THI RD DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, BOGGS and BRA NCH, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s /

M ar ch 26, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 4 A2 19 7 . SELLERS v . THE STATE.

B A R N E S , Pres i d i n g J ud g e.

Ch arl es Dewey Sel lers al l eg ed l y fl ed fro m t h e s cen e o f a t raffi c s t o p

, l ead i n g

t h e p o l i ce o n a hi gh s p eed car ch as e i n wh i ch h e s t ru ck an o th er v eh i cl e, d i s card ed

co cai n e fro m h i s ca r w i n d o w

, an d at t em p ted t o b ri b e a p o l i ce o ffi cer fo l lo wi n g h i s

ap p reh en s i o n . Aft er p l ead i n g g u i l ty i n s t at e co u rt t o t h e t raffi c o ffen s e o f fo l l o wi n g

t o o cl o s el y

, Sel l ers was i nd i ct ed i n s u p eri o r co u rt o n ch arg es o f t raffi ck i n g i n co cai ne,

p o s s e s s i o n o f co cai n e wi t h i n t en t t o d i s t ri b u t e, ab an d o n m en t o f d ru gs i n a p u b l i c

p l ace, b r i b e r y, a n d fl eei n g o r at t em p t i n g t o el ud e a po l i ce o ffi cer. Sel lers fi l ed a

m o ti o n i n au t refo i s co n v i ct an d p l e a o f f o rm er jeo p ard y (t h e “ p ro ced u ral d o u b l e

jeo p ard y m o ti o n ”), co n t en d i n g t h at al l co u n t s o f t h e i nd i ct m en t ret u rn ed i n s u p eri o r

co u rt sh o u l d be d i s m i s sed as a res u l t o f h i s g ui l t y p l ea i n s t at e co u rt

. Sel l ers al s o fi l ed

a m o t i o n t o s u p p res s th e co cai n e, co n t en di n g

, am on g o t h er t h in g s

, t h at t h e t raffi c s t o ph ad b een u n reas o nab l y p ro l o n g ed an d t h at t h e co cai n e al l eg ed l y di s card ed fro m h i s

v eh icl e was t h e t ai n t ed fru it o f h i s u n l awfu l d et en ti o n

.

Th e s u p eri o r co urt d en i ed Sel l ers ’ s p ro ced u ral d o u b l e jeo p ard y m o t i o n

, wi th

t h e ex cep t i o n o f t h e ch arg e fo r fl eei n g o r at t em p t i n g t o el u de a po l i ce o ffi cer, wh i ch

t h e co u rt fo u n d w as b arred as a res u l t o f Sel l ers ’ s p ri o r g u i l t y p l ea in s t at e co u rt

. Th e

s u p eri o r co u rt al s o d en i ed S e l l ers ’ s m o t i on t o s u pp res s

. Sel lers n o w ap peal s t h es e

ru l i n gs

. 1 W e affi rm t h e su p eri o r co urt ’ s p art ial d en ia l o f t h e p ro ced u ral d o u b l e

jeo p ard y m o t i o n b ecau s e Sel l ers fai l ed t o es tab l is h t h at t h e s o l i ci to r w h o han d l ed h i s

g u i l t y p lea i n s t at e c o u r t a c t u a l l y k n ew o f t h e o th er cri m es ari s i n g o u t of t h e s am e

co n du ct as t h e t raffi c o ffen s e t o wh i ch h e p l ed g u i l t y

. W e affi rm t h e s u peri o r co urt ’ s

d en ial o f t h e m o t i o n t o s u p p res s b ecau se t he d i s card ed co cai n e was n o t t ai n t ed b y an y

al l eg ed i l l eg al it y

i n Sel l ers ’ s d et en t i o n

.

Co n st ru ed in fav or o f t h e t ri al co u r t ’ s ru l i n gs

, t he reco rd s h ows t h at aft er

recei v i n g i n fo rm at io n fro m a co n fi d en t i al i n fo rm an t t h at Sel l ers p o s s es s ed a l arg e

am ou n t o f co cai n e, an i nv es ti g at o r wi t h t h e Ci t y of Bru n swi ck Po l ice Dep art m en t an d

1 A “ t im el y f

i l ed p lea o f d o u b l e jeo p ard y is di rect l y ap p eal ab l e.” Ma l l o y v.

S t a t e

, 2 9 3 Ga. 35 0

, 3 5 2 (1 ) (7 4 4 SE2 d 7 7 8 ) (2 0 1 3 ). Gi v en Sel l ers ’ s ri g h t t o d i rect l y

ap p eal t h e d en i al o f h i s p ro ced u ral do u b le jeo p ard y m o ti o n

, h e was en t i t l ed t o s eek

ap p el l at e rev i ew o f t he d en ial o f h i s m o ti on t o su p pres s p u rs u an t to OCGA § 5 -6 -3 4

(d ). See i d

.

