SECOND DI VI SI ON

A NDREWS, P. J.

, M I LLER 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 l s .us /r ule s

Nov em ber 20, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A0 79 6 . W A TTS v . THE STATE.

B R A N C H , J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g a b en ch t ri al at wh i ch h e s t i p u l at ed t o b o t h t h e fact s an d t h e

s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce, M o n q u ezi as W at t s was co n v i ct ed o f a si n g le co u n t each

o f p o s s es s i on o f m ari

ju an a w i t h i n t en t t o d i s t ri b u t e, p o s s es si o n o f a fi rearm d uri n g t h e

co m m i s s io n o f a fel o n y

, an d t h eft b y recei v i n g

. Th e t ri al co u rt s en t en ced W at t s to

ei g h t y ears

, bu t p ro b at ed th e sen t en ce. Aft er W at t s fai l ed t o co m p l y wi t h co n d i t i on s

o f h i s p ro b at i o n

, t he t ri al co u rt rev o k ed h i s p ro b at i o n an d rem an d ed h i m t o cu s t o d y

.

Fo l l o wi ng t h e rev o cat i o n o f hi s p ro b at i o n, W at ts s o u g h t an d was den i ed an ap p eal

b o n d

. W at t s n o w ap p eal s h i s co n v i ct i o n, t he rev ocat i on o f h i s p ro b at i o n

, an d t h e

d en ial o f h i s ap p eal b o n d. W it h res p ect t o h i s co nv i ct io n

, W at ts cl ai m s t h at t h e t ri 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 pres s ev i d en ce d i s co v ered b y p o li ce aft er t h eyi l leg al l y d et ai n ed W at t s fo l l o w i n g a t raffi c s t o p. As t o t h e rev o cat io n o f h i s p ro b at i o n,

W at t s arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred wh en i t h el d t h at hi s no t i ce o f ap p eal d i d n o t act

as a s u pers ed eas

, p rev en t i n g t h e en fo rcem en t o f h i s p ro b at io n ary co n d i t io n s

. Fi n al l y

,

W at t s co n t en d s th at t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s di s cret io n i n d en y in g hi s m o t i o n fo r an

ap p el l at e b o n d

.

Fo r reas o ns ex p l ai n ed m o re fu l l y b el o w

, we fi n d t h at t h e t r i a l co u rt erred in

co n cl u d in g t h at t h e f

r ee-ai r s n i ff wh i ch res u l t ed i n t h e s ei zu re o f d ru g s an d

co n trab an d d id n o t v io l at e th e Fo u rt h A m en d m en t b eca u s e i t o ccu rred du ri n g a d e

m i n i m i s ex t en si o n o f t h e t raffi c s t o p

. Acco rd in g ly

, t h e co u rt erred i n d en y i ng W at ts ’ s

m o ti o n t o s u p p res s. W e t h erefo re v acat e b o t h t h e o r d e r den y i n g t h e m o t i o n to

s u p p res s an d t h e ju d g m en t o f co n v i ct i o n an d rem an d t h e cas e fo r fu rt h er pro ceed i n g s

.

W e fu rt h er fi n d t h at W at ts ’ s s eco n d an d t h i rd cl ai m s o f erro rs are b as ed o n o rd ers t h at

were en t ered aft er W at t s fi l ed h i s n o t i ce o f ap p eal fro m t he ju d g m en t o f co n v i ct i o n.

Gi v en t h i s fact

, an d gi v en t hat W at t s n ev er fi l ed a n ot i ce o f ap p eal as t o t h e o rd ers

rev o k i n g h i s p ro b at i o n an d de ny i n g h i s ap pel l at e b o nd

, w e l ack ju ri s d ict i o n to ad d res s

W at t s ’ s s eco n d an d t h i rd cl ai m s o f erro r.

A t a h e a r i n g o n a m ot io n t o s up p res s

, t h e t ri al ju d g e s i t s as t h e t ri er o f

fact

. On ap p eal fro m t h e gran t o r d en i al o f s u ch a m o t i o n

, th erefo re, t h i s

2Co u rt m us t co n s tru e t h e ev i den ce m o s t fav o rab l y t o u p h o l d t he fi n d i n g s

an d ju d g m en t o f t h e t ri al co u rt

, an d t h at co u rt ’ s fi n d in g s as to d i sp u ted

fact s an d cred i b i li ty m

us t b e ad o p te d u n l es s cl earl y erro n eo u s

. H o wev er,

we o we no d eferen ce t o t h e tri al co u rt ’ s co ncl u s io n s o f l aw an d are

i n s t ead free t o ap p ly

an ew t h e l eg al p ri n ci pl es t o t h e fact s.

Bo d if o r d v. S t at e

, 32 8 G a. Ap p

. 2 58

, 2 58 (7 61 SE2 d 8 1 8) (2 01 4 ) ( c i t a t i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). See al s o Jo n es v. St a t e

, 2 9 1 Ga. 35

, 3 6 -3 7 (1 ) (7 2 7 SE2 d 4 5 6 )

(2 0 1 2) (wh ere “ t h e ev i d en ce at a s u p p res s i o n h eari n g i s u nco n t ro v ert ed an d t h e

cred i b i l i t y o f w i t n e s s es i s n o t i n q u es t i o n

, we co n d u ct a d e n ov o rev i ew o f t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s ap p l i cat i o n o f t h e l aw t o t h e u n d is pu t ed fact s ”).

Th e rel ev an t fact s i n th i s cas e are u n d i s p ut ed

. At ap p ro x i m at el y 1 : 3 0 a.m . o n

J u n e 1 6

, 2 0 1 2

, Serg ean t W ay n e Fran co of th e W o o d s t o ck Po l i ce Dep art m en t i n i t i at ed

a t raffi c s t op o f a v e h i c l e d ri v en b y Trem ay n e Gay an d i n w h i ch W at t s

, Ch as m i n e

J o h n so n

, an d Al m a Ri co were pas s en g ers

. Two v i d eo reco rd i n g s o f t hi s s t o p an d t h e

s u b s eq u en t p o l i ce i n v es t i g at i o n

, in cl u d in g t h e p ol i ce s earch o f Gay ’ s tru ck

, were

i n t ro du ced i n t o ev i d en ce an d s h o wn at t h e m o ti o n t o s u p p res s h eari n g

.

Fran co i n i t i at ed t h e s to p aft er o b s erv in g t h at t h e l i cen s e p lat e o n Gay ’ s t ru ck

was co v ered b y a p i ece o f ti nt ed p l as t ic, i n v i o l a t i o n o f O CGA § 4 0 -2 -1 1

. Fran co

t e s t i f i e d t h at h e b ecam e s u s p i ci o u s o f th e i nd i vi d u al s in t h e t ru ck b ecau s e Ga y

3co n ti n u ed t o d ri v e t h e tru ck fo r ap p ro xi m at el y t wo b lo ck s befo re p u l l i n g t o t h e s i d e

o f t he ro ad

. Aft er v i ewi n g t he v id eo reco rd ed b y h i s p at ro l -car cam era, h o wev er,

Fran co ack n o wl ed g ed t h at Gay h ad p u l l ed o v er at t h e fi rs t o p po rt u n i t y h e h ad t o d o

s o

, w i t ho u t h av i n g t o m ak e a l eft h an d tu rn acro s s t raffi c. Ad d i t io n al l y

, t h e v i d eo

reco rd i n g o f t h e s t o p s h ows t h at Gay p u l l ed t o t h e s i d e o f t h e ro ad an d cam e t o a s t o p

ap p ro x i m at el y 3 3 s eco n d s aft er Fran co act i v at ed t h e b l u e l i g h t s o n h i s p at ro l car.

