d i d n o t s e e o r s m e ll any n ar c o t i c s o r c o n tr ab an d i n th e v e h i cl e . 7 . O f fi c e r An t a l r e t

ur n e d t o h i s p o li c e c ar t o c h e c k th e i n fo rm a t i o n D e fe n d an t h a d p r o vi d e d
. Wh i l e c h e c k i n g th e i n fo rm a t i o n , O f fi c e r An t a l n o t i c e d D e fe n d an t r e a c h i n g fr o m h i s s e a t i n t o m any d i ff e r e n t ar e a s o f th e c ar .

2 O f fi c e r An t a l d i d n o t t e s t if y at th e p r e l i m i n ar

y h e ar i n g r e g ar d i n g h i s e xp e r i e n c e m ak i n g tr a ffi c s t o p s o r arr e s t fo r dr i vi n g un d e r th e i n fl u e n c e . T h e r e w a s l i m i t e d d i s c u s s i o n w i th r e g ar d t o h i s e xp e r i e n c e d e a l i n g w i th f e l o ny an d m i s d e m e an o r dr u g c a s e s , s e e P r e l i m . H r g . T r an s c . , at 1 7 : 1 7 - 19 : 7 . 2C o mm . v . Kr e a s h k o

N o . C P - 0 3 · C R · 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 · 2 0 1 8 8 . O f fi c e r An t a l d i s c o v e r e d f

r o m 9 1 1 th a t th e r e gi s tr at i o n c ar d i d e n t i fi e d D e f e n d an t a s th e o w n e r o f th e v e h i cl e , b ut w a s e xp i r e d
. 9 . A t th e t i m e o f th e tr a ffi c s t o p , Arm s tr o n g C o un ty D e p u ty S h e ri ff R o b e rt G ah a g an w a s s e rvi n g p a p e r s i n th e vi c i n i ty o f G i l p i n T o w n s h i p . D e p uty G ah a g an h e ar d o n h i s r a d i o th a t th e s t o p w a s o c c ur r i n g an d tr av e l e d t o th e s c e n e t o o ff e r b a c k u p t o O f fi c e r An t a l. 1 0 . Af t e r ar r i vi n g o n th e s c e n e , D e p u ty G ah a g an a l s o r an D e fe n d an t ' s l i c e n s e p l a t e an d d i s c o v e r e d th a t i t w a s a s s o c i a t e d w i th C hr y s l e r c o nv e rt i b l e . 1 1 . O ffi c e r An t a l a s k e d D e p uty G ah a g an i f h e w o u l d k e e p an e y e o n D e fe n d an t w h il e h e c o mp l e t e d h i s i nv e s t i g a t i o n wi th th e 9 1 1 di s p at c h e r . 1 2 . A s h e s t o o d b e s i d e th e r e ar o f D e fe n d an t ' s v e h i cl e , D e p uty G ah a g an o b s e rv e d D e fe n d an t m o vi n g ar o un d i n s i d e th e v e h i cl e , r e a c hi n g i n t o th e g l o v e b o x , c o n s o l e , an d b a c k s e at . D e fe n d an t a l s o a p p e ar e d t o b e v e r

y n e rv o u s an d "

j ump y . " 1 3 . D e p u ty G ah a g an a s k e d D e fe n d an t t o s t o p m o vi n g ar o un d
. A s D e p uty G ah a g an s p o k e w i th D e fe n d an t , h e n o t i c e d th a t D e f e n d an t' s v o i c e c r a c k e d an d th a t h i s e y e s w e r e unr e s p o n s i v e t o li g h t . 1 4 . E i th e r D e p uty G ah a g an o r O ffi c e r An t a l a s k e d D e fe n d an t t o g e t o ut o f h i s v e h i cl e . T h e i r t e s t i m o ny i s n o t c o n s i s t e n t i n th i s r e g ar d
. D e p u ty G ah a g an t e s t i fi e d th a t b o th h e an d O f fi c e r An t a l a s k e d D e fe n d an t t o g e t o u t s o th at s t an d ar d fi e l d s o b r i e ty t e s t s ( " S F T S s " ) c o u l d b e p e r fo rm e d
. O f fi c e r An t a l t e s t i fi e d th at h e a s k e d D e fe n d an t t o e x i t th e v e h i cl e b e c au s e i t w a s g o i n g t o b e i mp o un d e d , a d e c i s i o n th a t i n fa c t w a s n o t m a d e un t il l a t e r .

3C o mm . v . Kr e a s h k o

N o . C P - 0 3
- C R - 0 0 0 0 1 2 2
- 2 0 1 8 

### 1 5 . D e p uty G ah a g an b e li e v e d a t th a t p o i n t th at th e r e w a s a p o s s i b ili ty th a t D e fe n d an t w a s un d e r th e i n fl u e n c e . 1 6 . P ri o r t o r e m o vi n g D e fe n d an t fr o m h i s v e h i cl e , n e i th e r O f fi c e r An t a l n o r D e p u ty G ah a g an o b s e rv e d any dr u g s o r w e a

p o n s i n p l a i n vi e w i n D e f e n d an t ' s v e h i cl e . T h e y a l s o d i d n o t s m e ll any s c e n t o f dr u g s o r a lc o h o l o n D e fe n d an t ' s p e r s o n . 1 7 . Af t e r D e f e n d an t e x i t e d th e v e h i c l e , D e p uty G ah a g an p e r fo rm e d a