2o t h er m em

b ers o f h i s n arco t i cs en fo rcem en t t eam co n d u ct ed s u rv ei l l an ce o f Sel l ers

o v er t h e co u rs e o f s ev eral d ay s o n J ek y l l Is l an d

. O n J u n e 6

, 2 01 3

, th e in v es t i g at o r

recei v ed ad d i t i o n al in fo rm at i o n t h at Sel l ers m i g h t b e i n v o l v ed i n a l arg e d ru g

t ran s act io n an d m i g h t b e l eav in g t o wn t h at day

. Aft er o b s erv in g Sel l ers d ri v i n g away

fro m J ek y l l Is lan d aro u nd n o o n

, t h e i n v es t i g at or rad i oed t h e m ak e, m od el

, an d t ag

n u m b er o f Sel l er s ’ s v eh icl e t o a t ro o p er wi th t h e Geo rg i a St at e Pat ro l wh o was

i n v o l v ed i n t h e s u rv ei l l an ce o p erat i o n

.

Th e s t at e t ro o p er i den t i fi ed an d b eg an t o fo l l o w Sel lers ’ s v eh i c l e as i t l eft

J ek y l l Is l an d an d p ro ceed ed d o wn a h ig h way i n Gl y nn Co u nt y

. Bel iev i n g t h at t h e t i nt

o n t h e wi n d o ws o f Sel lers ’ s v eh i cl e was d ark er t han was l eg al l y p erm i s s i b l e, t h e

t ro o p er i n i ti at ed a t raffi c s to p

. T h e t ro o p er ap p ro ach ed t he st o p p ed v eh i cl e, as k ed to

s ee Sel lers ’ s d ri v er’ s l i cen se, an d tes t ed t h e t i n t on t h e car wi n d o ws u s i n g a ti n t m et er.

Al t h o u g h t h e m et er s ho wed t h at t he wi n d o w t i n t was wi t h i n t h e l e g a l l i m i t

, t h e

t ro o p er t o l d Sel l ers t h a t h e w o u l d i ss u e h i m a wri t t en warn i n g fo r p u rp o s es o f

“ d o cu m en t at i o n .” Th e t ro o per al s o as k ed Sel l ers i f h e co ul d s earch h i s v eh i cl e, an d

Sel l ers co n s en t ed

. Th e t ro o p e r t h en ret u rn ed t o h i s p at ro l car an d rad i o ed fo r

as s i s tan ce fro m

an o t h er o ffi cer i n co n d uct i n g t h e s earch

.

3Befo re t he o t her o ffi cer arri v ed at th e s cen e o r t h e s earch h ad b een co n d u ct ed

,

Sel l ers

, wh o h ad n ot y et recei v ed h i s d ri v er’ s l i cen se b ac k o r th e wri t t en warn i n g,

d ro v e off at a h i g h rat e o f s p eed i n t o h eav y t raffi c. A p o l i c e c h as e en s u ed i n wh i ch

Sel l ers “ fo ll o wed real l y cl o s e t o t wo o r t hree

. . . [o t h er] cars ” o n t h e h i g hway as h e

at t em p t ed t o ev ad e t h e p o l i ce. Sel l ers s i d es wi p ed an ot h er car b u t co nt i n u ed fl eei n g

fro m t h e res p o nd i n g offi cers

. Ul t i m at el y

, Sel lers p ul l ed o ff t h e ro ad an d s urren d ered

t o t he p o l i ce.

Aft er Sel l ers was t ak en in t o cu s to d y

, offi cers s earch ed h is v eh i cl e b u t d i d n ot

d i s co v er an y i l l eg al d ru g s i n s i d e o f i t

. Ho wev er, o ffi cers al s o s earch ed t h e s i d e o f t h e

ro ad al o n g t h e ro u t e wh ere t h e ch as e o ccu rred an d f o u n d a p ack ag e co n t ai n i n g

ap p ro x i m at el y 2 .5 p o u nd s o f po wd er co cai n e. Th e p ack ag e was dam ag ed

, co n s i s t en t

wi t h h av i n g b een t h ro wn fro m a v eh i cl e.

Sel l ers w as t ran s p o rt ed t o t h e Gl y nn Co u nt y Po l i ce Dep art m en t an d ad v i s ed o f

h i s ri g h ts u n d e r M

i r a n da v. A r i

z o n a

, 38 4 U. S. 43 6 (8 6 SCt 16 0 2, 16 LE2 d 6 9 4 )

(1 9 6 6). Sel l ers ag reed t o s p eak wi t h t h e p o l i ce an d al l eg ed l y o ffered to co m p en s at e

o n e o f t h e o ffi cers i f t h e ch arg es ag ai n s t h i m were d ro p p ed

.

