Opinion ID: 545558
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Traffic Stop and Search

Text: 7 This court has held that a clearly erroneous standard of review is to be applied when assessing a district court's decision to deny a motion to suppress. United States v. Eisenberg, 807 F.2d 1446, 1499 (8th Cir.1986) (citing United States v. Lewis, 738 F.2d 916, 920 (8th Cir.1984), cert. denied, 470 U.S. 1006, 105 S.Ct. 1362, 84 L.Ed.2d 383 (1985)). We will affirm a district court's order denying a motion to suppress unless we find that the decision is unsupported by the evidence, based on an erroneous interpretation of the law, or we are left with a firm conviction that a mistake has been made. United States v. Pantazis, 816 F.2d 361, 363 (8th Cir.1987) (citing United States v. Lewis, 738 F.2d at 920). Boucher argues that the initial traffic stop for speeding was unlawful and was simply a pretext for an investigatory stop. Boucher asserts that the record supports his claim because the government presented no evidence that Boucher was speeding other than Cooper's opinion as a police officer. We disagree. Cooper testified that he was absolutely certain that the vehicle was speeding and confirmed his observation by radar, although he did not get a lock on his reading. Based upon Cooper's testimony, the district court found that Boucher was speeding. Nothing in the record suggests that the finding was erroneous, or that Cooper stopped Boucher for any other reason, i.e., a hunch or suspicion that Boucher was committing some other offense. 8 Boucher next argues that even if he were speeding, Cooper's observation of the gun in the front seat during the traffic stop did not constitute probable cause for an arrest and subsequent search of the pickup. We disagree. Cooper first approached the pickup and asked Boucher for identification and registration. Because Cooper noted several inconsistencies in these documents, he asked Boucher to exit the pickup and sit in the patrol car for questioning. It is constitutionally permissible for a police officer to make such requests of a traffic violator. Pennsylvania v. Mimms, 434 U.S. 106, 111, 98 S.Ct. 330, 333, 54 L.Ed.2d 331 (1977). 9 The significant event in this case was Cooper's observance of the gun after Boucher exited the pickup. Cooper testified that the gun was stuck between the seat and the seat back. The gun was not in plain view prior to this time because Boucher was sitting on it and it was therefore concealed. Even if Boucher had not been sitting directly on top of the weapon, under Missouri law a weapon is concealed when it is not visible by ordinary observation even where it is visible from one particular vantage point. State v. Crews, 722 S.W.2d 653, 654 (Mo.Ct.App.1987). Carrying a concealed weapon is a violation of Missouri law. Mo.Rev.Stat. Sec. 571.030(1) (1986). Therefore, Cooper had probable cause at that point to make an arrest, although he was not required to do so. An arrest for carrying a concealed weapon has been recognized as a sufficient basis for making a full custodial arrest by this court. United States v. Jackson, 741 F.2d 223, 224 (8th Cir.1984).