" T e rr y" fr i s k t o c h e c k fo r w e a p o n s . N o n e w e r e fo un d
. D e p u ty G ah a g an fe l t an o b j e c t i n D e f

e n d an t ' s r i g h t fr o n t p o c k e t an d a s k e d h i m t o r e m o v e i t . D e fe n d an t r e m o v e d a l ar g e w a d o f c a s h , a p p r o x i m a t e l y an i n c h th i c k
. D e p u ty G ah a g an p l a c e d th e c a s h a s i d e an d c o n t i nu e d w i th th e fr i s k
. O f fi c e r An t a l a s k e d D e fe n d an t w h at th e m o n e y w a s fo r , an d D e fe n d an t s t a t e d th a t i t w a s h i s w o rk m o n e y . 1 8 . D e p u ty G ah a g an p e r fo rm e d th e h o r i z o n t a l g a z e ny s t a g mu s , h e e l t o t o e , an d R amb e rt fi e l d s o b r i e ty t e s t s , a ll o f w h i c h t o o k a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 0 m i nut e s . Af t e r c o mp l e t i n g s e v e r a l o f th e S F S T s , D e p uty G ah a g an b e l i e v e d th a t D e f e n d an t d i s p l ay e d s i g n s o f i mp a i rm e n t . 1 9 . A t s o m e p o i n t , O ff i c e r An t a l h a d a d i s c u s s i o n w i th D e fe n d an t r e g ar d i n g w h e th e r th e r e w a s any th i n g ill e g a l i n th e c ar . D e fe n d an t s t at e d o n tw o o c c a s i o n s th a t th e r e w a s n o t . H e a l s o t o l d O f fi c e r An t a l th a t h e h a d dr u g - r e l a t e d c h ar g e s p e n d i n g an d w a s o u t o n b o n d
.

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N o . C P - 0 3
- C R - 0 0 0 0 1 2 2
- 2 0 1 8 2 0 . O ffi c e r An t a l th e n t o l d D e fe n d an t th a t h e w o u l d b e i mp o un d i n g th e c ar un t i l h e c o u l d g e t a s e ar c h w ar r an t . D e fe n d an t th e r e a f t e r c o n s e n t e d t o a s e ar c h o f th e v e h i cl e . 2 1. N o dr

u g s o r c o n tr ab an d w e r e fo un d i n th e i n t e ri o r c ab i n o f th e c ar . 2 2 . A t th a t p o i n t , D e p u ty G ah a g an p l a c e d D e f e n d an t i n th e b a c k o f O f fi c e r An t a l' s p o li c e c ar . D e fe n d an t w a s n o t h an d c u ff e d a t th i s p o i n t . 2 3 . B e c au s e O f

fi c e r An t a l d e t e rm i n e d t o i mp o un d th e v e h i cl e an d h av e i t t o w e d aw ay , D e f

e n d an t r e qu e s t e d th a t h i s t o o l s b e r e m o v e d fr o m th e tr unk. Up o n r e tr i e vi n g th e m , th e o f

fi c e r s a l s o fo un d a C r o w n R o y a l b a g c o n t a i n i n g n ar c o t i c s . 2 4 . D e f

e n d an t th e n w a s p l a c e d un d e r ar r e s t an d tr an s p o rt e d fr o m th e s c e n e fo r p r o c e s s i n g . D e p u ty G ah a g an r e m a i n e d a t th e s c e n e w i th D e f e n d an t' s v e h i cl e un t il th e t o w i n g c o mp any ar r i v e d
. 2 5 . B a s e d o n th e e v i d e n c e di s c o v e r e d d ur i n g th e tr a ffi c s t o p , p o li c e o b t a i n e d a s e ar c h w ar

r an t fo r D e fe n d an t ' s r e s i d e n c e , w h e r e th e y fo un d a d d i t i o n a l c o n tr o ll e d s ub s t an c e s an d p ar a p h e r n a l i a . 2 6 . D e fe n d an t i s c h ar g e d b y i n fo rm a t i o n fi l e d M ar c h 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 , w i th 1 ) p o s s e s s i o n o f dr

u g p ar a p h e r n a l i a 3 , 2 ) tw o c o un t s o f p o s s e s s i o n w i th i n t e n t t o d e li v e r a c o n tr o ll e d s ub s t an c e " , 3 ) p o s s e s s i o n o f a c o n tr o ll e d s ub s t an c e " , 4 ) p o s s e s s i o n o f

3 3 5 P a . S t a t . Ann . § 7 8 0
- 11 3 ( a ) ( 3 2 )
. 4 3 5 P a . S t a t . Ann . § 7 8 0
- 11 3 ( a) ( 3 0 )
. 5 3 5 P a . S t a t . Ann . § 7 8 0
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. 5C o mm . v . Kr e a s h k o

N o . C P · 0 3 · C R · 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 · 2 0 1 8 m ar i j u an a · · s m a ll am o un t s , 5 ) dr i vi n g an unr e gi s t e r e d v e h i c l e " , an d 6 ) un auth o r i z e d
u s e o f r e g i s tr a t i o n p l a t e . f 

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. 

### D I S C U S S I O N A. 

### B U RD E N O F P R O O F Wh e r e , a s h e r e , a c r i m i n a l d e f e n d an t fi l e s a m o t i o n t o s u p p r e s s e vi d e n c e , th e b ur d e n fa ll s o n th e C o mm o nw e a l th t o p r o v e th a t th e e vi d e n c e w a s n o t o b t a i n e d i n vi o l a t i o n o f th e d e fe n d an t ' s c o n s t i t ut i o n a l r i g h t s . 

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h v. E n i m p a h , 1 0 6 A. 3 d 6 9 5 , 7 0 3 ( P a . 2 0 1 4 )
. 