W h en Fran co ap p ro ach ed Gay ’ s t ru ck

, b o t h Gay an d W at t s

, wh o was t h e fro n t

s eat p as s en g er, were s m o k i ng ci g ars th at ap p eared t o b e fres h l y -l i t

. Fran co ex p l ai n ed

t h at

, in h i s ex p eri en ce, p eo p l e i n p o s s es s i o n o f d ru g s w i l l o ft en “ ch ai n s m o k e” ei t h er

ci g aret tes o r ci g ars t o m as k t h e o d or o f an y co n t rab an d

. Fran co fu rt h er tes t ifi ed t h at

Gay ap p eared to h av e wh at h e d es cri b ed as “ a li t tl e co tt o n m o u th ” an d t he ey es o f

b o t h m en ap p eared b l o o d s h o t

. Bas ed o n t h es e o b s e r v at i o n s

, Fran co b el iev ed t h ere

w a s a p o s s i bi li t y t h at b o t h m en were “ un d er t he i nfl u en ce o f m ari ju an a.” Fran co

ack n owl ed ged

, h o wev er, t h at h e s aw n o s i gn s t h at Gay ’ s d ri v i n g was i m p ai red o r t h at

W at t s was i m

p ai red b y ei t h er d ru g s o r al co h o l

. Ad d it i on al l y

, n o i n ves t i g at i o n was

co n du ct ed i n t o wh et h er Gay was u n d er t h e i n fl u en ce o f an y co n t ro l l ed s u b s t an ce.

W h i l e s o m e i n v es t i g at i o n m ay hav e b een m ad e i n to wh et h er W at t s was i m p ai red

, t h e

St at e p ro v i ded no ev i d en ce at ei t h er t h e m o t i on t o su p pres s h eari n g o r at t ri al s h o wi n g

4t h at W at ts was u n d er t h e i n fl u en ce o f ei t h er al co h o l o r d ru g s at t h e t i m e o f t h e t raffi c

s t o p

. A n d as d i s cu s s ed b el o w

, t h e v i d eo o f t h e t raffi c st o p s ho ws th at p o l i ce we r e

p rep ared t o al l o w W at t s t o d ri v e Gay ’ s car fro m t h e s cen e.

Im m ed i at el y aft er m ak i n g co n t act wi th G ay

, Fr a n c o e x pla ine d to him th e reas o n

fo r t h e s to p an d as k e d b o t h G ay an d W at ts t o p ro v id e Fran co w it h t h ei r d ri v er’ s

l i cen ses

. Th e m en d i d s o, an d Fran co ret u rn ed t o hi s p at ro l car an d rel ay ed t h e l i cen s e

i n fo rm at i o n t o d i s p at ch

. Les s t h an o n e m i n u t e l at er, d i s p at ch rep o rt ed t h at Gay ’ s

l i c e n s e h ad b een rev o k ed

, t h at W at t s ’ s l icen s e was v al i d

, an d th at n ei t her m an h ad

an y o u t s t an d i n g warran t s

. Aft e r r e c e i v i n g t h is i n fo rm at i o n

, Fran co rem ai ned i n h i s

p a t r o l car fo r ap p ro xi m at el y t wo an d o n e-h al f m in u t es

, awai t i ng th e arri v al o f a

s eco n d o ffi cer, Eri c M ad d o x. Ap p ro xi m at el y o n e m i nu t e aft er M ad d o x’ s arri v al an d

ap p ro x i m at el y s ev en an d o n e-h al f m i n u t es aft er t h e t raffi c s t o p b eg an

, p o li ce arres t ed

Gay fo r d ri v i n g wi t h o u t a l i cen s e an d al so ch ar g e d h i m w i t h a m i s dem ean o r t ag

v i o l at i o n

. Fo l l o w i n g h i s arres t

, p o l ice q ues t i o n ed Gay ab o u t h i s p as sen ge r s a n d wh ere

t h ey l iv ed

, as wel l as ab o ut t h e co n t en t s o f Gay ’ s car. Du ri n g t h is p ro ces s

, M ad d o x

an d /o r Fran co t wi ce as k ed G ay wh e t h er he wo u l d co ns en t fo r W at t s t o d ri v e Gay ’ s

t ru ck fro m

t h e s cen e; each t i m e t h e o ffi cers as k ed t h is q u es ti o n , t h ey i n fo rm ed Gay

5t h at W at t ’ s l i cen s e had ret u rn ed as v al id

. Bo t h t i m es h e was as ked

, Gay r e s p o n d ed

t h at W at t s h ad h i s p erm i s s i on t o d ri v e t he t ru ck fro m t he s cen e.

Aft er co m

p l et i n g t h e arres t p ro ces s fo r Gay

, wh ich i ncl u d ed qu es ti o ni n g h i m

,

i n v en t o ry i n g h i s p o ck et s

, han d cu ffi n g h i m

, an d p l aci n g h i m in t he b ack o f M ad d o x ’ s

p at ro l car fo r tran sp o rt

, Fran co ret u rn ed t o t h e tru ck an d i t s t h ree rem ai n i n g

p as s en g ers . Rat h er t h an ret u rn i n g W at t s ’ s l i cen s e t o h i m an d i n fo rm i n g hi m h e h ad

p erm i s s i o n t o d ri v e th e t ru ck

, h o wev er, Fran co as k ed W at t s t o ex i t t h e v eh i cl e. W at t s

co m p l i ed wi t h t h i s req u es t

, ex i t ed t h e veh icl e wi t h h i s han d s i n fro n t o f h i m

, an d

co n sen t ed t o a s earch o f hi s p ers o n

. Fran co t h en as k ed W at t s t o acco m p an y h i m

, an d

t h e t wo m en s t o o d n ex t to a p at ro l car wh i l e Fran co q u es t i o ned W at t s ab o u t h i s

rel at i o n s h i p t o Gay

, h o w wel l W at t s k n ew t h e fem al e p as s en g ers

, wh at act iv i t i es t h e

g ro u p h ad en gag ed in th at n i g h t

, an d t h e co n t en t s o f t h e t ru ck

. Acco rd i n g t o Fran co

,

W at t s ap p eared nerv o u s an d wh en q u es t i o n ed

, W at t s t o l d t h e o ffi cer th at Gay was a

fri en d o f t h e fam il y . Gay , h o wev er, t o l d t h e o ffi cer t h at W at t s was h i s s t ep s o n

. 1

Fo l l owi n g hi s i n t erv i ew o f W at ts

, Fran co i n s t ru ct ed W at t s t o rem ai n n ex t t o t h e

p at ro l car, an d h e ret u rn ed t o t h e tru ck an d t o l d t h e wo m en t hey n eed ed t o e x i t t h e

1 Th e ev i d en ce at t h e m o t i o n t o s up p res s h eari n g sh o w ed t h at Gay was

, i n fact

,

t h e t h en -b o y fri en d o f W at t s ’ s m o t h er, b u t t h e co up l e was n o t m arri ed

.

