Opinion ID: 1694971
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Gloria Buckley

Text: Buckley was arrested based on information supplied by the confidential informant which was partially corroborated by the observations of the police officers making the arrest and on information independently acquired by the police. The veracity of the informant was shown at the hearing on the motion to suppress by Officer Selby's testimony that the particular informant had provided information in the recent past that led to seventy or eighty arrests; that those cases were still being tried in court and not one case had yet been lost. Regarding the basis of knowledge, Selby testified that the informant stated that he had personally observed the small pink and blue pills which Buckley placed in her right hand. As the officers approached the intersection shortly thereafter, they saw a female matching all of the characteristics described by the informant, corroborating the information given to them. They also noticed Buckley transfer something from her right hand to the small purse she was carrying. This normally innocent act, considered in connection with the information already in the possession of the police, further corroborated the informant's tip. The police also had independent knowledge that the intersection where the informant made his observations was an area high in drug trafficking, and the police had been conducting investigations in the area. The informant had also earlier that day told the officers that he had observed Vickie selling narcotics on that corner throughout the day. The fact that Buckley was observed acquiring the pills through what reasonably appeared to be a purchase from an identified seller of narcotics connected Buckley with the criminal activity known by the police as being prevalent in the suspect area. The combination of these articulable facts, judged by the probabilities and practical considerations of everyday life on which average policemen can be expected to act, provides ample basis to support a finding of probable cause to arrest Gloria Buckley for possession of controlled substances. The trial court erred in ordering suppressed the evidence seized incident to her arrest.