### S e e a l s o P a . R. C ri m . P . 5 8 1 ( H )
. 

### B . AN AL Y S I S D e f e n d an t ar g u e s i n h i s m o t i o n th a t a ll e vi d e n c e o b t a i n e d a f t e r th e i n i t i a l s t o p o f h i s v e h i cl e s h o u l d b e s u p p r e s s e d b e c au s e O ffi c e r An t a l an d D e p u ty G ah a g an d i d n o t h av e th e r e qu i s i t e r e a s o n ab l e s u s p i c i o n t o c o n t i nu e th e d e t e n t i o n a f t e r th e p ur p o s e fo r th e o r i g i n a l s t o p h a d c e a s e d
. D e fe n d an t d o e s n o t ar g u e th a t th e i n i t i a l s t o p w a s un l aw fu l. T o d i s p o s e o f th e i s s u e , th e C o urt mu s t d e t e rm i n e 1 ) th e n a t ur e o f th e c o n t i nu e d e n g a g e m e n t o f D e fe n d an t a f t e r th e p ur

p o s e o f th e s t o p w a s fu l fi ll e d , an d 2 ) w h e th e r , i f s u c h e n g a g e m e n t c o n s t i t ut e d a d e t e n t i o n , i t w a s s u p p o rt e d b y a d e qu a t e g r o un d s . Af t e r an o th e r

w i s e l aw fu l tr a ffi c s t o p i s c o mp l e t e , r e a s o n ab l e s u s p i c i o n o f c r i m i n a l a c t i vi ty mu s t e x i s t t o j u s t i f y a c o n t i nu e d d e t e n t i o n o f th e o p e r a t o r : [ W ] h e r e th e p ur

p o s e o f an i n i t i a l tr a ffi c s t o p h a s e n d e d an d a r e a s o n ab l e p e r s o n w o u l d n o t h av e b e l i e v e d th a t h e w a s f r e e t o l e av e , th e l aw c h ar a c t e r i z e s a s ub s e qu e n t r o un d o f qu e s t i o n i n g b y th e p o l i c e

6 3 5 P a . S t a t . Ann . § 7 8 0 · 11 3 ( a) ( 3 1 ) ( i )
. 1 7 5 P a . C o n s . S t a t . Ann . § 13 0 I ( a )
. s 7 5 P a . C o n s . S t a t . Ann . § 1 3 7 2 ( 1 )
. 6C o mm . v , Kr e a s h k o N o . C P · 0 3 · C R · 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 · 2 0 1 8 a s an i nv e s t i g a t i v e d e t e n t i o n o r ar r e s t . I n th e ab s e n c e o f e i th e r r e a s o n ab l e s u s p i c i o n t o s u p p o rt th e i nv e s t i g a t i v e d e t e n t i o n o r p r o b ab l e c au s e t o s u

p p o rt th e arr e s t , th e c i t i z e n i s c o n s i d e r e d un l aw fu ll y d e t a i n e d
. 

### C o m m o n w e a l t

h v. B y, 8 1 2 A . 2 d 1 2 5 0 , 1 2 5 6 ( P a . S u p e r . C t . 2 0 0 2 ) ( c i t at i o n o m i tt e d )
. 

### S e e a l s o R o dr i gu e z v. 

### U n i te d S t a t es , 1 3 5 S . C t . 1 6 0 9 , 1 6 1 6 ( 2 0 1 5 )
. T h e C o urt fi n d s , an d th e r e d o e s n o t a

p p e ar t o b e any s e r i o u s d i s p ut e , th at D e fe n d an t c o n t i nu e d t o b e s ub j e c t t o a d e t e n t i o n a f

t e r th e i n i t i a l tr a ffi c s t o p o f h i s v e h i cl e w a s c o mp l e t e . H e c l e ar l y w a s n o t fr e e t o l e av e a t th i s p o i n t . Al th o u g h O ffi c e r An t a l t e s t i fi e d th a t D e fe n d an t w a s a s k e d t o g e t o ut o f th e v e h i cl e m e r e l y b e c au s e i t w a s g o i n g t o b e i mp o un d e d , D e p u ty G ah a g an ' s t e s t i m o ny an d th e o f fi c e r s ' c o n d

u c t a f t e r D e fe n d an t e x i t e d th e v e hi cl e i n d i c a t e th a t th e p ur p o s e w a s t o c o n t i nu e t o i nv e s t i g a t e w h e th e r D e fe n d an t h a d b e e n dr i vi n g un d e r th e i n fl u e n c e . D e p uty G ah a g an t e s t i fi e d th at th e o ffi c e r s ' i n t e n t i o n i n r e m o vi n g D e fe n d an t fr o m th e v e h i cl e w a s t o p e r fo rm S F S T s b e c au s e o f th e " p o s s i b i l i ty' ' th a t D e fe n d an t w a s dr i vi n g un d e r th e i n fl u e n c e . D e fe n d an t a t th i s p o i n t w a s d e t a i n e d a f t e r th e p ur

p o s e f o r th e i n i t i a l tr a ffi c s t o p h a d b e e n fu l fi ll e d , an d th e C o urt th e r e fo r e mu s t d e t e rm i n e w h e th e r O f fi c e r An t a l an d D e p uty G ah a g an h a d s u f fi c i e n t r e a s o n ab l e s u s p i c i o n o f c ri m i n a l a c t i vi ty . 

### S e e C o m m o n w e a l t

h v. C a u le y, 1 0 A. 3 d 3 2 1 , 3 2 7 ( P a . S u p e r . C t . 2 0 1 0 )
. I n d e t e rm i n i n g w h e th e r " r e a s o n ab l e s u s p i c i o n " e x i s t s , th e C o urt a p p li e s th e fo ll o w i n g p r i n c i p l e s s e t fo rth b y th e P e nn s y l v an i a S u p e r i o r C o urt : O ur S u p r e m e C o urt h a s m an d a t e d th a t l aw e n fo r c e m e n t o f fi c e r s , p ri o r t o s ub j e c t i n g a c i t i z e n t o an i nv e s t i g at o r y d e t e n t i o n , mu s t h ar

b o r a t l e a s t a r e a s o n ab l e s u s p i c i o n th a t th e p e r s o n s e i z e d i s th e n e n g a g e d i n un l aw fu l a c t i vi ty . T h e qu e s t i o n o f w h e th e r r e a s o n ab l e s u s p i c i o n e x i s t e d a t th e t i m e o f an i nv e s t i g a t o r y d e t e n t i o n mu s t b e an s w e r e d b y

