Opinion ID: 2623375
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Second Stop

Text: {7} After Officer Roberts talked with Deputy House, he spotted a vehicle fitting the description in the BOLO. According to Officer Roberts, the car was traveling at an unsafe speed, 35 miles per hour in a 25 miles per hour construction zone. Officer Roberts stopped the vehicle for speeding. Officer Roberts also indicated that he had no problem seeing the license plate. {8} Officer Roberts approached the car and asked Swanson for his driver's license, proof of insurance, and vehicle registration. Swanson was cooperative and provided the information. Officer Roberts returned to his police car to run a license inquiry and complete a speeding citation. Meanwhile, Officer Roberts observed Swanson tapping his fingers on the hood of his car, glancing back at him in both the driver's side view mirror and the rearview mirror, and glancing over his shoulder. He also observed Vandenberg rolling his window up and down several times, looking back toward Officer Roberts, and conversing with Swanson. {9} Officer Roberts is an experienced police officer. He makes approximately fifty traffic stops a night. Based on what he observed of Defendants, as well as on the BOLO and his radio conversation with Deputy House, Officer Roberts became nervous about his safety. He requested assistance, and within a few minutes Officer Yost arrived on the scene. [1] Officer Yost observed the passenger looking around, fidgeting, and looking in the glove compartment. She testified that the two men were talking to each other, and that Swanson was looking in his rearview mirror. Like Officer Roberts, Officer Yost testified that Defendants were acting in a manner more nervous than most people involved in a routine traffic stop. {10} After Officer Yost arrived for backup, Officer Roberts approached the car again and told Swanson that his movements were making him nervous. Officer Roberts asked Swanson if he had any weapons inside the car, and Swanson responded in the negative. Officer Roberts then asked Swanson to get out of the car so he could frisk him for weapons. Swanson asked why he had to submit to a frisk, and Officer Roberts told him it was because he was making him (Roberts) nervous for his safety. After hesitating for a moment, Defendants both stepped out of the car. {11} Officer Roberts requested that Swanson step to the rear of the car. Instead of complying, Swanson took a very large step away from Officer Roberts and again asked why Officer Roberts wanted to conduct a frisk. Swanson protested that he did not believe the officer had the authority to search him. Officer Roberts explained that he was not conducting a search, but simply a pat down for weapons. Swanson then became even more nervous, and Officer Roberts again requested that he move towards the rear of the vehicle. Swanson hesitated, and Officer Roberts touched Swanson's right shoulder to escort him to the rear of his vehicle. When Officer Roberts touched Swanson's shoulder, Swanson pulled away. At this time, Officer Roberts became even more concerned for his safety because of Swanson's body language and demeanor. Officer Roberts ordered Swanson to place his hands behind his head. Swanson hesitated, but eventually complied with Officer Roberts' directives, and Officer Roberts began his pat down. {12} During the pat down, Swanson's body became very rigid. When Officer Roberts got near the waist area of Swanson's pants, Swanson pulled away. Officer Yost saw an object in the waistband of Mr. Swanson's pants. As Officer Roberts leaned Swanson over the trunk of the car, Officer Yost removed the object from Swanson's waistband. As Officer Yost struggled to remove the object from Swanson's waistband, Swanson told Officer Roberts that he did not have to be so rough with him because it was only dope. Officer Roberts then placed Swanson in the back seat of Officer Yost's police car. {13} Meanwhile, Vandenberg disclosed to Officer Yost that he also had an object concealed in his pants, which Officer Roberts removed. The officers called for additional backup and placed Vandenberg in the back of the other police car. After Swanson and Vandenberg were arrested, Officer Roberts searched the vehicle with his canine but did not discover any additional drugs or weapons. The objects seized by the officers were tested and found to contain marijuana.