FI FTH DI VI SI ON

RI CKM A N, C. J.

, M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS

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

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Nov em ber 30, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A1 21 6 . NEELY v . THE STATE.

M C F A D D E N , Pres id i n g J u d g e.

Aft er a ju ry t ri al

, Mag n u m Neel y w as co n v i ct ed of d ru g o ffen s es an d a t raffi c

v i o l at i o n

. He ap p eal s

, cl ai m i n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt e rred in d en y i n g h i s m o t i o n to

s u p p res s ev id en c e s ei zed d uri n g a t raffi c s t op an d th at h i s t ri al co u n s el was

i n e f fect i v e. Becau s e t h e o ffi cer wh o s t o p p ed Neel y u n neces s ari l y pro l o ng ed t h e

t raffi c s t o p wi t h o ut reas o n ab l e, art i cu l ab l e s u s p i ci o n t o d o so

, t h e t ri al co u rt erred in

d en y i n g t h e m o t i o n to s u p p res s

. So we rev ers e t h e j u d gm en t b el ow an d n e e d n o t

reach t h e i n effect i v e as s i st an ce o f co u n s el cl ai m s

.

1

. Fa ct s a n d p r o ced

ur a l p o s t u r e.

Vi ewed i n t h e li g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e v erd i ct

, s ee Ja cks on v. Vi rg i n i a

, 4 4 3

U. S. 3 0 7 (9 9 SCt 2 7 8 1, 6 1 LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ), t h e ev i d en ce p res en t ed at t ri al s h o wst h at o n t h e m o rn i n g o f J u n e 5

, 2 0 1 8, a s h eri ff’ s s erg ean t an d d ep u t y were i n a p at ro l

v eh icl e wh en Neel y d ro v e p as t th em

. Th e serg ean t d ri v i n g th e s h eri ff’ s v eh icl e m ad e

a U-t u rn an d fo l l o wed Neel y

. Th e serg ean t s aw Neel y ’ s car cro s s ov er t h e l i n e o n t h e

ri gh t s i d e o f t h e ro ad an d t h en s werv e o v er t h e d ou b le y el l o w l i ne i n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e

ro ad

. T h e s erg ean t s t op p ed Neel y fo r t h e lan e v i o l at i o n

, ap p ro ach ed h i m as h e s at in

h i s car, an d s aw t h at h e was sm o k i n g a ci g aret t e an d ap p eared t o b e v ery n erv o u s

. Th e

s erg ean t t o l d Neel y t hat h e h ad s t o p p ed h im b ecau s e o f t h e l an e vi o l at i o n, an d Neel y

rep l i ed t h at h e h ad b een m es si n g w i t h h i s cel l p h o ne

. 1 ( T h i s was t h e b efo re t h e

effect i v e d at e o f Geo rg i a’ s new “ h an d s -free” l aw i m p os i n g v ari o us res t ri ct io n s o n t h e

u s e o f a cel l p h on e wh i l e o p erat i n g a m o t or v eh i cl e. See O CGA § 4 0 -6 -2 4 1 (effect i v e

J u l y 1 , 2 0 1 8

. )

Th e s erg ean t t o ok Neel y ’ s d r i v e r ’s l i cen se an d wen t back t o t h e s h eri ff’ s

v eh icl e t o ch eck t h e l i cen se wh i l e t h e d ep u t y s tay ed b es i d e Ne e l y’s car. Aft er

d et erm i n i n g t h a t N e e l y’ s li cen s e was val i d an d th at t h ere were no o u t s t an d i n g

warran t s fo r h i m

, t h e s erg ean t ret u rn ed t o Neel y ’ s v eh i cl e an d o rd ered h i m to g et o ut

1 Th e s erg ean t no t ed d u ri ng h i s t es t i m o n y t hat t h e t raffi c s t o p o ccu rred p ri or to

t h e effect i v e d at e o f Geo rg i a’ s n ew “ h an d s -free” l aw i m p o s i n g v ari o u s res t ri ct i o n s o n

t h e u se o f a cel l p h o n e wh i l e o p erat i n g a m o t o r v eh i cl e. See OCGA § 4 0 -6 -2 4 1

(effect i ve J u ly

1 , 2 0 1 8 ).