6v eh icl e b ecau s e t h e p o l i ce n eed ed t o s earch i t fo r al co h o l. 2 Fran co al so i ns t ru ct ed t h e

wo m en t o l eav e t hei r pers o n al b el o n g i n g s i n t h e t r u ck an d as k ed fo r an d recei v ed

p erm i s s i o n t o s earch t ho s e b el o n g i n g s

. 3

Aft er hav i n g t h e w o m en ex i t t h e v eh i cl e, an d ap pro x i m at el y 1 4 m i n u t e s i n to

t h e t raffi c st o p an d b et ween s i x an d s ev en m i n u t es aft er Gay ’ s arres t

, Fran co as k ed

t h e wo m en fo r i d en t i fi cat i o n

. W h en b o t h wo m en rep li ed t h ey h ad n o i d en t i fi cat i o n

wi t h t h em , M ad do x as k ed each wo m an fo r th e co rrect s p el l i n g o f h er n am e an d h er

d at e of b i rt h

. Each o f t h e wo m en p ro v i d ed t h at i nfo rm at i o n

, w i th J o h n so n ex p l ai n i n g

t h at s he h ad a So u t h Caro l i n a d ri v er’ s li cen s e an d Ri co st at in g t h at s h e l i v ed i n So u th

Caro l i n a. Fran co p ro v i d ed t h i s i n f or m a tion t o d i s pat ch an d as k ed t he d i s p at ch er t o ru n

a ch eck i n b o t h G e o rg i a an d So u t h Caro li n a. Ap pro x i m at el y t en s eco n d s l at er,

d i s p at ch res p o n d ed t h at Jo h ns o n h ad a v al i d So u t h Caro li na d ri v er’ s l i cen s e an d t h at

2 It i s u n cl ear o n wh at b a s i s t h e p ol i ce p l an n ed t o ju s t i fy t h ei r search o f t h e

v eh icl e fo r al co ho l. Al co h ol i s n o t an i l l eg al s u b s t an ce an d G ay

, t h e own er an d d ri v er

o f t h e v eh i cl e, was o v er t he ag e o f 2 1

, as was W at t s

, t h e p ers o n to wh o m t h e v eh i cl e

was t o b e rel eas ed

. Ad d i t i on al l y

, t h ere was n o ev i den ce t hat t he o ffi cers b el i ev ed t h at

an y of t h e p as s en g ers were un d er t h e i n fl u en ce of al co ho l o r t h at t h e offi cers d et ect ed

t h e o d o r o f al co h o l co m i n g fro m t h e v eh i cl e, t h ereb y in d icat i n g t hat an o p en co n t ai n er

m i g h t b e p res en t

. No r w as t h ere an y ev i d en ce t h at o ffi cers s aw an op en co n t ai n er o f

al co h o l i n t h e v eh icl e.

3 Bo t h wo m en h ad a pu rs e wi th t hem an d Ri co al s o had wh at sh e d es cri b ed as

a “ t rav el b ag .”

7s h e had no o u t s t an di n g warran t s

, b u t t h at t h ere was “ n o ret urn ” o n Ri co

. I n o t h e r

wo rd s

, t h e c h e c k i n d i c a t ed th at Ri co

, wh o was 1 8 y ears -o l d at t h e t i m e, h ad n o

d ri v er’ s l i cen s e, n o s t at e-i s s u ed i d en t i fi cat i o n, n o cri m i n al reco rd

, an d n o o u t s t an d i n g

warran t s

. Po l i ce t h en p ro ceed ed t o q u es t i o n Ri co ab o ut h er l ack o f i d en t i fi cat i o n.

Du ri n g q u es t i o n i n g

, Ri co s t at ed t h at s h e h ad ei t h er a p as s p o rt o r a v i s a i n h er p u rs e.

Ri co ag ai n co n s en t ed t o t h e search of h er p u rs e an d t o l d p o l i ce in wh i ch area o f t h e

b ag h er t rav el d ocu m en ts co u l d b e fo u n d. W h en p o l i ce fo u n d th es e do cu m en t s

, t h e

n am e an d d at e of b i rt h t h ereo n m at ch ed t h e i n fo rm at i o n p ro v id ed earl ier b y Ri co

, an d

wh i ch s h o wed t h at Ri co h ad n o o u t st an d in g warran t s

. At t h a t p o i n t

, p o l i ce were

s at i s fi ed t h at t h ey

k n ew Ri co ’ s i d en ti t y

an d l eg al s t at u s

.

W h i l e Fran co was ru n n i n g t h e i d en ti t y ch eck s o f J o h ns o n an d Ri co , M ad d o x

read Gay h i s Mi r a n d

a ri g h t s an d t h en as k ed Gay fo r p erm i s s i o n t o s earch h i s t ru ck

.

G ay refu s ed co n s en t

, an d M ad d o x rel ay ed t h i s i n fo rm at i o n t o Fran co

. Fran co t h en

req u es t ed a K-9 u n i t t o co m e t o t h e s cen e ju s t b efo re h e b eg an hi s s earch of Ri co ’ s

b ag fo r h e r i d en t i fi cat io n d ocu m en t s. A p p ro xi m at el y t wo m i n u t es aft er p o l i ce h ad

fi ni s h ed as cert ai n i n g t h e id en t i t y an d leg al s tat u s o f al l of t h e tru ck ’ s pas s en g ers

, t h e

K-9 u n i t arri v ed o n t h e s cen e. Ap p ro x i m at el y t wo m i n ut es lat er, an d 14 t o 1 5 m i n u t es

aft er t h e co n cl u s i o n o f Gay ’ s arres t a n d t h e p ol i ce d et erm i n at i o n th at W at t s co u ld

8d ri v e Gay ’ s car fro m t h e s cen e, t h e d o g’ s h an d l er h ad t h e d o g perfo rm a free-ai r s n i ff

aro u n d Gay ’ s t ru ck

. Th e d o g al ert ed o n t h e t ru ck

, an d wh en p ol i ce al l o w ed h i m i n to

t h e v eh icl e, t h e do g al ert ed o n a b l ack b ack pack

. Po l i ce rem ov ed t h e b ack p ack fro m

t h e tru ck

, s earch ed i t

, an d fo u n d i t co n t ai ned so m e am o u n t of m ari j u an a 4

, a p ack ag e

o f p l as ti c s a n d w i c h b ag s

, s cal es o f t h e k i n d u sed t o w ei g h dru g s

, an d a n i n em i l l im et er h an d g un

. W h en p o li ce ran a co m pu t er ch eck o n t h e g u n ’ s seri al n u m b er,

t h ey d i sco v ered t h e g u n h a d b e en rep o rt ed s t o len fro m a res i d en ce i n Gwi n n et t

Co u n t y

.

Pr i o r t o t ri al

, W at t s m ov ed t o s u p pres s t h e ev i den ce s ei zed fro m Gay ’ s t ru ck

o n t h e g ro u n d s t h at t h e d i s c o v ery o f t h at ev i d en ce h ad res u l t ed fro m an i l l eg al l y

p ro l o n g ed t raff

i c s t o p

. Fo l l owi n g an ev i d en t i ary h eari n g

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

m o ti o n wi t h o u t ex p l an at i o n

. Th e t ri al co u rt cert i fi ed i t s o rd er fo r i m m ed i at e rev i ew,

an d t h is Co u rt g r a n t ed W at t s ’ s ap p l icat i o n fo r an i n t erl o cu t o ry ap p eal

. W e

s u b s eq u en t l y d i s m i s s ed th at ap p eal as i m p ro v i d en t ly g ran t ed an d rem an d ed t h e cas e

b ack t o t h e t ri al co u rt

. On rem an d

, t h e cas e p ro ceed ed t o a b en ch t ri a l

, aft er wh i ch

W at t s was co n vi ct ed

.