7C o mm . v . Kr e a s h k o

N o . C P · 0 3 · C R · 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 · 2 0 1 8 e x am i n i n g th e t o t a l i ty o f th e c i r c um s t an c e s t o d e t e rm i n e w h e th e r th e o f fi c e r w h o i n i t i a t e d th e s t o p h a d a " p a r t i c u l a r i z e d a n d o b

j e c t i v e b a s i

s ' fo r s u s p e c t i n g th e i n d i v i d u a l s t o p p e d
. T hu s , t o e s t ab l i s h g r o un d s fo r r e a s o n ab l e s u s p i ci o n , th e o ffi c e r mu s t art i c u l a t e s p e c i fi c o b s e r v a t i o n s w h i c h , i n c o n

j un c t i o n w i th r e a s o n ab l e i nf e r e n c e s d e r i v e d f

r o m th o s e o b s e rv a t i o n s , l e d h i m r e a s o n ab l y t o c o n cl u d e , i n li g h t o f h i s e xp e r i e n c e , th a t c r i m i n a l a c t i vi ty w a s a fo o t an d th a t th e p e r s o n h e s t o p p e d w a s i nv o l v e d i n th a t a c t i vi ty . Al th o u g h a p o li c e o f

fi c e r ' s kn o w l e d g e an d l e n g th o f e xp e r i e n c e w e i g h h e avi l y i n d e t e rm i n i n g w h e th e r r e a s o n ab l e s u s p i c i o n e x i s t e d , o ur C o urt s r e m a i n m i n df

u l th a t th e o f

fi c e r ' s j u d g m e n t i s n e c e s s ar i l y c o l o r e d b y h i s o r h e r p r i m ar y i nv o l v e m e n t i n th e o f

t e n c o mp e t i t i v e e n t e r p r i s e o f f e r r e t i n g o u t c r i m e . T h e r e fo r e , th e fun d am e n t a l i n qu i r y o f a r e vi e w i n g c o urt mu s t b e an o b j e c t i v e o n e , n am e l y , w h e th e r th e fa c t s av a i l ab l e t o th e o f

fi c e r a t th e m o m e n t o f th e i n tr u s i o n w arr an t a m an o f r e a s o n ab l e c au t i o n i n th e b e l i e f th a t th e a c t i o n t ak e n w a s a p p r o p r i a t e . T h i s i n qu i r y w ill n o t b e s a t i s fi e d b y an o ffi c e r ' s hun c h o r unp art i c u l ar i z e d s u s p i ci o n . C o m m o n w e a l t

h v. R e p p e r t , 8 1 4 A. 2 d 11 9 6 , 1 2 0 3 · 0 4 ( P a . S u p e r . C t . 2 0 0 2 ) (i n t e r

n a l ci t a t i o n s an d qu o t a t i o n s o m i tt e d ) ( e mp h a s i s i n o ri gi n a l)
. H e r e , th e r e c o r d e s t ab l i s h e s th a t , p r i o r t o th e o f fi c e r s o r d e r i n g D e fe n d an t fr o m th e v e h i cl e , th e y h a d th e fo ll o w i n g o b j e c t i v e fa c t s i n th e i r c o ll e c t i v e kn o w l e d g e : 1 ) th a t D e f

e n d an t h a d u t il i z e d a fa l s e li c e n s e p l a t e o n h i s v e h i cl e , 2 ) th a t D e fe n d an t' s r e a l r e g i s tr a t i o n fo r th e v e h i cl e w a s e xp i r e d , 3 ) th at D e fe n d an t a c t e d
n e rv o u s l y d

ur i n g h i s i n t e r a c t i o n s w i th th e o f fi c e r s w h i l e i n th e c ar , 4 ) th at D e fe n d an t' s v o i c e c r a c k e d w h i l e h e w a s s p e ak i n g , 5 ) th at D e fe n d an t , fr o m h i s p o s i t i o n i n th e fr o n t dr i v e r ' s s e a t , r e a c h e d th r o u g h o u t th e v e h i c l e , 6 ) th a t D e fe n d an t ' s e y e s a

p p e ar e d t o n o t r e s p o n d t o li g h t a s h e m o v e d i n t o an d o ut o f th e s h a d o w e d ar e a s o f th e c ar ' s c ab i n , an d 7 ) th a t D e fe n d an t i n d i c a t e d th a t th e r e w a s n o th i n g ill e g a l i n th e c ar w h e n a s k e d b y O ffi c e r An t a l
. T h e C o urt c o n cl u d e s th a t

8C o mm . v . Kr e a s h k o

N o . C P · 0 3 · C R · 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 · 2 0 1 8 th e s e fa c t s , t ak e n t o g e th e r , d i d n o t o b j e c t i v e l y p r o vi d e th e o f