2o f h i s car. Th e s erg ean t d i rect ed Neel y t o st an d b y t h e rear o f t h e car an d as k ed h i m

i f t h ere was an y t h i n g i n t h e car. Neel y rep l ied t h at h e h ad ju s t s m ok ed

. Th e s erg ean t

t h en as k ed i f t h ere was an y th i n g el s e i n t h e car, an d Neel y s ai d t hat t h ere were p i l l s

an d a b l u n t i n h i s car. T h e s erg ean t an d dep u ty t h en s earch ed N eel y ’ s car wh i l e

an o th er o ffi cer wh o h ad arri v ed at t h e s cen e d et ai n ed Neel y

. In s i d e t h e car, t h e

o ffi cers fo un d

, am on g ot h er th i n g s

, m et h am p het am i n e, m a r i

j u a n a, co cai n e, o v er

$ 3 ,0 0 0 i n cas h

, a d i g i t al s cal e, an d p l as t i c b ag g i es

.

Neel y was arres ted an d s u b s eq u en t ly i n d i ct ed fo r t r affi ck i n g

m et h am p h et am i ne, p o s s es s i n g co cai n e an d m a r i j u an a wi t h i n t en t t o d i s t ri bu t e, an d

fai l i n g to m ai n t ai n a l an e. He p l ed n o t g u i l t y t o th e ch arg es an d fi l ed a m o t i o n to

s u p p res s ev i d en ce s ei zed d u ri n g t h e traffi c s t o p

, as sert i n g t hat t h e arres t in g o ffi cer

h ad pro l o n ged t h e s t o p pas t t h e p o in t of co m p l et io n wi t h ou t reas on ab l e s us p i ci o n o f

cri m i n al act i v it y

. Aft er a h eari n g at wh i ch th e s erg ean t t es t i fi ed

, t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed

t h e m o t i o n t o s u p pres s.

Th e cas e p ro ceed ed t o t ri al b efo re a ju ry

, w h i c h f o u n d N eel y g u i l t y o f al l

ch arg es

. Th e co u rt i m

po sed co ncu rren t s en t en ces t o t al i n g 3 0 y ears

, wi t h t h e fi rs t 1 5

y ears t o be s erv ed i n co n fi n em en t an d th e rem ai nd er o n p ro b at i o n

. Neel y fi l ed a

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al , wh i ch was d en i ed , an d t hi s ap p eal fo l l o w ed

.

32

. Den i a l o f mo t i o n t o s u

p p r es s

.

Neel y co n t e n d s t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h i s m ot i o n to s u p p res s

ev i d en ce s ei zed d u ri n g t h e t raffi c s to p becau s e t h e arres t i n g o ffi cer i m p ro p er l y

p ro l o n g ed t h e s t o p

. W e ag ree.

Th e [s ] t at e b ears t h e b u rd en o f p ro v i n g t h a t t he s earch o f th e

v eh i cl e was l awfu l

, an d t o carry t h i s bu rd en

, t h e [s ] t at e m u s t s h o w t hat

i t was l awfu l to d et ai n [Neel y ] aft er di sp at ch ret u rn ed i n fo rm at i o n ab o u t

h i s l i cen s e [v al i d i ty an d t h e ab s en ce o f an y w arran t s ]

. . . . Cl ai m s t hat

an o ffi cer i l l eg al l y p ro l o n g e d a det en t i o n res u l ti n g fro m a t raffi c s t o p

g en eral l y fal l in t o t wo cat eg ori es

. T he fi rs t cat eg o ry i nv o lv es t h o s e cas es

as h ere wh ere t he o ffi cer al l eg ed l y ex t en d ed t he s t o p b ey o n d th e

co n cl u s i o n o f t h e i n v es t i g at i o n t h at warran t ed t h e d et en t i o n in t h e fi rs t

p l ace, i .e., wh et h er t h e o ffi cer p ro l o ng ed t h e st o p aft er co n cl u d i n g h i s

i n v es t i gat i o n o f t h e traffi c v i o l at i o n

. In s u ch cas es

, co u rt s h av e g en eral l y

co n cl u d ed t h at ev en a s h o r t p r o l o n g at i o n i s u nreas o n ab l e u n les s g o o d

cau s e h as ap p eared i n t h e m ean t i m e to ju s ti fy a co nt i n u at i on o f th e

d et en t i o n t o p u rs u e a d i fferen t i n v es t i g at i o n. An o ffi cer m ay co nt i n ue t o

d et ai n a d ri v er aft er t h e i nv es t i g at i o n o f t h e t raffi c v i o lat i o n i s co m p l et e

o n l y i f t h e o ffi cer h as a reas o n ab le, art i cu l ab l e su s p i ci on t h at t h e d ri v er

was en g ag ed i n o t h er i l leg al act i v it y

.

