Opinion ID: 1914449
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Lofland Properly Applied

Text: In Hall's case, the trial judge concluded that the same reasoning we applied in Lofland applies to the facts of this case. We agree. Detective Simpler was assigned to the Governor's Task Force, which has a primary goal of targeting street-level drug sales. On the evening of Hall's arrest, Detective Simpler was conducting surveillance in targeted areas known for drug activity near and along Kirkwood Highway in Newark. Detective Simpler's training and experience made him highly knowledgeable of drug transactions and the conduct of drug dealers. Simpler's observations of Hall's conduct in the 7-Eleven parking lot at a late hour led the officer reasonably to conclude that Hall was there to sell drugs. Hall sat in his parked car for several minutes before going into the store. Then he returned to his car, where he continued to sit and appeared to be waiting for someone, rather than pull out of the parking lot and drive away after exiting the store. When the driver of the Ford Taurus pulled into the parking lot, she parked on the side of the building, rather than in one of the empty spaces in front. The driver and passenger did not go into the store. Instead, they waited in their car while Hall got out of his car, walked over to the Taurus and got in the back seat. At that point, Simpler concluded that what he had observed was clearly indicative of a drug transaction, of drug sales. We hold that the trial judge properly ruled that Simpler's conclusion was reasonable, based on both the objective facts and Simpler's subjective interpretation of those facts, in light of his extensive experience in investigating drug transactions. [19] Accordingly, the trial judge did not err when he denied Hall's motion to suppress the evidence obtained as a result of the lawful detention of Hall.