Sel l ers was ch arg ed i n th e St at e Co u rt o f Gl y n n Co u nt y wi t h th e m i s d em ean o r

t raffi c o ffen s e o f fo l lo w i n g t o o cl o s el y

. On Sep t em b er 1 7

, 2 01 3

, Sel l ers ap p eared in

4s t at e co urt wi t h h i s p u bl i c d efen d er an d a s t at e s o l i c i t o r an d pl ed g u i l t y t o t h at

o ffen s e. He was s en t en ced t o t h ree d ay s wi t h cred it fo r t i m e s erv ed

.

O n O ct o ber 3 1, 2 0 1 3, Sel l ers was in d ict ed i n t h e Su p eri o r Co u rt o f Gl yn n

Co u n t y o n ch arg es o f t raffi ck i n g i n co cai n e, p o s s es si o n o f co cai n e wi t h i n t en t to

d i s t ri b u t e, ab an d o n m en t o f d ru g s i n a p u b l i c pl ace, b ri b ery

, an d fl eei n g o r at t em p t i n g

t o el u d e a p o l i ce o ffi cer. Sel l ers fi l ed a p ro ced u ral do u b l e jeo p ard y m o t i o n p u rs u an t

t o OCGA § § 1 6-1 -7 (b ) an d 1 6

- 1

- 8 ( b ) ( 1 ), co n t en di n g t h at al l co u nt s o f t h e

i n d i ct m en t s h o u ld b e d is m i s s ed as a res ul t o f h i s g ui lt y p lea in s t at e co u rt t o t h e

m i s d em ean o r t raffi c o ffen s e. Sel l ers al s o f i l ed a m o t i o n t o s u pp res s t h e co cai n e

d i s card ed o n t h e s i d e o f t h e ro ad

, co n t en d i n g

, am on g o t h er t h i n g s

, t h at t h e s t at e

t ro o p er u n reas o n ab l y p ro l o n g ed t h e d u rat i on o f t h e t raffi c s t o p aft er l earn i n g t h at t h e

car wi n d o w t i n t was wi t h i n l eg al l i m i t s

, an d t h at t h e co cai n e was i n ad m is s ib l e as fru i t

o f t h e u n l awfu l d et en t i o n

.

Th e s u p eri o r co u rt co n d uct ed ev i den t ia r y he a r ings on both of S e lle r s’ s m o t i o n s

.

Fo l l o wi ng t h e heari n g s

, t h e s u p eri o r co u rt d en i ed Sel l er s ’s p r o ced u ral d o u b l e

jeo p ard y m o t i o n

, w i t h t h e ex cep t i o n o f t he co un t o f fl eei n g o r at t em p t i n g t o el u de a

p o l i ce o ffi cer, wh i ch t h e co u rt fo un d was b arred

. Th e s u p eri o r co u rt al s o d e n i ed

5Sel l ers ’ s m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

. T h i s ap p eal fo l l o w ed i n wh i ch Sel l ers ch al l en g es t h o s e

ru l i n gs

. 2

1

. Sel lers co n t en ds t h at t h e s u p eri o r co u rt erred b y d en y i n g h i s p ro ced u ral

d o u b l e jeo p ard y m o t i o n as t o t h e fel o n y ch arg es o f t raffi ck i n g i n co cai n e, p o s s es s i o n

o f co cai n e wi t h i nt en t t o d i s tri b u t e, ab an d o n m en t o f dru g s i n a p u b li c p l ace, an d

b ri b ery

. He co nt en d s t h at p u rs u an t t o OCGA § § 1 6-1 -7 (b ) an d 1 6 -1 -8 (b ) (1 ), h i s p l ea

o f g u i l t y t o t h e m i s dem ean or traffi c o ffen s e o f fo ll o wi n g t o o c l o s e l y i n s tat e co u rt

b arred an y s u b seq u en t p ro s ecu t i o n fo r t h e fo u r fel o n y o ffen s es i n s up eri o r co u rt

. W e

d i s ag ree.

Th e p r o c ed u ral as p ect o f d o u b l e jeo p ard y u n d er Geo rg ia l aw i s s et fo rt h in

OCGA § 1 6 -1 -7 (b ), w h i c h “ req u i res th e St at e t o p ro s ecu t e cri m es i n a s i n g l e

p ro s ecu ti o n if th e cri m es (1 ) ari s e fro m th e s am e co n d u ct

, (2 ) are k n o wn t o th e p ro p er

p ro s ecu ti n g o ffi cer at t h e t i m e of co m m en ci n g t h e p ro secu t i o n

, an d (3 ) are wi t h i n t h e

ju ri s d i ct i o n o f a s i ng le co u rt .” W ea ver v. S t a t e

, 2 2 4 Ga. Ap p

. 24 3 (4 8 0 S E 2 d 2 8 6 )

(1 9 9 7)

. “ A s e c o n d p ro s ecu t io n i s b arred u nd er OCGA § 1 6 -1 -8 (b ) (1 ) i f i t i s fo r

cri m es wh i ch s ho u l d hav e been b ro u g ht i n th e fi rs t p ro s ecu t i o n u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -1 -7

2 Th e St at e d oes n o t ap p eal or o th erwi s e ch al l en g e th e s u p e r i o r c o u rt ’ s g ran t

o f Sel l ers ’ s p ro ced u ral d o ub l e jeo p ard y m o t i o n o n t h e ch arg e of fl eei n g o r at t em p t i n g

t o el u d e a p o l i ce o ffi cer. Co n s eq u en t ly , t h e p ro p ri et y o f t hat ru l i n g i s n ot b efo re u s

.