fi c e r s w i th s u f

fi ci e n t r e a s o n ab l e s u s p i c i o n t o c o n t i nu e th e d e t e n t i o n . Af t e r i n i t i a t i n g th e s t o p o f D e fe n d an t' s v e h i cl e , O ffi c e r An t a l d i s c o v e r e d th at th e l i c e n s e p l a t e o n th e v e h i cl e d i d n o t m at c h i t s m ak e an d m o d e l an d th a t D e fe n d an t ' s r e g i s tr a t i o n c ar d , a l th o u g h fo r th e r i g h t v e h i cl e , w a s e xp i r e d
. O th e r th an D e fe n d an t ' s r e a c h i n g th r o u g h o u t th e v e h i cl e , O f fi c e r An t a l h a d n o o th e r fa c t s t o s u s p e c t o n g o i n g c r i m i n a l a c t i vi ty . N o r d i d h e t e s t i f y th a t h e s u s p e c t e d c r i m i n a l a c t i vi ty o r th a t i n h i s e xp e r i e n c e , a p p r o x i m a t e l y tw o y e ar s a s a p o li c e o f fi c e r , D e fe n d an t' s a c t i o n s i n d i c a t e d a li k e li h o o d o f c r i m i n a l a c t i vi ty . Furth e r , a l th o u g h O ffi c e r An t a l t e s t i fi e d th a t h e r e m o v e d D e fe n d an t fr o m h i s v e h i cl e b e c au s e i t w a s g o i n g t o b e i mp o un d e d , D e p u ty G ah a g an t e s t i fi e d th a t th e d e c i s i o n t o i mp o un d th e v e h i c l e w a s n o t m a d e un t i l a f t e r D e fe n d an t h a d b e e n r e m o v e d f r o m th e v e h i cl e , s ub j e c t e d t o S F S T s , an d w a s p l a c e d i n th e b a c k o f O f fi c e r An t a l ' s p o l i c e c ar . D e p uty G ah a g an furth e r t e s t i fi e d th a t b o th h e an d O f fi c e r An t a l a s k e d D e fe n d an t t o e x i t th e v e h i c l e t o p e r fo rm S F S T s . D e p uty G ah a g an furth e r t e s t i fi e d th a t D e f e n d an t ' s p u

p il s d i d n o t r e s p o n d t o c h an g e s i n l i g h t a s h e m o v e d th r o u g h o ut th e v e h i c l e . E v e n a s s um i n g th i s i s tr u e , th a t fa ct c o u

p l e d w i th D e fe n d an t ' s m o v e m e n t s an d tr a ff i c vi o l a t i o n d i d n o t p r o vi d e p art i c u l ar i z e d s u s p i c i o n th a t e x c e e d s a m e r e hun c h o r p o s s i b i l i ty o f c r i m i n a l
a c t i vi ty - - h e r e , dr i v i n g un d e r th e i n fl u e n c e . Al l o f th e a d d i t i o n a l i n fo rm at i o n s u p p o rt i n g D e fe n d an t ' s e v e n t u a l arr e s t w a s d i s c o v e r e d a f te r D e f e n d an t w a s r e m o v e d fr o m h i s v e h i cl e . T hu s , c o n s i d e r e d o b j e c t i v e l y , th e i n fo rm at i o n th a t th e

9C o mm . v . Kr e a s h k o

N o . C P - 0 3
- C R - 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 · 2 0 1 8 o ffi c e r s h a d a t th e t i m e th e y a s k e d D e fe n d an t t o e x i t h i s v e h i cl e s o th a t th e y c o u l d qu e s t i o n h i m , c o n d

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. 

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. 9 An a p p r o p r i a t e o r d e r fo ll o w s .

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p p r e s s i o n o f h i s s t at e m e n t s m a d e a f t e r e x i t i n g h i s v e h i cl e an d th e e v i d e n c e o b t a i n e d f r o m h i s a p artm e n t a f

t e r p o l i c e h a d o b t a i n e d a s e ar c h w arr an t . T h e C o urt n e e d n o t c o n s i d e r th e s e tw o a s p e c t s o f D e f e n d an t ' s m o t i o n , a s i t a l r e a dy h a s c o n cl u d e d th at a ll e vi d e n c e o b t a i n e d b y p o li c e a f t e r D e fe n d an t ' s e x i t fr o m h i s v e h i c l e , i n cl u d i n g h i s s t a t e m e n t s an d th e e v i d e n c e p r o v i d i n g p r o b ab l e c au s e fo r th e s e ar c h w arr an t , i s fr u i t o f th e ill e g a l d e t e n t i o n . 1 0I N THE C O UR T O F C O MM O N P LEAS O F ARM S T R O N G C O UNTY , P E NN S YL V ANIA

C O M M O N W E AL T H O F P ENN S YL V AN I A , ) ) ) ) ) ) ) N o . C P - 0 3 · C R - 0 0 0 1 2 2 · 2 0 1 8 v s . D ENN I S KRE A S H K O ,

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## R U L E 1 9 2 5 ( a ) O P I NI O N P AN C H I K, P . J . T h e C o mm o nw e a l th o f P e nn s y l v an i a a p p e a l s f r o m th i s C o urt' s o r d e r e n t e r e d M ay 6 , 2 0 1 9 , w h i c h s u

p p r e s s e d c e rt a i n e vi d e n c e o b t a i n e d d ur i n g an d a f

t e r a tr a f fi c s t o p o f D e fe n d an t ' s v e h i cl e o n S e p t e mb e r 2 7 , 2 0 1 7 . T h e C o urt s e t fo rth i n d e t a i l th e f i n d i n g s an d an a l y s i s s u

p p o rt i n g i t s d e c i s i o n i n a m e m o r an d um fil e d c o n t e mp o r an e o u s l y w i th i t s s u p p r e s s i o n o r d e r . T h e C o mm o nw e a l th fil e d a t i m e l y n o t i c e o f a

p p e a l o n Jun e 4 , 2 0 1 9 , a f t e r w h i c h th e C o urt d i r e c t e d th e fil i n g o f a R u l e 1 9 2 5 ( b ) C o n c i s e S t a t e m e n t . T h e C o mm o nw e a l th t i m e l y c o mp li e d o n Jun e 1 2 , 2 0 1 9 . T h e C o mm o nw e a l th r a i s e s tw o i s s u e s i n i t s c o n c i s e s t a t e m e n t . I n i t s fi r s t i s s u e , th e C o mm o nw e a l th a s s e rt s th a t th e C o urt e r r e d " w h e n i t d i d n o t d e e m th e d e f

e n d an t ' s i s s u e s w a i v e d a f t e r h e fa il e d t o t i m e l y fil e h i s o mn i b u s p r e tri a l m o t i o n . " T o a d dr e s s th i s i s s u e , th e C o urt mu s t r e vi e w b r i e fl y th e p ro c e d ur a l h i s t o r

y o f th i s c a s e . T h e c r i m i n a l c o mp l a i n t w a s fil e d o n o r a b o ut S e p t e mb e r 2 2 , 2 0 1 7 . A p r e l i m i n ar y h e ar i n g w a s c o n d