4 Th e St at e offered n o ev i d en ce, ei t h er at t h e m o t io n t o s u p p res s h eari n g o r at

t ri al , t o s h o w t h e am o u n t o f m ari ju an a fo u nd i n t he b ack p ack

.

9W at t s fi l ed h is n o ti ce o f ap p eal fro m t h e ju d g m en t o f co n v i ct i on o n M arch 2 1,

2 0 1 4

. On Sep t em

ber 1 1

, 2 0 1 4

, t h e St at e fi l ed a pet i ti o n t o rev o ke W at t s ’ s p ro b at i o n.

Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t hat m o ti o n an d i s s u ed a warran t fo r W at t s ’ s arres t

. Aft er h i s

arres t

, W at t s fi l ed a m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s t h e p ro bat i on warran t

, arg u i n g t h at t h e n o t i ce

o f ap p eal o f h i s co n v ict i o n s erv ed as a s u p ers ed eas an d th erefo re s t ay ed ex ecu t i o n o f

h i s s en t en ce. Th u s

, W at t s reas o n ed t h at h e was n o t s u b ject t o th e t erm s o f h i s

p ro b at ed s en t en ce d u ri n g t h e p en d en cy o f h i s ap p eal

. T h e t ri al co u rt h el d a h eari n g

o n W at t s’ s p et i t i o n an d t h ereaft er d en i ed t h e sam e i n an o rd er en t ered o n Oct o b er 1 6,

2 0 1 4

. W at t s t h e n f

i l ed a m o t i o n fo r an ap p eal bo n d

. Fo l l o wi n g a h eari n g o n t h at

m o ti o n

, t h e t ri al co u rt d en ied b on d i n an ord er en t ered o n D ecem b er 1 1

, 2 0 14

. W at t s

d i d n o t fi le a no t i ce o f ap p eal fro m ei t h er t h e o rd er d en y i n g h i s m o t i o n t o di s m i s s t h e

p ro b at i o n warran t o r t h e o rd er d en y i n g h i s m o ti o n fo r an ap p eal b on d

.

1

. W e fi rs t ad d res s wh et h er t he t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g W at t s ’ s m o t i o n to

s u p p res s

. On a m o ti o n t o s u pp res s

, t h e St at e b ears t h e bu rd en o f p ro v i n g t h a t t h e

s earch at i s s u e d i d no t v i o l at e t h e Fo u rt h Am en d m en t

. Do m i n g uez v. S t at e

, 3 1 0 Ga.

Ap p

. 3 7 0

, 3 7 2 (7 1 4 SE2 d 2 5 ) (2 0 1 1 ). To carry i t s b u rd en in t h is cas e, t he St at e was

req u i red t o s h o w t h at i t was l eg al t o d et ai n W at t s at t h e s cen e u nt i l t h e d ru g d o g

i n d i cat ed t he p res en ce o f d ru g s

. Id

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, t h e St at e n e e d e d t o p r o v e t h at t h e

10p o l i ce o ffi cers d i d n o t ex t en d t h e s t o p o f Gay ’ s t ru ck “ b ey o n d t h e co ncl u s io n o f t h e

i n v es t i g at i o n t h at w arran t ed t he d et en t i o n i n t he fi rs t p l ace,” i .e., t h at t h e offi cers d id

n o t p ro l o n g t h e s t o p aft er co n cl u di n g t h ei r i n ves t i g a t i on o f Gay ’ s t ag v i o l at i o n.

Ro d ri g u ez v. S t a t e

, 29 5 Ga. 3 6 2

, 3 6 9 (2 ) (b ) (7 6 1 SE2 d 1 9) (2 0 14 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Al t ern at i v el y

, t h e St at e co u ld m eet i t s b urd en b y sh o wi n g t h at t h e i n v es t i g at i n g

o ffi cers had “ a part i cu l ari zed reas o n t o s u s p ect t h at [W at t s was ] e n g ag ed i n s o m e

o t h er cri m in al act i v i ty .” Do mi n g u ez , 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p . at 3 7 2

.

(a) W at t s co n t en d s th at th e t ri al co urt erred i n d en y i ng h i s m ot i on t o s u p p res s

o n t h e g ro u n d s t h at t h e free-ai r s n i ff o f Gay ’ s t ru ck i nv o l v ed o n l y a b ri ef ex t en s i o n

o f t h e t raffi c s t o p . W e ag ree.

At t h e heari n g b el o w

, t h e St at e arg ued

, an d t h e t ri al co urt fo u n d

, t h at t h e t raffi c

s t op was n o t co m

p l et e u n t i l t h e p o l i ce h ad as cert ai ned t h e i d en t i t y o f a n d ru n a

warran t ch eck o n each o f Gay ’ s p as s en g e r s

. Th e St at e arg ued th at s u ch an i d en t i t y

an d warran t ch eck was ju s t i fi ed b y o ffi cer s afet y co n cern s

. W e as s um e fo r p u rp o s es

11o f t h i s a p p e a l t h a t t h e S t a t e ’ s a r g u m e n t i s c o r r e c t

. 5 S e e

5 W e n o t e t h at i n d en y i n g th e m o t i o n t o s up p res s

, t h e t ri al co u r t f o u n d t h at

b ecau s e Gay ’ s tru ck was b ei n g rel eas ed t o W at ts an d t h e t wo fem al e p as s en g ers

,

p o l i ce d i d n o t act u n reas o n ab ly i n d et erm i n i n g t h e i den t i t y o f al l t h o se p ers o n s to

wh o m t h ey were rel eas i n g th e v eh i cl e. In d o i n g s o

, t h e co u rt ex p res sl y reject ed t h e

St at e’ s arg u m en t th at t h e i d en t it y an d w arran t ch eck s were ju s t i fi ed b y o ffi cer s afet y

co n cern s. Sp eci fi cal l y

, t h e co urt m ad e a cred i b il i t y d e t e r m i n at i o n an d fo u n d t h at

d es p it e Fran co ’ s t es t i m o n y as t o h i s s afet y co n cern s

, t h e ev id en ce fai l ed t o sh o w t h at

s u ch co n cern s j u s t i fi ed Fran co ’ s i n s i s t en ce o n p ro l o n g in g th e traffi c s t o p fo r t h e s o l e

p u rp os e o f d et erm i n i n g t h e i d en t i t y o f t h e t wo fem al e p as sen g ers

. Th e reco rd s h o ws

t h a t Fran co t es t i fi ed t h at at t h e t i m e he ran t he warran t search o n t h e fem a l e

p as s en g ers , n ei t h er h ad d on e an y t h i n g i l l eg al an d h e h ad n o b as i s fo r b el i ev i n g t h at

ei t h er was en g ag ed i n i l l eg al act i v i t y

. At th e t im e t h e t raffi c s to p o t h erwi s e wo u ld

h av e co n cl u ded (fo ll o wi n g Gay ’ s arres t an d t h e d et erm i n at i o n t hat W at ts h ad a v al id

l i cen se an d was au th ori zed to d ri v e t he car fro m t h e s cen e), p o l i ce h ad as k ed fo r an d

recei v ed p erm i s s i on t o s earch W at t s ’ s p ers on an d

, as refl e c ted b y t h e vi deo s o f t h e

t raffi c s t o p , al l t h ree p as s en g ers h ad read i l y co m p li ed wi t h al l i n s tru ct i on s g i v en by

b o t h o f t h e o ffi cers at t h e s cen e.