6(b ).” Ni cel

y v. S t a t e

, 3 0 5 Ga. Ap p

. 3 8 7

, 3 8 8 (1 ) (6 99 SE2 d 7 7 4 ) (2 0 10 ). A l l t h ree

p ro n gs o f OCGA § 1 6-7 -1 (b ) m u s t b e s at i s fi ed fo r pro ced u ral d o u b l e jeo p ard y t o b ar

a s eco n d p ro s ecu t i o n . Id

.

Ou r fo cu s h ere i s o n th e s eco n d p ro n g of OCGA § 1 6 -7 -1 (b ), t h e k n o wl ed g e

o f t h e p ro per p ro s ecu t i n g o ffi cer. In d et erm i n i n g wh at i s k n o wn t o t h e p ro p er

p ro s ecu ti n g o ffi cer, o u r Su prem e Co u rt h as reject ed a co n s t ru ct i v e k n o wl ed g e

s t an d ard an d i n s t ead h as ad o p ted an act u al k n owl ed g e t es t

. See Ba ker v. St a t e

, 2 5 7

Ga. 5 6 7

, 5 6 8-5 69 (3 6 1 SE2 d 8 0 8 ) ( 1 9 8 7 )

. Un der t h e act u al k n owl ed g e t es t

, t h e

d efen d an t b ears t he b urd en o f affi rm at i v el y s h owi n g th at t h e p ro p er p ro s ecu t i n g

o ffi cer act u al l y k n ew t hat t h ere were o t h er cri m es ari s i n g o u t o f t h e s am e co n d u ct as

t h e cri m e t h at t he o ffi cer w as p ro s e cu t i n g

. See i d

. See Po we v. S t a te

, 25 7 Ga. 5 6 3,

5 6 3 -5 6 5 (3 6 1 SE2 d 8 11 ) ( 1 9 8 7 ) ; Tu r n er v. S t at e

, 2 38 Ga. Ap p

. 4 3 8

, 4 3 8 -4 4 0 (5 1 8

SE2 d 92 3 ) (1 9 9 9 ) ; H

o n ea v. St a t e

, 2 3 8 Ga. Ap p

. 13 5

, 13 5 -1 3 7 (5 1 7 SE2 d 8 4 1 )

(1 9 9 9); Hi l l v. S t at e , 2 34 Ga. Ap p . 1 7 3

, 1 7 5 -1 7 7 (1 ) (5 0 7 SE2 d 3 ) (1 9 9 8 ).

In t h i s cas e, t h e p ro p er p ro s ecu t i n g o ffi cer w as t he s o l i ci to r wh o h an d l ed

Sel l ers ’ s g u i lt y

p l ea i n s tat e co u rt

.

Th e p ro s ecu t i n g o ffi cer in t h e s t at e co u rt i s t he p ers o n wh o s e k n o wl ed ge

m at t ers

. . . , b ecau s e [Sel l ers ’ s ] p lea in s t at e co u rt i s t he p ro ceed i n g t hat

7h e cl ai m s b ars hi s s u p e r i o r co urt p ro s ecu ti on

. W h ere a cri m i nal

d efen d an t fi rs t p l ead s gu i l t y t o a m i s d em ean o r i n s t at e co u rt an d is lat er

p ro s ecu t ed i n s u p eri o r co u rt fo r fel o n y ch arg es al l eg ed l y ari s i ng o u t o f

t h e s am e co n du ct

, we lo o k t o t h e k n owl ed g e of t h e s t at e co u rt so l i ci t o r

t o d et erm i n e i f t h e s t at e co u rt p ro ceed i ng s b ar t h e s u b s eq u en t s u p eri o r

co u rt p ro ceed i ng s

.