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e n s e s . D e fe n d an t e n t e r e d a w r i tt e nC o mm o nw e a l th v . Kr e a s h k o

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r a i g nm e n t o n Ap r il 2 , 2 0 1 8 . H e th e n fil e d h i s m o t i o n t o s u p p r e s s o n M ay 1 6 , 2 0 1 8 . T h e C o urt th e r e a f

t e r e n t e r e d D e fe n d an t ' s C r i m i n a l C a s e M an a g e m e n t O r d e r ( " C M O " ) , w h i c h p r o vi d e d th a t " [ t ] h e C o urt , o n i t s o w n m o t i o n , m ay d i s m i s s an o mn i b u s p r e tr i a l m o t i o n i f i t i s n o t fi l e d a t l e a s t fi f ty ( 5 0 ) d ay s b e fo r e th e j ur y s e l e c t i o n d a t e s e t fo rth a b o v e . " ( C M O , 6 /4 / 2 0 1 8 , 

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p p r o x i m at e l y tw o m o n th s a f t e r D e fe n d an t ' s s u

p p r e s s i o n m o t i o n h a d b e e n fil e d an d s c h e d

u l e d fo r h e ar i n g , th e C o mm o nw e a l th fi l e d a M o t i o n t o Q u a s h th e s u p p r e s s i o n m o t i o n , ar g u i n g th a t th e m o t i o n w a s fil e d 1 4 d ay s p a s t th e d e a d l i n e e s t ab li s h e d b y P a . R. C r i m . P . 5 7 9 . O n Ju l y 1 9 , 2 0 1 8 , th e C o mm o nw e a l th m o v e d t o c o n t i nu e th e h e ar i n g o n th e o mn i b u s p r e tr i a l m o t i o n , w h i c h th e C o urt g r an t e d
. O n Ju l y 2 6 , 2 0 1 8 , th e C o mm o nw e a l th r e qu e s t e d l e av e t o w i th dr aw i t s m o t i o n t o qu a s h , w h i c h th e C o urt g r an t e d b y o r d e r e n t e r e d Ju l y 3 1 , 2 0 1 8 . T h e C o urt a g a i n c o n t i nu e d th e h e ari n g o n Au g u s t 2 7 , 2 0 1 8 , N o v e mb e r 2 6 , 2 0 1 8 , an d J anu ary 3 0 , 2 0 1 9 . T h e C o urt c o n d

u c t e d th e o mn i b u s h e ar i n g o n M ar c h 7 , 2 0 1 9 . T h e C o mm o nw e a lth ar g u e s th a t th e C o urt s h o u l d h av e d e e m e d D e f e n d an t ' s i s s u e s t o b e w a i v e d b e c au s e th e m o t i o n t o s u p p r e s s w a s fil e d m o r e th an 3 0 d ay s a f t e r th e e n tr

y o f D e fe n d an t ' s w r i tt e n w a i v e r o f ar r a i g nm e n t . T h e C o urt d i s a g r e e s . F i r s t , th e C o mm o nw e a l th w i th dr e w i t s m o t i o n t o qu a s h o n th e s e g r o un d s , w a i vi n g any o b j e c t i o n i t h a d t o th e C o urt ' s c o n s i d e r at i o n o f th e i s s u e s r a i s e d
. S e c o n d , th e C M O e n t e r e d b y th e C o urt e x t e n d e d th e d e a d l i n e fo r fi li n g any o mn i b u s p r e - tr i a l m o t i o n s u

p t o 5 0 d ay s p r i o r t o th e d a t e s e t fo r tr i a l , a f t e r w h ic h th e C o urt c o u l d

2C o mm o nw e a l th v . Kr e a s h k o

N o . C P - 0 3
- C R - 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 · 2 0 1 8 d i s m i s s 

### s u a. s

p o n t e any un t i m e l y m o ti o n s . D e fe n d an t' s m o t i o n w a s fil e d w e ll w i th i n th at t i m e p e r i o d
. A c c o r d i n g l y , th e C o urt d i d n o t e rr i n n o t d e e m i n g D e f e n d an t ' s s u p p r e s s i o n i s s u e s t o b e w a i v e d
. T h e C o mm o nw e a l th s t a t e s i t s s e c o n d i s s u e a s fo ll o w s , v e r b at i m : T h e C o urt e r

r e d w h e n i t s u

p p r e s s e d th e e v i d e n c e i n th i s m att e r , fi n d i n g th a t th e d e fe n d an t h a d b e e n un l aw fu ll y d e t a i n e d
. T h e e vi d e n c e i n th i s m a tt e r w a s n o t fo un d o n th e d e fe n d an t , b u t r a th e r i n th e d e fe n d an t' s v e h i cl e w h i c h + d u e t o i t s b e i n g i mp r o p e r l y li c e n s e d · · w a s l aw fu ll y d e t a i n e d an d , p ur s u an t t o th e r e qu e s t an d c o n s e n t o f th e d e fe n d an t , w a s l aw fu ll y s e ar c h e d
. An d i n th e a lt e rn a t i v e , b e c au s e th e v e h i cl e w a s l aw f

u ll y d e t a i n e d an d w o u l d h av e b e e n t o w e d an d s ub j e c t e d t o an i nv e n t o r

y s e ar c h , th e e vi d e n c e w a s a l s o th e p r o d u c t o f i n e vi t ab l e d i s c o v e r

