Opinion ID: 710260
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: videotaped events

Text: 3 Defendant Sorenson, the driver of the Thunderbird, pulled over into the emergency lane and stopped the car. Trooper Bushnell observed Sorenson move his shoulders side to side and forward and down, as if he was concealing something. Bushnell approached, informed Sorenson he was swerving, and asked him if he had been drinking. Sorenson said no. Bushnell asked for Sorenson's license and registration. Sorenson produced a license, but no registration. Defendant Parker, who was in the passenger seat, said he owned the car and produced an insurance card, and eventually produced a registration. 4 During this exchange, Trooper Bushnell smelled burned marijuana in Defendants' Thunderbird. He asked Trooper Mangleson to verify the smell, which he eventually did. Vol. I at 121-22. Trooper Bushnell had Sorenson step out of the vehicle and perform field sobriety tests--i.e., a horizontal gaze nystagmus test and a one-legged stand test. Bushnell concluded Sorenson performed poorly on both tests. Because Bushnell could not smell alcohol, he suspected drugs were the cause of Sorenson's poor driving and performance on the sobriety tests. 5 Trooper Bushnell returned to Defendants' car and asked Parker if there were any drugs in the car. Parker said no. Bushnell asked Parker if he could search the car for drugs and guns. Parker did not respond. 6 Trooper Bushnell returned to his patrol car to run a computer check to determine whether Defendants had any prior arrests. While waiting for a response from dispatch, Bushnell questioned Defendants regarding their travel. While he spoke with Sorenson, dispatch relayed a 10-0 caution signal, indicating to Trooper Bushnell that Defendants had prior arrests for weapons or violence and that he should use caution. Bushnell asked Sorenson if there were any weapons in the car. Sorenson said there was a pistol between the front seats. Parker gave the troopers permission to search the car for weapons. Trooper Bushnell searched between the seats and found a 9 millimeter pistol with a loaded clip.