Ba r lo we v. S t a t e

, 2 86 Ga. Ap p

. 1 3 3

, 1 3 4 (6 4 8 SE2 d 4 7 1) (2 0 0 7 ). See Dea n v. S t a t e

,

3 0 9 Ga. Ap p

. 45 9

, 4 6 1 (7 1 1 SE2 d 4 2 ) (2 0 1 1); E ti en n e v

. S t a te

, 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p

. 1 4 9,

1 5 0 -1 5 1 (6 7 9 SE2 d 3 7 5 ) (2 0 0 9 ). M o reo v er, “ [w] h i l e it m ay b e reas o n ab l e t o i m p u t e

t h e k n owl ed g e o f o n e p ro s ecu t i n g o ffi cer t o o t hers wo rk i n g i n t h e s am e o ffi ce, i t i s

n o t reas o n ab l e t o d o s o wh ere t wo en t i rel y s ep arat e p r o s e c u t i n g o ffi ces are

i n v o l v ed [.] ” P o we v. S t a t e

, 1 8 1 Ga. Ap p

. 4 2 9

, 4 3 1 (3 5 2 SE2 d 7 8 3 ) (1 9 8 6), aff’ d,

Po we

, 2 57 Ga. 5 63

. Hen ce, t h e k n owl ed ge o f t h e as s i s t an t d i s t ri ct at t o rn ey h an d l i n g

t h e p ro s ecu t io n of Sel l ers in su p eri o r co u rt fo r t h e fel o n y o ffen s es can n o t b e i m p u t ed

t o t h e s o li ci t o r wh o h an d l ed Sel l ers ’ s g u i l t y p l ea t o t h e traffi c o ffen se i n s t at e co u rt

.

See i d

.

Bas ed o n t h i s preced en t

, Sel l ers h ad t h e b u rd en of affi rm at i v el y s h o wi n g t h at

t h e s t at e co u rt s o l i ci t or act u al l y k n ew o f t h e fel o ny o ffen s es ari si n g o u t o f t h e s am e

8c o n d u ct as t h e t raffi c offen s e o f d ri v i n g t oo cl o s el y t o wh i ch he p l ed g u i l t y. We

co n cl u d e t hat Sel l ers fai l ed t o carry h i s b u rd en u n d er t h e ci rcu m s t an ces o f t h i s cas e.

Sel l ers d i d no t cal l t h e s t at e co u rt s o l i ci to r as a wi t n e s s a t t h e h eari n g o n h i s

p ro ced ural d o ub l e j eo pard y m o t i o n

. In s t ead

, Sel lers ar g u ed t h at t h e s o l i ci t o r m u s t

h av e act u al l y k n o w n o f t h e fel o n y o ffen ses b as ed o n a d o cu m en t en t i t l ed “ In m at e

Ch arg e/ D i s p o s i ti o n Fo rm ” t h at h ad b een co m p l et ed b y a b o o ki n g offi cer at t h e Gl y n n

Co u n t y Det en t i o n Cen ter (t h e “ d i s p o si t i o n fo rm ”). Th ere was t e stim o n y at t h e h eari n g

t h at t h e cu s t o m ary p r o c e d u r e was fo r a di s p o s i t i o n fo rm t o acco m p an y an i n m at e

wh en ev er h e o r sh e was t ak en fro m th e d et en ti on cen t er to a co u rt ro o m i n st at e co u rt

,

wh ere t h e fo rm w o ul d b e rev i ewed b y th e s o l i ci t o r as s i gn ed t o t h e cas e an d t h e t ri al

ju d g e. Th e di sp o si t io n fo rm i n cl u d ed a ch art fo r l i s t i n g o ffen s es wi t h wh i ch an i n m at e

h ad b een ch arg ed an d a s ep arat e ch art fo r l i st i ng t h e d i s p o si t i o n o f t h o s e o ffen s es

.

Th e d i s p o s i t i o n fo rm i n t h i s cas e l i s t ed Sel lers ’ s o ffen s es as “ t raffi ck i n g in

co cai n e, i l l eg al d ru g s

, m ari ju an a o r m et h am

p h et am i n e” an d b ri b ery

. It d id n o t l i s t t h e

d at es u p o n wh i ch t h o s e o ffen s es al l eg ed l y h ad o ccu rred o r p r o v i d e an y fact u al

d es cri p t io n o f t h e ci rcu m s t an ces s u rro u n di n g t h o s e o ffen s es

. Th e s ep arat e ch art o n

t h e fo rm fo r li s ti n g t h e d i s p o s i t i o n o f t h e o ffen s es was l eft b l an k. Th e di s p o s i t i o n

fo rm al s o i n cl ud ed a n o t at i o n t h at Sel l ers h ad b een co nfi n ed at t he d et en t i on cen t er

9s i nce J u n e 6 , 2 0 13 an d t h at t h e fo rm h ad b een co m p l et ed by t h e b o ok i n g o ffi cer o n

Sep tem b er 1 6 , 2 0 1 3, t he d ay

b efo re t h e p l ea h eari ng i n s t at e co urt

.