W ea ver v. S t a t e

, 3 5 7 Ga. Ap p

. 4 8 8

, 4 9 1 (8 5 1 SE2 d 12 5 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (ci tat i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ). See al so S t a t e v. A l l en

, 2 9 8 Ga. 1

, 4 ( 2 ) ( a ) ( 7 7 9 SE2 d 2 4 8 )

(2 0 1 5) (t raffi c s t o p t h at i s i n i t i a l l y ju st i fi ed by t h e i n t eres t i n i s s ui n g a t i ck et t o t h e

d ri v er b eco m es u nl awfu l wh en i t i s p ro l o n ged b ey o n d t h e t i m e reas o n ab l y req u i red

t o co m p l et e t h at m i s s i on ).

4In t h i s cas e, i t i s un d i s p u t ed t hat t h e t im e i t t o o k t h e s erg ean t t o ch eck t h e

v al i d i t y o f Neel y ’ s l i cen s e an d fo r o u t s t an d i ng w arran t s d i d n o t un reas o nab l y p ro l o n g

t h e t raffi c s t o p. “ A reas on ab l e t i m e t o co n d u ct a t raffi c s t o p i n cl ud es t h e t i m e

n e c e s s ary fo r t he o ffi cer t o ru n a co m p ut er ch eck o n t h e val i d i t y o f t he d ri v er’ s

l i cen se an d reg i s tra t i o n

, a nd t o ch eck fo r o u t st an d i n g warran t s an d / o r cri m i n al

h i s t o ri es on t h e d ri v er an d ot h er o ccu p an t s .” Al l en v. S ta t e

, 3 4 8 Ga. Ap p

. 5 9 5

, 5 9 8 (1 )

(a) (8 24 SE2 d 5 0 ) (2 0 19 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it t e d )

. B u t aft er t h e o ffi cer

l earn ed t h at Neel y ’ s l i cen s e w as v al i d an d t h at t h ere were no o u t s t an di n g warran t s

,

h e d i d no t t h en co n cl u d e t h e t raffi c s t o p fo r t h e l an e v i o l at i o n an d a l l o w Neel y to

l eav e. See S t a t e v. Al l en

, s u pra at 6 (2 ) (a) n

. 4 (“ No rm al l y

, t h e traffi c st op en d s wh en

t h e p o l i c e h a v e n o fu rt h er n eed t o co n tro l t h e s cen e, an d in fo rm t h e dri v er an d

p as s e ng ers t hey are free t o leav e.”) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ); Bo d i f o r d v.

S t a t e

, 3 2 8 G a. Ap p

. 2 5 8

, 2 6 7 (2 ) (7 6 1 SE2 d 8 1 8 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (i f l i cen s e ch eck s h o wed n o

p ro b lem s an d n o o u t s t a n d in g warran t s

, t h e t raffi c s t o p w o u l d b e co n cl ud ed an d

d efen d an t wo u l d b e free t o g o ). In s t ead

, t h e s erg e a n t pro l o ng ed t h e s t o p an d

co n ti n u ed t o det ai n Neel y b y t el l i n g h i m t o get o u t o f h is car, d irect i n g h i m t o t h e rear

o f t he car, an d qu es t i o n i ng h i m ab o u t wh at was i n t h e car

— a m at t er un rel at ed t o t h e

t raffi c s to p fo r a lan e vi o l at i o n

. S e e D u n c a n v

. S t a t e

, 3 31 Ga. A p p

. 2 54

, 2 5 7 (7 7 0

5SE2 d 3 29 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (“ No t ab l y

, t h e o ffi cer n ev er t o l d [t h e d efen d an t] t h at s h e was free

t o g o a n d a r e as o n ab l e p ers o n i n h er p o s i t io n

, as k ed t o s t ep o ut o f h er car o n t h e

h i g h way an d i n t erro g at ed b y an o ffi cer, wo u ld n o t li k el y h av e fel t free t o g o ab o u t h er