It m ay b e th at i n l i g h t o f th e Geo rg i a Su p rem e Co urt ’ s recen t d eci s i on i n S t a t e

v

. Al l e n

,

_

_ _ Ga.

__ _ (2 ) (c) (Cas e No

. S1 4 G1 7 6 5

, d eci d ed No v

. 2, 2 0 15 ), t h e t r i a l

co u rt erred i n m ak i n g a fact u al fi n d i ng as t o wh et h er o ffi cer s afet y co n cern s ex i s t ed

an d p ro m p t ed t h e o ffi cer ’s i ns i s t en ce o n co nfi rm in g t h e i d en t i t y o f t he t wo fem al e

p a ss en g ers

. See A l len

,

__ _ Ga. at

_

_ _ (2 ) (d ) (i n d i cat i n g t h at as a m at t er o f l a w

,

o ffi cer s afet y co n cern s al way s ju s t i fy an id en t i t y an d warran t ch eck of al l p as s en g ers

i n an au t o m ob i l e t h at i s t h e s u bject o f a t raffi c s t o p

, n o t i n g “ [a] n o ffi cer i n t o d ay ’ s

real it y h as an o b

j ect i v e, reas o n ab l e b as i s t o fear fo r h i s o r h er l i fe ev ery t i m e a

m o to ri s t i s s t o p p ed ”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n om itte d)

. G ive n th at t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

o f t h i s cas e d o n o t req u i re u s t o d eci d e t h at q u es t io n , h o wev er, we d ecl i n e t o d o s o.

In s t ead

, i n acco rd an ce w i t h Al l en

, we h av e as s u m ed th at o ffi cer s afet y co n cern s were

p res en t an d t hat t he t raffi c s to p was n o t co m p l et e u n t il po l ice ha d a s c e rt ai n ed t h e

i d en t i t y an d warran t s tat u s o f al l p as s en gers

. In m ak i n g t h i s as s u m p t i o n, h o wev er, we

n o t e t h at t h e t raf

fi c st o p at i s su e, i ncl u d i n g t h e i d en t i t y an d warran t ch eck o f al l

p as s en g ers

, was i n d i s p u t ab ly co m p l et e b efo re t he d o g s n i ff o ccu rred

. T hu s

, t h i s cas e

d o es n o t req u i re u s t o d et erm i n e wh et h er t h e o ffi cer’ s d el ay i n ch eck i n g t h e i d en t i t y

an d l e g a l s t at u s o f t he fem al e p as s en gers u n t il al l o th er tas k s rel at ed t o t h e s t o p

12S t a t e v. A l l en

,

_ _ _ Ga.

_ _ _ (2 ) (c) (Cas e No

. S1 4 G1 7 6 5

, d eci d ed No v

. 2

, 2 0 1 5 )

(“ i d en ti fi cat i o n ch eck s o f b o t h d ri v ers an d pas s en gers are g en eral l y p erm i t t ed as an

o ffi cer safet y m eas u re d u ri n g a t raffi c s to p ”); Ro d r i g u ez

, 2 9 5 Ga. at 37 2 -3 73 (2 ) (b )

(as a g en eral ru l e, a ch eck o f t h e p as s en g ers ’ i d en t i t y at t h e o u t s et o f a t raffi c s t o p i s

ju s t ifi ed as i n t h e i n t eres t s o f o ffi cer s afet y ).

A s t h e St at e co n ced ed at t h e m o t i on t o s u pp res s h eari n g

, t h e un d i s p u t e d

ev i d en ce i n t h i s cas e s h o ws t hat t h e t raffi c st op was co m p l et e, at t h e l at es t, at t h e t i m e

p o l i ce were s at i sfi ed t h ey k new Ri co ’ s i d en t i t y an d l eg al s tat u s

. See Fa ul kn er v. S t a t e,

(i ncl ud i ng t h e arres t o f Gay

, t h e s earch o f W at t s

, an d t h e d et erm i n at i on t h at W at t s h ad

b o t h a v al i d l icen s e an d Gay ’ s p erm is s i o n to d ri ve h i s t ru ck fro m t h e s cen e) i l l eg al l y

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

. See Ro d r i g u ez v. Un i t ed S t a t es

,

_

__ U. S.

_ _ _ (II) (1 3 5 SCt 1 6 0 9,

1 6 1 5 -1 6 1 6

, 1 9 1 LEd 2d 4 9 2 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (reco g n i zi ng t hat t raffi c s t o p s are “ frau g h t wi th

d an gers t o o ffi cers ” an d t h at “ t h e g ov ern m en t ’ s o ffi cer s afet y i n t eres t s tem s fro m t h e

m i s s i o n o f t h e s to p i t sel f,” b u t fu rt h er s t at i n g t h at “ s afet y p recau t i o n s t ak en i n o rd er

t o faci l i t at e” an “ [o ] n -s cen e i n ves t i g at i o n i n t o o t h er cri m es ” do n ot fal l wi t h i n t h e

“ m i s s io n o f t he t raffi c s t o p ” an d ex p l ai n i n g th at t h e Fo u rt h Am en d m en t req u i res “ t h at

an offi cer al way s h as t o b e reas o n ab l y d i li g en t

. . . . [an d ] d i l i g e n c e [ is ] g a u g ed

. . . b y n o t i n g wh a t t h e o

f f i cer a ct u a l l

y d i d a n d h o w h e d i d i t [.] If an o ffi cer can co m p l et e

t r a ffi c-b as ed i nq u i ri es ex p ed i t i o u s l y

, t h en t h at i s t h e am ou n t o f t i m e reas o n ab l y

req u i red t o co m

p l et e t h e s t o p ’s m i s s i o n

. As we

. . . rei terat e to d ay

, a t raffi c s t o p

pr olonge d be y ond tha t po i n t i s u n l awfu l

. ”) (Em p h as i s s u p p l i ed ; p u n ct uat i on o m i t te d. )

No r d o es t h i s cas e req u i re u s t o co n s i d er wh et h er Al l en fo rb i d s G eo rg i a co u rt s fro m

m ak i n g su ch a d et erm i n at i o n. See Al l en

,

_ _ _ G a. at

_ _ _ (2 ) (d ) (“ Th e s eq u en ce o f t h e

o ffi cer’ s act i o n s d u ri n g a t raffi c s t o p i s n o t d e t erm i n at i v e; in s t ead

, th e p ri m ary

q u es ti o n i s wh et h er t h e act i v i t y at i s s u e was rel at ed t o t h e m i s si o n of t h e s t op

. . . . If

. . . t h e t as k i s a co m

po n en t o f t h e t r a f

f i c-s t o p m i s s i o n

, i t m ay b e d o n e at an y p o i nt

d u ri n g t he st o p

. It d o es n o t m at t er i f a m i s s io n -rel at ed act i v it y t ak es p lace as s o o n as

t h e s t o p b eg i n s o r, as i s t he cas e h ere, aft er o th er m i s si o n -rel at ed act i v it i es h av e b een

co m p l et ed .”)