Th e d i s p o s i t i o n fo rm w as l eg al l y i n su ffi ci en t t o s h ow t ha t the solici to r h an d l i n g

Sel l ers ’ s g u il t y p l ea i n s tat e co u rt act u al l y k n ew t h a t t h ere were fel o n y o ffen s es

ari s in g o u t o f t h e s am e co n du ct as t h e m i s d em ean o r t raffi c o ffen se. W e reach ed t h e

s am e co n cl u s i on in Tu r n er

, 2 3 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 3 9

, wh ere w e h el d th at a “ b o o k i n g

h i s t o ry ” fo rm

, w h ich l i s t ed t h e d efen d an t ’ s p en d in g fel o n y o ffen s es an d t h e d at e h e

h a d b e e n p u t i n jai l, was i ns u ffi ci en t t o s h ow t hat t h e s o l i ci t o r act u al ly k n ew t h at

t h o s e o ffen s es aro s e o ut o f th e s am e co n d u ct as t h e m is d em ean o r t raffi c o ffen s es to

wh i ch th e d efen d an t p led g u i l t y i n s t at e co u rt

. W e c o n cl u ded t h at t h e act u al

k n o wl ed g e t es t had n ot b een s at i s fi ed

, al t h o u g h t h e “ b oo k in g h i s t o ry ” fo rm s h o wed

t h at t h e d efen d an t “ was b o o k ed i n t o jai l o n [t h e] fel o n y ch arg es o n t h e s am e d at e h e

was b oo k ed i n to jai l on t h e t raffi c o ffen s es .” Id

. at 44 0

. W e reas o n ed t h at th e d at e a

d efen d a n t i s b o o ked i n jai l “ d o es n o t n eces s ari ly in d i cat e th e d at e an o ffen s e was

co m m i t t ed ,” an d t hat t h e “ p ro s ecu t or d i d no t k no w fro m t h e b o ok i n g h i s to ry wh en t h e

l i st ed fel on y o ffen s es o ccu rred

, l et al o n e i f t hey aro s e o u t o f t he s am e t ran s act i o n as

t h e t raffi c o ffen s es

. ” Id

. Bas ed o n th e reas on i ng o f Tu r n er

, we co n cl u d e t h at t h e

d i s p o s i t i on fo rm i n t h i s cas e

– wh i ch s i m p l y l i s t ed fel o n y o ffen s es (i n cl u d i ng a

10v ag uel y w o rd ed d ru g ch arg e t h at d i d n o t m ak e cl ear t h e s p e c i f i c d ru g at i s s u e) an d

t h e d at e Sel l ers was i n i t i al ly d et ai n ed

– fai l ed to dem o n st rat e t h at t h e s t at e co u rt

s o l i ci t o r act u al l y k n ew o f t he fel o n y o ffen s es ari s i n g o u t of t h e s am e co n d u ct as t h e

t raffi c o ffen s e.

Sel l ers al s o p o in t s o u t t hat

, at t h e h eari n g o n h i s p r o ced u ral d o u bl e jeo p ard y

m o ti o n

, h e cal l e d as a wi tn es s an at t o rn ey wh o h ap p en ed to b e p res en t i n t h e

co u rt ro o m wh en S e l l ers p l ed g u i lt y t o t h e t raffi c o ffen s e. W h en as k ed i f h e h ad

o v erh eard at th e p l ea heari n g “ an y co n vers at i o n am o n gs t th e Co u rt an d M r. Sel l ers

reg ard i n g an y

o t h er s i tu at i o n s t h at h e m ay b e faci n g,” t he at t o rn ey

t es t i fi ed

, “ Yeah

,

t h ere was s om e di s cu s si o n at t h e b en ch t h at M r. Sel lers h ad b i g ger p ro b l em s u p s t ai rs

was t h e to p i c.” Becau s e th e at t o rn ey d i d no t el ab o rat e an y fu rt h er reg ard i n g wh at was

d i s cu s s ed at t h e p lea h eari n g or ev en m en t i o n t h e s t at e co u rt s o l i ci t o r, h i s t es t i m o ny

p l ai n l y was i ns u ffi ci en t t o sh o w t hat th e s o l ici t or a c t u a l l y kn ew o f th e ot h er fel o ny

o ffen s es ari s i n g o u t o f t h e s am e co n d u ct as t h e t raffi c o ffen s e t o wh i ch Sel l ers p l ed

g u i l t y

. See Po we

, 2 57 Ga. at 5 6 4 -5 6 5 (d efen dan t ’ s s t at em en t i n s t at e co u rt t h at h e h ad

an o th er cas e p en d i n g ag ai n s t h im i n su p eri o r co u rt

, w i t ho u t fu rt h er el ab orat i o n

, was

i n s u ffi ci en t t o sh o w th at t h e s tat e co u rt s ol i ci t o r act u al l y k new t h at t h e s u p eri o r co u rt

ch arg es aro s e o u t o f th e s am e co n d u ct as t h e t r a ffi c o ffen s e t o wh i ch t h e d efen d an t

11p l ed g ui l t y) ; B a n k s v. S t a t e

, 3 2 0 G a. Ap p

. 9 8, 10 0 (7 39 SE2 d 4 14 ) (2 01 3 ) (act u al

k n o wl ed g e t es t was no t sat is fi ed

, wh e r e p l e a h eari n g t ran scri p t refl ect ed “ o n l y t h at

t h e p ro s ecu t i n g at t o rn ey h ad k n o wl ed g e t h at [t h e d efen dan t ] co u l d face o t h er ch arg es

,

n o t t h at he h ad k n o wl ed g e t h at t h e ev en ts g i v i n g ri se t o t h es e o t h er ch arg es t oo k p l ace

o n t h e s am e d ay o r at t h e s am e l o cat i o n as th e [ch arg e t o wh i ch t h e d efen d an t p l ed

g u i l t y ] ”).

