Opinion ID: 2630733
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: potter

Text: ¶ 2 Spokane County Deputy Hause stopped Jacob J. Potter's vehicle in Spokane on November 17, 2003, after observing the vehicle avoid his marked patrol car in a suspicious manner, cross a double yellow line, and fail to turn into the immediate travel lane while making a turn. Deputy Hause identified the driver as Jacob Potter and arrested him for DWLS in the third degree. After Potter was handcuffed outside the vehicle, Deputy Hause searched the car. On the ground next to where Potter was handcuffed, Deputy Hause found a clear plastic baggie that contained a crystal-like substance. He observed that the bag was not wet or dirty, though it had been raining or snowing during much of the day. Deputy Hause arrested Potter for possession of a controlled substance. ¶ 3 In Spokane County Superior Court, the State charged Potter with one count of possession of a controlled substance for methamphetamine. Potter filed a motion to suppress the evidence obtained during the search incident to arrest on the grounds his arrest was invalid in light of Moore. The trial court granted his motion and dismissed the charge. The State appealed and the Court of Appeals reversed, holding that the officer had probable cause to arrest Potter for DWLS and that an arrest is not invalid for lack of probable cause simply because the criminal statute a defendant is arrested under is later found to be unconstitutional. State v. Potter, 129 Wash.App. 494, 497, 119 P.3d 877 (2005).