Court Opinion

ID: 5141366
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-12-29 17:14:19.22683+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:24:28.860545
License: Public Domain

J-A17040-21

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA               :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
                       Appellee                :
                                               :
                v.                             :
                                               :
    RAMON PADILLA                              :
                                               :
                       Appellant               :      No. 1110 EDA 2020

         Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered March 4, 2020
             In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
             Criminal Division at No(s): CP-51-CR-0003828-2019

BEFORE:      McLAUGHLIN, J., KING, J., and PELLEGRINI, J.*

MEMORANDUM BY KING, J.:                             FILED DECEMBER 29, 2021

        Appellant, Ramon Padilla, appeals from the judgment of sentence

entered in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, following his

stipulated bench trial convictions for persons not to possess firearms, firearms

not to be carried without a license, and carrying firearms on public streets or

public property in Philadelphia.1 We affirm.

        The relevant facts and procedural history of this case are as follows. On

the evening of April 17, 2019, Officers Ryan Redmond, Mark Wildsmith and

Robert McGrody of the Philadelphia Police Department were on routine patrol

on the 3100 block of E Street in Philadelphia.        (N.T. Suppression Hearing,

____________________________________________

*   Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.

1   18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 6105(a), 6106(a)(1), and 6108, respectively.
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10/9/19, at 7). This area was known as a “high-drug and crime area; [with]

lots of shootings” and a “lot of drugs sold on [this] block.” (Id. at 10). At

this time, Officer Redmond had served as a Philadelphia Police Officer for four

years. (Id.) During their patrol, the officers observed a white Toyota Corolla

driving northbound on E Street with dark-tinted windows. (Id. at 8). All the

windows were illegally tinted except the windshield. (Id.) As a result of the

tinted windows, the officers conducted a traffic stop. (Id.) Officers Redmond

and McGrody approached the vehicle after it stopped. (Id. at 12).

      The vehicle had three occupants.     (Id.)   Appellant was in the front

passenger seat. (Id.) Officer Redmond approached the passenger’s side door

and he positioned himself on the passenger side of the vehicle between the

front and back seat passenger. (Id. at 15). Officer Redmond testified that

Appellant “kept on like adjusting his groin area, like trying to conceal

something.” (Id. at 8). In the meantime, one of the officers asked for all

three of the occupants’ identifications. (Id. at 18). The driver and Appellant

complied with this request and provided their driver’s licenses. (Id.) Officer

Wildsmith took the licenses and returned to the patrol car to verify their

information through a computer in the patrol car. (Id.)

      After Officer Wildsmith returned to the patrol car from running the

licenses, Officer Redmond had a conversation with Appellant.              “And

throughout that talk, [Appellant] kept on adjusting [his groin] again. So at

that point [Officer Redmond] thought [Appellant] might have been concealing

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something in his groin area consistent with a firearm.” (Id. at 8). Officer

Redmond explained that typically when he recovers concealed guns from an

individual they are usually located in the subject’s waistband without a holster.

(Id. at 11).

        In addition to his testimony, Officer Redmond’s body cam was admitted

as exhibit C-1 and viewed during the suppression hearing. (Id. at 12). The

body cam, which included audio, captured only a portion of this stop. (See

C-1 Body Cam).           Officer Redmond’s body cam includes the following

interaction: Officer Redmond asked: “No weapons in the car?” (Id.) Nobody

responded. (Id.) The officer then said “Nah?”        (Id.) Again, none of the

occupants responded. (Id.) Appellant failed to admit that he had a firearm

on him, and instead he declined to answer. (Id.)

        After viewing a portion of the body cam, Officer Redmond testified that

“[i]n that clip [of the body cam] you can actually see [Appellant]’s—I think it

was his left hand actually on his crotch area.” (Id. at 14). Officer Redmond

continued by testifying that “a few other times during the stop [Appellant]

does the same thing, adjust his groin area.”2 (Id.) Officer Redmond believed

Appellant might have a concealed firearm because he typically recovered guns

from individuals “usually in their waistband.” (Id. at 11). Officer Redmond

elaborated on his training and experience as to why he thought Appellant’s

____________________________________________

2   Most of the body cam footage does not show Appellant’s hands or his lap.
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adjusting his groin area was indicative of a concealed weapon as follows: “But

usually over the course of your career you develop cues on body language

movements that they make when they’re concealing a firearm. So over my

four years I’ve discovered that, you know, constant movements toward [the

groin] area would indicate that they’re probably hiding something.” (Id. at

16).