Fo r th e fo reg o i ng reas o n s

, we co n cl ud e t ha t Sel l ers fai l ed t o p ro v i d e an y

ev i d en ce t h at t h e s o l i ci t o r wh o han d l ed hi s g u il t y p lea t o t h e t raffi c o ffen s e o f

fo l l o w i n g t o o cl o s el y h ad act u al k n o wl ed g e th at Sel l ers co m m i t t ed fel o n y o ff

e n s e s

ari s in g o u t of t h e s am e co n d u ct as t h e t raffi c o ffen s e. Th e St at e t h erefo re m ay p ro ceed

wi t h i t s p ro s ecu t i o n o f Sel l ers i n s u p eri or co u rt o n t h e fel o ny ch arg es o f t raffi ck i n g

i n co cai n e, p o s s es s i o n o f co cai n e w i t h in t en t t o d i s t ri b u t e, ab an do n m en t o f d ru g s in

a p ub l i c p l ace, an d b ri b ery

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt p ro p e r l y den i ed Sel l ers ’ s p ro ced u ral

d o u b l e jeo p ard y

m ot io n wi t h res p ect t o t h o s e ch arg es

. 3

2

. S e l l ers fu rt h er co n t en d s t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h i s m o t i o n t o

s u p p res s t h e co cai n e d i s c a r d e d on t h e s i d e o f t h e ro ad wh ere t h e p o l ice ch as e

3 Becau s e Sel l ers fai l ed t o d em o n s t rat e t hat t h e s o l i ci t or h ad t h e req u is i t e act u al

k n o wl ed g e, we d o n o t reach t h e q u es t i o n wh et h er t h e o t h er t wo pro n g s o f OCGA §

1 6 -1 -7 (b ) were s at is fi ed

.

12o ccu rred

. Acco rd i n g t o Sel l ers

, t h e s t at e t ro o p er u n reas o n ab ly p ro lo n ged t h e d u rat i o n

o f t h e t raffi c s t o p aft er l earn i ng t h at th e w i nd o w t i n t o n Sel l ers ’ s v eh i cl e w as wi t h in

l eg al l i m i t s

, an d t h e d i s card ed co cai n e was t h e t ai n t ed fru i t o f t h at u n lawfu l d et en t i o n.

“ It i s wel l s et tl ed l aw t h at b efo re s to p p i n g a car, an o ffi cer m u st h av e s p eci fi c,

art i cu l ab l e fact s s u ffi ci en t t o g i ve ri s e t o a reas o n ab l e s u s pi ci on o f cri m i n al co n d u ct ,”

an d a n o f fi cer’ s o b s erv at i o n of a t raffi c v i ol at i o n “ p ro v i d es t h e n eces s ary fact s fo r

s u ch reas o n ab l e s us p i ci o n .” (Pu n ct u at i o n an d fo o t n o t e o m it t ed .) Bevi l l e v. S t a t e

, 3 2 2

Ga. A p p. 6 73

, 6 7 6 (3 ) (a) (i ) (7 4 5 SE2 d 85 8 ) (2 01 3 ). Th us

, wh en an o ffi cer o b s erv es

d ark l y t i n t ed car wi n d ows t h at he reas o n ab ly b el iev es fal l o u t s i d e th e l eg al l y

p erm i s s i b l e li m i t, t h e o ffi cer has reas o n ab l e, art icu l ab l e s u sp i ci o n t o i n i t iat e a t raffi c

s t op

. See i d .; Ch r i s t

y v. S t a t e

, 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. 64 7

, 6 51 (1 ) ( 7 2 7 S E2 d 26 9 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

Ho wev er, o n ce t h e o ffi cer’ s i n v es t i gat i o n o f t h e p ercei v ed t raffi c vi o l at i o n i s

co m p l et e, t h e o ffi cer m ay

p ro lo n g t h e d et en t io n o f t h e d ri ver o n l y i f t h e o ffi cer h as

“ a reas on ab l e, art i cu l ab le s u s p i ci o n t h at th e dri v er was en g ag ed i n o t h er i l l eg al

act i vi t y .” (Ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Bo d i f o r d v

. S ta t e

, 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. 2 5 8,

2 6 7 (2 ) (7 6 1 SE2 d 8 18 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

W e co n cl ud e t h at ev en i f t h e s t at e t ro o p er u n reas o n ab l y p ro l o n g ed t h e t raffi c

s t op b y co n ti n ui n g t o d et ai n Sel l ers aft er l earn in g t hat t h ere w as n o wi n d o w t i nt

13v i o l at i o n

, t h e co cai n e t hat al l eg ed l y was d i s card ed aft er t h at d et en t i o n w as n o t “ fru i t

o f t h e p o i s o n ou s t ree” t h at h ad t o b e s u p p res s ed b y t h e s up eri o r co u rt

.