y . ( C o n c i s e S t a t e m e n t , a t 

## ,r 2 )
. T h e C o urt s e t fo rth i t s fi n d i n g s an d an a l y s i s i n i t s p r i o r m e m o r an d um an d s u p p l e m e n t s th a t an a l y s i s h e r e o n l y t o th e e x t e n t n e c e s s ar y t o a d dr e s s th e C o mm o nw e a lth ' s i s s u e s . F i r s t , n o w h e r e i n i t s s t a t e m e n t o f th i s i s s u e d o e s th e C o mm o nw e a l th ar g u e th a t e i th e r o f th e o f fi c e r s i nv o l v e d i n th i s c a s e h a d any s u s p i ci o n , r e a s o n ab l e o r o th e r w i s e , o f c r i m i n a l a c t i vi ty t o s u p p o rt a c o n t i nu e d d e t e n t i o n o f D e fe n d an t a f t e r th e i n i t i a l tr a ffi c s t o p h a d b e e n c o n cl u d e d
. S e c o n d , th e C o mm o nw e a l th ' s a s s e rt i o n th a t n o e vi d e n c e w a s fo un d o n th e D e fe n d an t' s p e r s o n c l e ar l y i s fa l s e . T h e o ff

i c e r s fo un d a l ar g e w a d o f c a s h i n D e f e n d an t ' s cl o th i n g a f

t e r th e y r e m o v e d h i m fr o m h i s v e h i cl e an d p a tt e d h i m d o w n fo r w e a p o n s , w h i c h th e y d i d n o t fi n d
. T h i r d , th e C o urt fo un d , b a s e d o n th e o n l y li v e w i tn e s s th at th e C o mm o nw e a l th c o u l d p r o d u c e , th a t th e r e a s o n fo r th e d e t e n t i o n o f D e f e n d an t w a s D e p u ty G ah a g an ' s b e l i e f i n th e " p o s s i b i li ty " th at s o m e th i n g c r i m i n a l w a s g o i n g o n .

3C o mm o nw e a l th v . Kr e a s h k o

N o . C P - 0 3
- C R - 0 0 0 0 1 2 2
- 2 0 1 8 T h e C o urt s p e c i fi c a ll y fo un d O f fi c e r An t a l' s t e s t i m o ny at th e p r e li m i n ar y h e ar i n g t o b e n o t c r e d i b l e , p arti c u l arl y s i n c e d e f e n s e c o un s e l n e v e r h a d th e o p p o rt un i ty t o c r o s s - e x am i n e h i m i n li g h t o f D e p u ty G ah a g an ' s c o n tr a d i c t o r y t e s t i m o ny o ff

e r e d m o r e th an a y e ar l a t e r . T h e d e ci s i o n t o d e t a i n D e f e n d an t' s v e h i cl e w a s m a d e a f t e r D e f e n d an t a l r e a dy h a d b e e n d e t a i n e d
. T h e C o mm o nw e a l th h a s o ff e r e d n o ar g um e n t th a t th e d e t e n t i o n o f D e fe n d an t w a s l aw fu l , an d fo r th a t r e a s o n , i t i s e n t i t l e d t o n o r e l i e f o n a p p e a l o n i t s fi r s t i s s u e . T h e C o mm o nw e a l th ar g u e s i n th e a l t e r n a t i v e th at , b e c au s e D e fe n d an t ' s v e h i cl e o th e r

w i s e w o u l d h av e b e e n d e t a i n e d , i mp o un d e d , an d s ub j e c t e d t o an i nv e n t o r y s e ar c h , th e i n c r i m i n a t i n g e vi d e n c e i n th e tr unk i n e vi t ab l y w o u l d h av e b e e n d i s c o v e r e d
. T h e C o mm o nw e a lth d i d n o t r a i s e , b r i e f , o r p r e s e n t any t e s t i m o ny r e g ar d i n g th i s i s s u e p r i o r t o fil i n g i t s c o n c i s e s t a t e m e n t . T hi s C o urt th e r e fo r e m a d e n o fi n d i n g s an d p e r fo rm e d n o l e g a l an a l y s i s r e g ar d i n g i n e vi t ab l e d i s c o v e r y . N e v e rth e l e s s , th e C o urt w ill a d dr e s s th e C o mm o nw e a l th ' s ar g um e n t h e r e i n b e c au s e i t fi n d s i t t o b e w i th o u t m e r i t i n any e v e n t . T h e " i n e vi t ab l e d i s c o v e r y " d o c tr i n e p r o v i d e s fo r th e a dm i s s i o n o f c e rt a i n o th e r w i s e ill e g a ll y - o b t a i n e d e vi d e n c e i f : [ th e ] e vi d e n c e w h i c h w o u l d h av e b e e n d i s c o v e r e d w a s s u ffi c i e n tl y p ur g e d o f th e o r i g i n a l i ll e g a li ty t o a ll o w a dm i s s i o n o f th e e vi d e n c e . . . [ I ] mp l i c i t i n th i s d o c tr i n e i s th e fa c t th a t th e e vi d e n c e w o u l d h av e b e e n d i s c o v e r e d d e s p i t e th e i n i t i a l ill e g a li ty . If th e p ro s e c u t i o n c an e s t ab l i s h b y a p r e p o n d e r an c e o f th e e vi d e n c e th a t th e ill e g a ll y o b t a i n e d e v i d e n c e u l t i m a t e l y o r i n e vi t ab l y w o u l d h av e b e e n d i s c o v e r e d b y l aw fu l m e an s , th e e vi d e n c e i s a dm i s s i b l e . T h e p ur p o s e o f th e i n e vi t ab l e d i s c o v e r y r u l e i s t o b l o c k s e tt i n g a s i d e c o nvi c t i o n s th a t w o u l d h av e b e e n o b t a i n e d w i th o ut p o l i c e m i s c o n d u c t .

