Court Opinion

ID: 9797919
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 04:32:22.602295+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:59:50.975501
License: Public Domain

COATS, Chief Judge,
concurring.
According to the language of the parties' plea agreement, this case appears to present a simple legal question: "whether a delayed pull-over, together with furtive movements with both hands into or under the center console, create a circumstance where an office[r] could reasonably surmise that the defendant was engaged in criminal activity, such that the officer could detain the vehicle and subject it to a dog sniff." But if we restricted ourselves to this statement of the case as set forth in the plea agreement, it appears that Trooper Ballesteros had at most reasonable suspicion that Deweese was in possession of a controlled substance. (Dew-eese argues that the dog sniff would have only detected the possible presence of drugs; it would not have produced evidence of other criminal activity.) Generally, reasonable suspicion that a person is in possession of a small amount of illegal drugs for personal use would not constitute "imminent public danger" justifying an investigative stop.1 Therefore, Deweese would likely prevail if we decided this case based solely on the facts set out in the plea agreement and Judge Olsen's findings.
*1091But, as the record in this case and the briefs of the parties make clear, there were more facts to this case than are set out in Judge Olsen's findings and the parties' plea agreement. The State argues that in addition to the "delayed pullover, together with furtive movements with both hands into or under the center console," many other factors justified Trooper Ballesteros's actions. The State argues that Deweese "engaged in furtive movements ..., failed to produce identification, had over $1,000 in cash (with a substantial quantity of $20 bills), and gave questionable explanations about the delay in pulling over, his furtive movements, his lack of identification, and the length of time he possessed the car." The State argues that the totality of these cireumstances provided Trooper Ballesteros with "reasonable suspicion that Deweese was engaged in illegal drug activity."
In his brief, Deweese argues that his actions prior to the stop did not support a reasonable suspicion that he had recently engaged in any criminal activity. He argues that his subsequent actions and explanations were reasonable and did not create reasonable suspicion. In addition, he argues that Trooper Ballesteros conducted an illegal search when he obtained and counted the money from Deweese's pocket. He also points out that in his findings, Judge Olsen did not give any weight to Deweese's possession of the money.
Therefore, the parties' plea agreement does not encompass the facts of this case or the separate legal issue Deweese raises on appeal. And even if this case had come to us after a trial as a normal appeal, we would need to remand the case for further findings from the trial court.

. Joseph v. State, 145 P.3d 595, 599 (Alaska App. 2006).