132 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. 12 9

, 1 3 0 (5 6 7 SE2 d 7 5 4) (2 0 02 ) (as a m a t t er o f l aw, a t raffi c s t o p i s

co m p l et e “ o n ce th e t as k s rel at ed t o t h e i n v es t ig at i o n o f t he t raffi c vi o l at i o n

. . . h av e

b e e n a c co m

p l i s h ed ”). T h u s

, th e reco rd i s u nd i s pu t ed t hat th e t raffi c s t o p h ad

co n cl u d ed ap p ro x i m at el y fo u r m i n ut es b efo re p ol i ce co n d u ct ed th e free-ai r s n i ff. Th e

t ri al co u rt ack n owl ed g ed t hat fac t

, b ut n ev ert h el es s co n cl u d ed t hat t h e co n t i n u ed

d et en t i o n o f W at t s an d t h e fem al e p as s en g ers d id n o t v i ol at e t h e Fo u rt h Am en d m en t

.

Th e co u rt b as ed t h i s c o n c l u s i o n o n t h e l aw h o l di n g th at a b ri ef o r d e m i n i m i s

ex t en s i o n o f a t raffi c s t o p d o es n o t v i o l at e t h e F o u r t h Am en d m en t

. See Ro d r i g u ez

,

2 9 5 Ga. at 3 7 1 (h o l d in g t h at t h e l en g t h b y wh i ch t h e p o l i ce p ro l o n g ed t h e d et en t i o n

“ i s rel ev an t t o [t h e] i n q u i r y ” o f w het h er t he d et en t i o n v i o l at ed t he Fo u rt h

Am en d m e n t )

, c it i n g Un i t ed S t a t es v. Di g i o va n ni

, 6 5 0 F3 d 4 9 8, 50 9 (II) (4 t h Ci r.

2 0 1 1 ) (“ wh ere a d el ay can be ch a r a c t eri zed as d e m i n i m i s un d er t h e t ot al i t y o f t h e

ci rcu m s t an ces

, i t wi l l n o t b e reco g n i zed as a Fo u rt h Am en d m en t v i o l at i o n ”) (ci t at i on s

o m it t ed ); Y

o u n g v. S ta t e

, 3 10 Ga. A p p

. 2 7 0

, 2 73 (7 12 SE2 d 6 5 2 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (“ [i ] n t h e

en d

, t he que s t i o n i s ‘ wh et h er [t h e d et en t io n ] was ap p reci ab l y p ro lo n g ed ,” co n s i d eri n g

“ t h e d et en t i o n as a w h ol e,’ an d k eep i ng i n m i n d t h at ‘ t h e t o u ch s t o n e o f o u r i n q u i ry

[u n d er th e Fo u rt h A m en d m en t ] i s reas o n ab l en es s ’ ”), q u o t i n g Un i t ed St a t es v. De La

Cr u z

, 7 0 3 F3 d 1 1 9 3, 1 20 3 (I) (A) (1 0 t h Ci r. 2 0 13 ).

14Th e Un i t ed St at es Su p rem e Co u rt

, h o w ev er, recen t l y reject ed th e co n cep t t h at

t h e Fo u rt h A m en dm en t al l o ws an y k i n d o f ex t en s io n o f a t raffi c s t o p b ey o n d t h e

i n v es t i g a t i o n o f t h e traffi c v i o lat i o n th at warran t ed t h e s t o p

, ev en i f t h at ex t en s i o n

co u ld be co n s id ered m i n i m al

. R o d r i g u ez

, 1 3 5 SCt at 1 6 1 5 -1 6 1 6

. 6 In th at cas e, t h e

d ru g d o g h ad arri v ed w it hi n fi v e m i n u t e s aft er t h e p o l ice had co m p l et ed al l t as k s

rel at ed t o t h e traffi c s t op an d t he d og al ert ed o n t h e car o n e t o t wo m i nu t es l at er. Id

.

at 1 61 3

. Fo l l o wi n g h i s i n d i ct m en t o n p o s s e s s i o n wi th i n ten t t o d i s t ri b u t e

m et h am p h et am i ne, Ro d ri g u ez m o v ed t o s u p p res s t h e d ru g s fo u n d i n h i s car arg u i n g

t h at t h e free-ai r s n i ff aro u n d t h e v eh i cl e res u lt ed fro m an il l eg al l y p ro l o n ged t raffi c

s t op

. Th e t ri al co u rt d en i ed Ro d ri g u ez’ s m o t i o n

, rel y i n g o n p reced en t ho l di n g t h at

“ ‘ d og sn i ffs t h at o ccu r wi t h i n a s h o rt t i m e fo l l o wi ng t h e co m p l et i o n o f a t raffi c s t o p

are n o t co n s t i t u t i o n al l y p ro h i b it ed i f t h ey co n st it u t e o n l y d e m i n i m i s in t ru s i o n s .’ ” Id

.

at 16 1 3 -1 6 1 4. A pp l y i n g t h at l aw, t h e t ri al co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at “ t h e ‘ 7 t o 1 0 m i n u t es ’

ad d ed t o t h e s t o p b y th e do g s n i ff ‘ was n ot o f c o n st i tu t i o n al s i gn i fi can ce.’ ” Id

. at

1 6 1 4

. Th e Ei g h t h Ci rcu i t affi rm ed t h is ru l i ng

, fi nd i n g t h at t h e d e l a y a t i s s u e

“ co n s t i tu t ed an accep t ab l e ‘ d e m i n i m i s i n t ru s io n o n Ro d ri gu ez’s p e r s o nal l i b ert y ’ ”

6 W e n ot e t h at t h e Un i t ed St at es Su p rem e Co u rt i s s u ed it s d e c i s i o n in

Ro d ri g u ez wel l aft er t h e t ri al co u rt i n t h i s cas e h ad ru l ed o n t h e m o t io n t o s u p p res s

.

15an d t h erefo re d i d n o t v io l at e th e Fo u rt h Am en d m en t

. Th e U n i t ed St at es S u p rem e

Co u rt rev ers ed

, no t i n g t h at “ a d o g s n i ff

. . . i s n o t an o rd in ary i n ci d en t o f a t raffi c s t o p

. . . [an d ] i s n ot fai rl y ch aract eri zed as p art o f t h e o ffi cer’ s t raffi c m i s s i o n .” Id

. at

1 6 1 5

. Th e Co u rt t herefo re co n cl u d ed t h at t he Fo u rt h Am en d m en t d o es n o t “ t o l erat e[]

a do g sn i ff co n du ct ed aft er co m p l et i on of a t raffi c s t o p ,” ev en i f t he t i m e b y wh i ch t h e

s t op was ex t en d ed was m i n im al . Id . at 1 61 6

.

Ap p ly i n g Ro d

r i g u ez t o t he cu rren t cas e, we fi n d t h at th e fo u r-m in u t e ex t en s i o n

o f t h e t raffi c st o p at i ss u e fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f al l o wi n g t h e d ru g d o g t o perfo rm a freea i r s n iff aro u n d Gay ’ s car v i o l at ed W at t s ’ s Fo urt h Am en d m en t ri g h t s

. Id

. See a l s o

Al l en

,

_ _ _ Ga. at

_ _ _ (2 ) (a) (“ p ro l o n g i n g a t raffi c s t o p i n o rd er to co n d u ct an o p en

ai r do g s n i ff ren d ers t h e s ei zu re u n l awfu l, ev en i f t h at p ro ces s ad d s v ery l i t t l e t i m e to

t h e s t o p ”). Th e t ri al co u rt erred i n h o l d i n g o t h erwi s e.