b u s i n es s .”). As ex p l ai n ed a b o v e

, t h i s p ro lo n g i n g o f t h e traffi c s to p w as au t h o ri zed

“ o n l y i f t h e o ffi cer h a[d ] a reas o n ab l e, art i cu l ab le s us p ici o n t h at (Neel y ) was en g ag ed

i n o t h er i l l eg al act i v i ty .” Bo d i f or d , s u p ra (ci t at io n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Here, t h e t ri al co ur t f

o u n d t h at t h e o ffi cer h ad s u ch reas o n ab l e, art i cu l ab l e

s u s p i ci o n t o pro l o ng t h e t raffi c s t o p b ecau s e Neel y ap peared o v erl y n erv o u s an d h ad

a fres h l y l it ci g aret t e, w h ich t h e o ffi cer h ad s ai d can b e u s ed t o m a s k t h e o d o r o f

d ru g s. “ Bu t as t h i s [c] o u rt has ex p l ai n ed

, m ere n erv o u s n es s i s n o t s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt

a reas o nab le art i cu l ab l e s us p ici o n t o ex t en d a st o p aft er co m pl et i o n o f t h e o ri g i n al

m i s s i o n .” W

ea ver

, s up ra at 4 9 1

. Acco r d D u n ca n

, s u p ra (d efen d an t ’ s “ n erv ou s

b eh av i o r, ev en co u p l ed wi t h h er l oo k i n g away an d s h i ft i n g aro u n d

— co n d u ct

co n si s t en t wi t h n erv o u s n es s

— was no t s u ffi ci en t t o co n s t i t u t e reas o n ab l e s u s p i ci o n

o f o th er i l l eg al act i v i t y ”). An d al t h o u g h t he o ffi cer t es t i fi ed t h at s m o k i n g a ci g aret t e

“ can b e u s ed t o m as k th e o d o r o f an i l l eg al su b st an ce, [ci g are t t e s ] a r e t h em s el v es

l eg al s u b s t an ces t h at can b e u s ed fo r a l eg al p urp o s e an d t hu s d o n o t ju s t i fy t h e

o ffi cer’ s fu rt h er det en t io n o f [Neel y ] u n d er t h e fact s o f t h i s cas e.” S ta t e v. Th o mp s o n

,

62 5 6 Ga. Ap p. 1 8 8

, 1 9 0 (5 6 9 SE2 d 2 5 4 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (o ffi cer d i d n o t h av e reas o n ab l e

s u s p i ci o n t o p ro l on g t r a f f i c s t op b as ed o n defen d an t ’ s ex t rao rd i n ary n erv o u s n es s

,

d efen s i v en es s w h en as ked ab o u t m ari ju an a, an d s tro n g s m el l o f l au n d ry d et erg en t o r

d ry er s h eet s t h at can b e u s e d t o m a s k o d o rs o f i ll eg al d ru gs ). See al s o Ma t t h ews v.

S t a t e , 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. 5 3

, 58 (7 6 6 SE2 d 5 1 5 ) (2 0 14 ) (co n d u ct t h at was n ei t h er i l l eg al

n o r s u ffi ci en t l y u nu s u al di d n ot p ro v i d e reas o n ab l e b as is fo r s u s p e c t i n g cri m i n al

act i vi t y ); L. B

. B. v. St a t e

, 1 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. 1 63 (1 98 SE2 d 8 9 5 ) ( 1 9 7 3 ) (“ A ci g aret t e

[ro l li n g ] pap er i s l eg al an d g i v es n o cau s e t o arres t an d search

. ”). So co nt rary t o t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g

, Neel y ’ s n erv o us n es s an d th e fres h l y l it ci garet t e d i d no t p ro v i d e

reas on ab l e, art i cu l ab l e s us p i ci o n o f o t h er cri m i n al act i v i ty

.

W e n o te t h at t h e t ri al co u rt al so fo u n d t h at “ [t ] h e t o t al s t o p o n l y t oo k t h ree

m i n u t es b efo re th e d efen d an t ad m i t t ed t h at he h ad sm o k ed an d u l t i m at el y t hat t h ere

was s ti l l a ‘ b lu n t ’ (jarg on k n o wn t o refer t o t h e m ari ju an a) i n s i d e o f t he v eh icl e.” Bu t