4C o mm o nw e a l th v . Kr e a s h k o

N o . C P - 0 3
- C R - 0 0 0 0 1 2 2
- 2 0 1 8 

### C o m m o n w e a l t

h v. G o nza le

z , 9 7 9 A. 2 d 8 7 9 , 8 9 0 ( P a . S u p e r . C t . 2 0 0 9 ) ( c i t a t i o n s o m i tt e d ) ; 

### S

e e a l s o C o m m o n w e a l t

h v. B a i le y, 9 8 6 A. 2 d 8 6 0 , 8 6 2
- 8 6 3 ( P a . S u p e r . C t . 2 0 0 9 )
. W i th r e g ar d t o th e " i nv e n t o r y s e ar c h " th a t th e C o mm o nw e a l th ar g u e s w o u l d h av e b e e n p e r fo rm e d , th e fa c t o f s u c h an i n e vi t ab l e s e ar c h i s n o t e s t ab li s h e d i n th e r e c o r d
. O ffi c e r An t a l t e s t i fi e d a t th e p r e l i m i n ar y h e ari n g th a t h e a s k e d D e fe n d an t t o s t e p o u t o f th e v e h i cl e b e c au s e i t w a s g o i n g t o b e r e m o v e d fr o m th e s c e n e b y a t o w tr u c k
. ( C o urt E x . " 1 , " a t 1 0 : s - 1 2 )
. T h e C o urt fo un d th i s s t at e d j u s t i fi c a t i o n fo r r e m o vi n g D e fe n d an t fr o m h i s v e h i cl e t o b e c o n tr a d i c t o r y t o D e p uty G ah a g an ' s t e s t i m o ny an d , th e r e fo r e , n o t c r e d i b l e . N e v e rth e l e s s , e v e n a s s um i n g th a t th e v e h i cl e w o u l d h av e b e e n t o w e d aw ay a s a m a tt e r o f c o ur s e b e c au s e o f an i nv a li d
r e g i s tr a t i o n , O ffi c e r An t a l furth e r t e s t i fi e d : 

### Q
. Wh a t i f anyth i n g e l s e d i d y o u l e ar n fr o m M r . Kr e a s h k o ? A H e h a d p r i o r c h ar g e s fo r P o s s e s s i o n w i th In t e n t t o D e l i v e r N ar c o t i c s , an d h e w a s o u t o n b o n d fo r th o s e c h ar g e s . Q . D i d M r . Kr e a s h k o v o l un t e e r th i s i n fo rm a t i o n t o y o u ? A Y e s , th at' s w h a t h e t o l d m e a f t e r I a s k e d h i m . Q . Wh a t d i d y o u d o n e x t ? B a s e d u p o n h i s s t at e m e n t s an d th e m o n e y y o u fo un d , d i dy o u a s k h i m a g a i n a b o u t h i s c ar ? A I d i d
. I th e n a g a i n a s k e d h i m i f h e h a d anyth i n g ill e g a l i n s i d e o f h i s c ar , an d h e s t a t e d n o . I a l s o a dvi s e d h i m th a t I w o u l d
- - I am i mp o un d i n g h i s v e h i cl e un t il I c an o b t a i n a s e ar c h w ar r an t fo r h i s v e h i cl e b a s e d o n th e l ar g e am o un t o f m o n e y an d h i s p r e v i o u s c h ar g e s fo r dr u g d e li v e r

y . Q . D i d y o u s e ar c h th e c ar ?

5C o mm o nw e a l th v . Kr e a s h k o

N o . C P - 0 3
- C R - 0 0 0 0 1 2 2
- 2 0 1 8 

### A. I d i dn ' t . W e ll , a f t e r I a dvi s e d h i m o f th a t h e s a i d s e ar c h th e c ar . ( C o mmw . E x . " 1 , " a t 1 2 : 3
- 2 5 ) , E i th e r O f fi c e r An t a l o r D e p u ty G ah a g an at s o m e p o i n t c o n t a c t e d " J i m ' s T o w i n g " t o c o m e an d r e tr i e v e D e fe n d an t' s v e h i cl e . 

# u a , 5 7 : 3 - 5 8 : 1 6 )
. T h e r e i s n o e vi d e n c e i n th e r e c o r d e s t ab li s h i n g th e s t an d ar d p o l i c y fo ll o w e d b y G i l p i n T o w n s h i p P o li c e D e p artm e n t fo r c o n d u c t i n g i nv e n t o r

y s e ar c h e s o f i mp o un d e d v e h i cl e s . It a l s o i s cl e ar fr o m O ffi c e r An t a l' s t e s t i m o ny th a t s u c h a r o u t i n e i nv e n t o r

y s e ar c h w a s n o t g o i n g t o b e c o n d u c t e d w i th o u t a s e ar c h w ar r an t , w h i c h h e i n t e n d e d t o p r o c ur e b a s e d o n th e m o n e y fo un d o n D e f e n d an t ' s p e r s o n an d D e fe n d an t ' s s t a t e m e n t s a b o u t h i s c r i m i n a l r e c o r d
. T h e C o mm o nw e a l th th e r e fo r e h a s fa i l e d t o e s t ab li s h th e n e c e s s ar y e l e m e n t s o f th e i n e vi t ab l e d i s c o v e r y d o c tr i n e i n th a t i t h a s fa il e d t o e s t ab l i s h th a t an i nv e n t o r y s e ar c h i n d e p e n d e n t o f th e o r i g i n a l i ll e g a li ty w o u l d h av e b e e n c o n d u c t e d an d th e i n c r i m i n at i n g e vi d e n c e fo un d
. F o r th e s e r e a s o n s , an d b a s e d o n th e fi n d i n g s an d an a l y s i s s e t fo rth i n th e C o urt ' s M ay 6 , 2 0 1 9 , m e m o r an d um , I r e c o mm e n d a ff

i rm an c e o n th e i s s u e s r a i s e d i n th e C o mm o nw e a lth ' s C o n c i s e S t a t e m e n t .

B y th e C o urt :



# / :i ! / l. nchik, P . J .

6