(b ) Th e St at e arg u es t h at we s h o u l d n ev ert hel es s affi rm th e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al

o f W at t ’ s m o t i o n to s up p res s

, rel y i n g on t h e ru l e t h at a p o l ice offi cer m ay det ai n t h e

s u b ject s o f a t raffi c s t o p “ aft er th e i n v es t i g at i o n o f t he t raffi c v i o l at i o n i s co m p l et e

.

. . i f t h e o ffi cer h as a reas o n ab l e, art i cu l ab l e s us p ici o n t h at t h e d ri v er was en g ag ed in

16o t h er i ll eg al act i v i t y .” Bo di f o r d 7

, 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 6 7 (2 ) (ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). Th e St at e b ears th e b u rd en o f p ro v i n g f a c t s t h at es tab l is h a bas i s fo r

co n ti n u ed d et en ti o n

, McS wa i n v. S ta t e

, 2 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. 6 0

, 61 (5 2 2 SE2 d 5 5 3 ) (1 9 9 9 ),

an d wh et h er t h e St at e h as m et t h i s b u rd en i s a qu es t i o n o f l aw. Ro s a s v. S t at e

, 2 7 6 Ga.

A p p

. 51 3

, 5 1 6 (1 ) (b ) (6 24 SE2 d 1 4 2 ) (“ [w] h et her a g i v en s et o f fact s ri s es t o t h e

l ev el o f reas o n ab l e s u s p i ci o n i s a l eg al q ues t i o n ”) (fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ). As ex p l ai n ed

b el o w, h o wev er, i n t h e a bs en ce o f cert ai n fact u al an d cred i b i l it y d et erm in at i o n s by

t h e t ri al co urt , we are u n ab l e t o ad dres s t h at l eg al q u es ti o n o n t h i s ap p eal

.

In i t s ap p el lat e b ri ef, t h e St at e rel i es o n fi v e o b s erv at io n s t es t i fi ed t o b y Fran co

t o s u p p o rt i t s cl ai m t hat t h e p o l i ce h ad a reas on ab l e s u s p i ci o n t h at t h e o ccu p an t s o f

Gay ’ s car were en g ag ed i n i l l eg al act i v i t y : th e l en gt h o f t i m e i t t o o k Gay to p u l l o v er

aft er Fran co act i v at ed h i s b lu e l i g h t s ; W a t t s an d Gay g av e s o m ewh at co n fl i ct i n g

s t at em en t s ab o u t t h ei r rel at io ns h i p t o o n e an o t h er; G ay h ad “ co tt o n m o u t h ” an d b o th

7 Th e St at e d i d n o t ad v an ce t h i s arg u m en t i n t h e t ri al co u rt

, b ut i ns t ead arg u ed

o n l y t h at t h e fo u r-m i nu t e ex t en s i on o f t h e traffi c s t o p fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f al l o wi n g a

d o g s n i ff aro u nd Gay ’ s car d i d n o t v i ol at e W at t s ’ s Fo u r t h Am en d m en t ri g h t s

. On

ap p eal

, h o w e v e r

, t h e St at e arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt s h o ul d b e affi rm ed u n d er t h e

“ ri g h t fo r an y reas o n ” r u l e

, b ecau s e t h e o ffi cers had a reas o nab l e, art i cu l ab l e

s u s p i ci o n o f d ru g act i v i t y. See S t a t e v. Th a cks t o n

, 28 9 Ga. 4 1 2

, 4 1 7 (3 ) (7 1 6 SE2 d

5 1 7 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (an ap p el l ee n eed n o t an t i ci p at e “ ev ery co n cei v ab l e arg um en t i n s u p p o rt

o f t he t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci si o n” i n o rd er t o o b t ai n t h e b en efi t o f th e ri g h t-fo r-an y -reas o n

ru l e).

17Gay an d W at t s h ad b l o o ds h o t ey es ; Gay an d W at ts were sm o k i ng ci g ars ; an d W at t s

ap p eared n erv o u s

. W e fi n d as a m at t er o f l aw t h at o n e o f t h es e fact s

– t he al l eg ed l y

co n fl i ct i n g s t at em en t s m ad e b y W at t s an d Gay

– p ro v i d e no b as i s fo r s u s p ect i n g

i l leg al act i v i t y

, ev en i f v i ewed i n co n ju n ct io n wi t h t h e rem ai n i n g fo u r fact s

.

As t h i s Co u rt h as ex p l ai ned p rev i o u s l y

, d i fferi n g s t at em en t s as t o t h e n at u re o f

t h e rel at io n s h i p b et ween t he p as s en g ers d o es n o t p ro v i d e p o l i ce wi t h a b as i s fo r

s u s p ect i n g d ru g act i vi ty wh ere t h os e s t at em en t s o ffer n o “ m ean i n g fu l

i n co n s i s t e n c i e s .” Mi

gl i o r e v. S t a t e

, 2 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. 7 83

, 7 86 (5 2 5 SE2 d 1 6 6) (1 9 9 9 )

(fact th at car’ s d ri ver d es cri b ed fem al e p as s en g er as h i s g i rl f r i e n d w h i l e t he fem al e

p as s en g er d es cri b ed t h e d r i v e r as a fri en d was n ot a m ean i n g fu l i n co n s i s t en cy an d

was th erefo re i n s u f

f i c i e n t t o g i v e ri s e t o a s u s p i ci o n o f il l eg al act i v i t y ). See al s o

W eems v

. St at e, 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 7 4 9

, 7 5 1 (7 3 4 SE2 d 7 4 9) (2 01 2 ) (fact t h at d ri v er an d

h er m al e p as s en g er g av e co nfl i ct i n g st o ri es as t o w h o h ad pi ck ed u p wh o m earl i er in

t h e d ay d i d n o t p ro v i de a b as i s fo r su s p ect i n g cri m i n al act i v it y ). Here, Gay d es cri b ed

h i m s el f as W at t s’ s s t ep fat h er wh i l e W at ts d es cri bed Gay as h i s m o t her’ s b o y fri en d.

Part icu l arl y g i v en t h a t “ i t is n o t u n co m m o n fo r i n d iv i d u al s t o hav e d i fferen t

p ercep t i on s o f t he n at u re o f [a ro m an t i c] re l at i o n sh i p ,” t h e al l eg ed i n co n s i s t en cy at

18i s su e d id n o t p ro v id e po l i ce wi t h a b as is fo r su s p ect i n g G ay an d W at t s p o s s es s ed

d ru g s. M i g li o r e

, 2 4 0 Ga. Ap p . at 7 8 6

.