W h en ex am i ni n g wh et h er ev i d en ce i s i n ad m i s s ib l e as fru it o f an il l eg al

d et en t i o n

, we as k wh et h er t h e ev i d en ce was o bt ai n ed b y ex p l oi t at i o n o f

t h e p ri o r il l eg al i t y o r i n st ead b y m ean s s uffi ci en t l y d i s t i n gu i s h ab l e t o be

p u rg ed o f t h e pr i m a ry t ai n t. An d

, s i g n i fi can t l y

, a d efen d an t ’ s

co m m i s s i on o f a n ew cri m e i n t h e p res en ce o f l aw en fo rcem en t i s an

i n t erv en i n g act o f free wi l l th at p u rg es t h e t ai n t o f an y pri o r i l l eg al i t y

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct uat i o n o m it t ed

. ) W a l ke r v

. S t a te

, 3 1 4 Ga. A p p

. 67

, 71 (1 ) (7 2 2

SE2 d 8 8 7) (2 0 1 2).

Here, t h e reco rd

, co n s t ru ed i n fav o r o f th e pro s ecu t io n

, s ho ws t h at Sel l ers fl ed

fro m th e traffi c st o p

, en g ag in g t h e p o l i ce i n a h ig h s p eed an d d an g ero u s car ch as e in

h eav y t raffi c d uri ng wh i ch h e d i s card ed t h e co cai n e fro m h i s v eh i cl e.

Reg ard l es s o f th e pro p ri et y o f an o ffi cer’ s b as i s fo r t h e ex ecu ti o n of a

.

. . t r a f f i c i n v es t i gat i v e s t o p

, at t em p t i n g t o fl ee fro m s u ch s t op i s a

s ep arat e cri m e al to g et h er, i .e

. , fl eei ng o r at t em p t i n g to el u de a p o l i ce

o ffi cer. Su ch o ffen se d o es n o t req u i re t h at t h e i n v es t i g at i ve s t o p t o be

p ro p er. Th e d et erm i nat i o n o f w h et h er t h ere is a l eg al b as is fo r [an

i n v es t i gat i v e] s t o p d o es n o t b el o n g t o t h e d et ai n ee, t hereb y g i v i n g h i m

t h e ri g h t t o fl ee i f h e d et erm i n es h e i s b ei n g s t op p ed i l l eg al l y

.

14(Ci t at i o n s

, p u nct u at i o n an d fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed .) Reyn o l ds v. S t a t e

, 2 8 0 Ga. Ap p

. 7 1 2,

7 1 5 -7 1 6 (1 ) (6 34 SE2 d 8 4 2 ) (2 0 0 6 ). “ To h o ld o t h erwi s e co u l d en co urag e p ers o n s to

res i st t h e po l i ce an d creat e po t en t i al l y v io l en t an d d an g ero u s co n fro n t at i o n s .”

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted .) Fa u l kn er v. S ta t e

, 27 7 Ga. Ap p

. 7 02

, 7 05 (1 ) (6 2 7

SE2 d 4 2 3 ) (2 00 6). It fo l l o w s t h at Sel l ers ’ s fl ig h t fro m t h e traffi c st o p

, ev en i f t h e

d u rat i o n o f t h e s t o p was u n reas o n ab l e, was a n ew cri m e, a n d t h u s c o ns t i t u t ed an

i n t erv en i n g act t h a t p urg ed th e t ai n t fl owi n g fro m an y i l l eg al i t y

. See i d

. See al s o

W a l ker

, 3 1 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 71 (1 ); S t a t e v. Nes b i t t

, 3 0 5 Ga. Ap p. 2 8

, 3 4 -3 5 (2 ) )(a) (6 9 9

SE2 d 3 6 8) (2 0 1 0) Fa u l

kn er , 2 77 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 0 5 (1 ); S t a te v. S t i l l ey , 2 6 1 Ga. Ap p.

8 6 8

, 8 7 1 (5 8 4 SE2 d 9 ) (2 0 0 3 ). Acco rd i n g l y

, th e co cai n e di s card ed o n t h e si d e o f t h e

ro ad d u ri n g Sel l ers ’ s fl i g h t was ad m i s s i b l e, an d t h e s u p eri o r co u rt d i d n o t err by

d en y i n g t h e m ot i o n t o s u p p res s . See i d

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Bo g

g s a n d Br a n ch , JJ., co n cu r

.

15