Opinion ID: 611039
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Vehicle Stop

Text: 29 KHP Trooper Heady and Officer Robinson stopped Suttles' vehicle and arrested Suttles and Swab. 6 The defendants appeal the district court's denial of their motion to suppress evidence seized as a result of that search, arguing that the officers lacked probable cause to arrest. The government responds that it had reasonable suspicion to stop the vehicle and that it developed probable cause to arrest based on information adduced during the investigatory stop. We review the question of the officers' suspicion for clear error, but determine the reasonableness of the stop de novo. See United States v. Walker, 941 F.2d 1086, 1090 (10th Cir.1991), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 1168, 117 L.Ed.2d 414 (1992). 30 We first note that Occhipinti and Spence, who allege no expectation of privacy in the vehicle whatsoever, lack standing to object to its seizure. As to Suttles and Swab, the officers clearly had reasonable suspicion to stop their vehicle. In particular, the officers possessed abundant information to link the car and its occupants to the marijuana operation: the occupants matched the descriptions of persons suspected of residing at the farm, the car had California tags, and the car contained bags of potting soil similar to that used at the farm. In addition, the car slowed down as it drove past the residence, which now was clearly occupied by law enforcement personnel, and headed down a dead-end road. Under the totality of the circumstances, the officers were justified in stopping the vehicle. See United States v. Barbee, 968 F.2d 1026, 1028 (10th Cir.1992). 31 After questioning Suttles and determining that he had used a fictitious name to purchase property that contained a massive marijuana-growing operation, the officers had sufficient information to believe that Suttles had committed a crime. See United States v. Morgan, 936 F.2d 1561, 1568 (10th Cir.1991), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 1190, 117 L.Ed.2d 431 (1992). The evidence seized was therefore incident to a lawful arrest and was properly admitted.