Th e qu es t i o n b eco m es

, t h erefo re, wh et h er th e fo u r rem ai ni n g fact s rel i ed u p o n

b y t he St at e, wh en v iewed t og et h er, pro v i ded p o l i ce wi t h a r e as o n ab l e, art i cu l ab l e

s u s p i ci o n t h at G ay ’ s car co n t ai ned co n t rab an d

. 8 See Do mi n g u ez

, 3 1 0 Ga. A p p

. at 3 7 4

(“ [t ] o s h o w t h at an o ffi cer h ad reas o n ab l e g ro u nd s up o n wh i ch t o t em p o rari l y d et ai n

an i n d i v i du al fo r t h e pu rp os e o f co n d uct i n g an i n ves t i g at i o n, t h e St at e i s req u i red to

p ro v e t h at t h e o ffi cer t hen was aware o f ‘ s p eci fi c an d art i cu lab l e fact s wh i ch , t ak en

t o g et h er wi t h rat i o nal i n fer e n c e s fro m t h o s e fact s

, reas o nab l y warran t t h e

d et en t i o n ’ ”), q u ot in g Li n d s ey v. S t a t e, 2 8 7 Ga. Ap p

. 4 1 2

, 4 1 4 (6 5 1 SE2 d 5 31 ) (2 0 0 7 ).

Th i s q ues t i o n , i n t u rn , d ep en ds o n wh et h er an d t o wh at ex t en t t h e t ri al co u rt cred i t s

Fran co ’ s t es ti m o n y

. W e are un ab l e t o ad dres s t h is qu es t io n o n ap p eal b ecau s e t h e t ri al

co u rt d i d n o t m ak e an y fi nd i n g s – ei t h er i n i t s wri t t e n o rd er o r o n t h e reco rd at t h e

8 Bas ed o n t he cu rren t reco rd

, we h av e s eri ou s res erv at i o n s ab ou t wh et h er

Gay ’ s al leg ed del ay in p u l l in g o v er can

, as a m at t er o f l aw, su p p o r t a s u s p i c i o n o f

i l leg al act i v i t y

. As no t ed ab o ve, t h e v i d eo o f t h e t raffi c st op s h o ws t h at G a y p u l l e d

o v er at t he fi rs t o p p o rt u n i ty h e had t o d o s o wi t h o ut m ak i n g a l eft t urn acro ss t raffi c,

a fact t h at Fran co ack no wl ed g ed o n cro s s -ex am i n at i o n. Th e v i d eo fu rt h er s ho ws t h at

Gay ’ s v eh i cl e, w h ich h ad b een t rav el i n g at ap p ro xi m at el y 3 5 m i l es p er h o u r, cam e to

a co m p l et e s t o p on t h e s i d e o f t h e ro ad ap p ro x im at el y 3 3 s eco n d s aft er Fran co

i n i t i at ed t h e s t o p. N ev ert h el es s

, b ecau s e t h i s q ues t i o n m ay u l ti m at el y i nv o l v e a

cred i b i l i t y

d et erm i n at i on , we l eav e i t fo r t h e t ri al co u rt t o ad d res s o n rem an d

.

19m o ti o n t o s u p pres s h eari n g

– as t o wh et h er t h e St at e h ad p ro v en t he ex i s ten ce o f a

reas on ab l e, art i cu l ab l e s u s p i ci o n o f cri m in a l act iv i t y s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt t h e

e x t en s i o n o f t h e t raffi c st o p. 9 See H u g h es v. St a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 7 4 4

, 7 4 7 (1 ) (7 7 0 SE2 d

6 3 6 ) (2 01 5 ) (n ot i n g t hat o n a m o t io n to s up p res s

, “ ‘ [c] red i b i l it y o f wi t n es s es an d t h e

wei g h t t o b e g i v en t h ei r t es t im o n y i s a d eci s i o n-m a k i n g p o w e r t h at l i es so l el y wi th

t h e tri er o f fact

. Th e tri er o f fact i s n o t ob l i g at ed t o b e l i e v e a wi t n es s ev en i f t h e

t es t i m o ny i s u n co n t rad i ct ed an d m ay accep t o r reject an y p ort i o n o f t h e t es t i m o n y .’ ”),

q u o t i n g Ta t e v. S t a t e

, 2 6 3 Ga. 5 3

, 5 6 (3 ) (4 40 SE2 d 64 6 ) (1 9 94 ). W e t h erefo re v acat e

b o t h t h e o rd er d en y i n g t h e m o t i o n t o s u pp r e s s a n d t he ju d g m en t o f co n v i ct i o n an d

rem an d t h i s cas e t o t h e tri al co u rt

. See W i l l ia ms v. St a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 8 1 7 (7 7 1 SE2 d 3 7 3 )

(2 0 1 5). W e l eav e it fo r t h e t ri al co u rt o n rem an d t o d et erm i n e wh at cred i t an d wei g ht

t o g i v e Fran co ’ s t es t i m o ny an d t o d et erm i n e w het h er t h at t es t i m o n y

, wh en v i ewed in

co n j u n ct i o n wi t h t h e v i deo reco rd i n g s o f t h e t raffi c s t o p , s u p p o rt ed an ex t en s i o n o f

t h e t raffi c s t o p fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f co n d u ct in g a d ru g i n v es t i gat i on

.

2

. W at t s al so s eek s to ch al l en g e b o t h th e t ri al co u rt ’ s ord er d en y i n g h i s m o t i o n

t o d is m is s t h e p ro bat i o n warran t an d t h e o rd er d en y i n g h is req ues t fo r an ap p eal b o n d.

9 T h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fai l u re t o m ak e s u ch fi nd i n g s i s u n d e rs tan d ab le, g i v en t h e

St at e’ s fai l u re t o ad v an ce t h is arg u m en t b el o w as a b as is f o r d e n y in g t he m o t i o n to

s u p p res s

.

20Each o f th es e o rd ers

, h o wev er, was en t ered aft er W at t s fi l ed h i s n o t i ce o f ap p eal fro m

h i s co n v i ct i o n

. A cco rd i n g l y

, t h o s e o rd ers can n o t b e en u m erat ed as e r r o r o n t h i s

ap p eal

. See Pi r

kl e v. Qu ikt r i

p Co r p

. , 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. 5 9 7

, 59 8 (1 ) (a) (7 5 4 SE2 d 3 8 7 )

(2 0 1 4) (a p art y m ay no t en u m erat e as erro r an o rd er en t ered “ aft er t h e fi l in g o f t h e

n o t i ce o f ap p eal ”); P a i n e v. Na ti o n s

, 3 0 1 Ga. A p p

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

(t hi s Co u rt m ay n o t co n s i d er o n a p p e a l o rd ers o f t h e t ri al co u rt t h at were en t ered

fo l l o w i n g t h e fi li n g o f t h e n o t i ce o f ap p eal ).

Fo r t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h ab o v e, we v acat e b o th t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er d en y i n g

W at t s ’ s m o t i o n t o su p p res s an d t h e ju d g m en t o f co n v ict i o n an d rem an d t h e cas e fo r

fu rt her p ro ceed i n g s co n si s t en t w i t h t h i s o p in i o n. See W i l li a ms v. S t a te

, 2 96 Ga. 8 1 7,

8 2 0 (7 71 SE2 d 3 7 3 ) (2 01 5 ) (v acat i n g an d rem an d i ng deci s i o n o n m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

fo r t ri al co u rt t o d et erm i n e an ad d i t i o n al i ss u e, n o t p rev io u s ly ad d res s ed ); S t a t e v.

Ab l e

, 3 2 1 Ga. A p p

. 6 32

, 63 6 (7 4 2 SE2 d 1 49 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (s am e). See al so R o d r i g u ez

, 1 3 5

S. Ct . at 1 6 1 7

.

Ju d g men t va ca t ed a n d ca s e r ema n d ed

. An d r ews

, P. J., a nd Mi l l er

, J., co n cu r

.

21