“ t h ere i s n o b ri g h t-l i n e ru le fo r d et erm i n i ng wh en th e l en g th o f a d et en t i o n b eco m es

u n reas o nab l e[.] ” Na s h v. S t a t e

, 3 2 3 Ga. Ap p

. 4 3 8

, 4 4 2 (7 4 6 SE2 d 9 1 8 ) (2 0 1 3 ). An d

as s t at ed ab o v e, “ ev en a s h o rt p ro l o n g at i o n i s u n r e a s o n a b l e un l es s go o d cau s e h as

a p p eared i n t h e m ean ti m e t o ju s t i fy a co n ti n uat i o n o f t h e det en t i o n t o p u r s u e a

d i fferen t i n v es ti g at i o n.” W ea ver

, s u p ra at 4 9 0 (ci tat i on o m i t t ed ). Ou r Su p rem e Co u rt

7h as ex p l ai n ed t h at “ t h e t o l erab l e d u rat i o n o f p o l i ce in qu i ri es in th e t raffi c-s t op co n t ex t

i s d et erm i n e d b y th e s ei zu re’ s m i s s i o n — t o ad d res s t h e t raffi c v i o l at i o n t h at

warran t ed t h e st o p

, an d at t en d t o rel at ed s afet y co n cern s .” S ta t e v. Al l en

, s u p ra at 4 -5

(2 ) (a) (ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). So i n t h i s cas e, ev en t h e s h o rt p ro l o n g at i o n

o f t h e st o p was i m

p erm i s s i b l e s i n ce t h e o ffi cer d i d no t hav e reas o nab l e s us p i ci o n to

co n ti n u e d et ai ni ng N eel y i n o rd er t o p u rs ue a d i fferen t i n v es t i g at i o n u n rel at ed t o t h e

t raffi c vi o l at i on th at h ad ju s t ifi ed t h e i n i t i al s t o p. See i d

. at 1 1 (2 ) (c) (ab s en t

reas on ab l e s u s p ici o n o f an o t h er cri m e, “ act i v it i es u nrel at ed t o t h e m i ss i o n o f t h e s t o p

m u st n o t ex t en d t h e t im e o f t h e s t o p at al l

, an d s u ch a p ro l o n g at i on o f t h e s t o p i s n ot

p erm i s s i b l e”). In d eed

, t h e o ffi cer’ s “ [a] ut h o ri ty fo r th e sei zu re

. . . en d [ed ] w h en t as k s

t i ed t o t h e t raffi c i n fract i o n [were]

— o r reas o nab l y s h ou l d h av e b een — co m p l et ed .”

Id

. a t 1 5 (2 ) (e) (ci t at i o n

, p u n ct u at i o n

, an d em p h as i s o m i tt ed ). Becau s e t he o ffi cer

u n reas o nab l y pro lo ng ed t h e t raffi c s t o p aft er t h e m i s s io n o f t h e s t o p was co m p l et ed

,

i t “ ren d er[ed ] t he sei zu re at i s su e u n lawfu l [, a] n d t h i s i s t ru e ev en i f t h at p ro ces s

ad d ed v ery l i t t l e ti m e t o t h e s t o p .” Ter r y v. S t a t e

, 3 5 8 G a

. A p p

. 1 9 5, 20 2 (1 ) (8 5 4

SE2 d 3 66 ) (2 0 2 1 ) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ). Acco rd Hea r d v. S t a t e

, 3 2 5

Ga. Ap p

. 1 35

, 13 9 (1 ) (7 5 1 SE2 d 9 1 8 ) (2 01 3 ) (t raffi c s t op p ro l on g ed b y n o m o re t h an

8fo u r m i nu t es was u nl awfu l b ecau s e i t l as t ed l on g er t han w as n eces s ary t o effect u at e

t h e p u rp o s e o f t h e s t o p ).

Un d er t h e fo reg o i ng ci rcu m s t an ces

, th e tri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i scret i o n in

d en y i n g Neel y ’ s m o t io n t o su p pres s ev id en ce s ei zed fro m h i s car. Neel y i s t h erefo re

“ en t i t l ed t o a n ew t ri al an d we n eed n o t ad d res s h i s rem ai n i n g [i n effect i v e as si s t an ce]

cl ai m s o f erro r. [So ] we rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f [t h e] m o ti o n t o s u p p res s an d

rem an d t he cas e f

o r f u r t h er p ro ceed i n g s co n s i s t en t wi t h t h i s o p i n io n.” Ter r y

, s u p ra

at 2 0 3 (2 ).

Ju d g men t r ever

s ed

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