       During his conversation with Appellant, Officer Redmond asked what

was inside a shoebox located at Appellant’s feet. Appellant said shoes, and

then showed them to the officer. (Id. at 19). After this interaction, the officer

engaged the backseat passenger in conversation. (Id.) Officer Redmond then

asked Appellant what was in his pocket, and Appellant removed a pill bottle

which he showed the officer. (Id. at 20). Subsequently, Officer Redmond

had a conversation with Officer Wildsmith, during which Officer Wildsmith

informed Officer Redmond that the backseat passenger had an outstanding

warrant for trespassing.     (Id. at 24).     In addition, the officers had a

conversation about Appellant where they referenced Appellant as the “front-

seat passenger.” (Id. at 25). Neither officer could recall the content of that

conversation.    (Id. at 26, 37).     Shortly after this conversation, Officer

Redmond asked Officer Wildsmith to “pull [Appellant] out” of the car and then

Officer Redmond stated “[l]et’s check him out.” (Id. at 27).

       Officer Redmond testified that the reason he asked Appellant to step out

of the car was “[a]fter watching [Appellant] adjust the groin area, I thought

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[Appellant] was concealing a firearm.” (Id. at 15). Further, Officer Redmond

explained that the reason for waiting for Officer Wildsmith before requesting

Appellant exit the car was that Officer Redmond “was waiting just in case

[Appellant] tried to run or anything. We’d have more officers in the area or

close to the area, so [Appellant] wouldn’t get away.” (Id. at 30). Officer

Redmond reiterated his reason for waiting as follows: “I waited until he got

out of the vehicle. So in case [Appellant] tried something, another officer

would be right next to me to help me.” (Id.) Immediately after Appellant

exited the vehicle, Officer Redmond patted Appellant down and recovered a

loaded handgun in Appellant’s groin area. (Id. at 8-9).

     On July 11, 2019, Appellant filed a motion to suppress. The court held

a suppression hearing on October 9, 2019. At the conclusion of the hearing,

the court denied the motion to suppress. On October 29, 2019, Appellant filed

a motion for reconsideration. The court denied the reconsideration motion

without a hearing on November 13, 2019. On November 15, 2019, the court

convicted Appellant of the above-mentioned crimes after a stipulated waiver

trial. On March 4, 2020, the court sentenced Appellant to an aggregate 18 to

36 months’ imprisonment plus two years of probation. Appellant filed a timely

notice of appeal on April 3, 2020.    On May 26, 2020, the court ordered

Appellant to file a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) concise statement of errors complained

of on appeal, and Appellant timely complied.      Following the grant of an

extension of time, Appellant filed a supplemental Rule 1925(b) statement on

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June 29, 2020.

      Appellant raises the following issue for our review:

         Did the suppression court err in denying Appellant’s motion
         to suppress the firearm recovered from his person as fruit
         of an unlawful frisk unsupported by reasonable suspicion
         that he was armed and dangerous where Appellant, a
         compliant passenger in a car lawfully stopped for a traffic
         violation, adjusted his groin a few times while speaking to
         police?

(Appellant’s Brief at 3).

      “Our standard of review in addressing a challenge to a trial court’s denial

of a suppression motion is limited to determining whether the factual findings

are supported by the record and whether the legal conclusions drawn from

those facts are correct.”   Commonwealth v. Williams, 941 A.2d 14, 26

(Pa.Super. 2008) (en banc) (internal citations omitted).

         [W]e may consider only the evidence of the prosecution and
         so much of the evidence for the defense as remains
         uncontradicted when read in the context of the record as a
         whole. Where the record supports the findings of the
         suppression court, we are bound by those facts and may
         reverse only if the court erred in reaching its legal
         conclusions based upon the facts.

Id. at 27. The reviewing court’s scope of review is limited to the evidentiary

record of the pre-trial hearing on the suppression motion. In re L.J., 622 Pa.

126, 79 A.3d 1073 (2013). “It is within the suppression court’s sole province

as factfinder to pass on the credibility of witnesses and the weight to be given

their testimony.” Commonwealth v. Luczki, 212 A.3d 530, 542 (Pa.Super.

2019) (quoting Commonwealth v. Clemens, 66 A.3d 373, 378 (Pa.Super.

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2013)).    If appellate review of the suppression court’s decision “turns on

allegations of legal error,” then the trial court’s legal conclusions are

nonbinding on appeal and subject to plenary review.        Commonwealth v.

Smith, 164 A.3d 1255, 1257 (Pa.Super. 2017).

       Appellant argues that although the police conducted a lawful traffic stop

of the vehicle,3 the officers lacked reasonable suspicion to perform a pat-down

search for weapons. Appellant contends that he and the other occupants of

the car complied with the officers’ requests, did not act nervous, and did not

attempt to flee.      Appellant claims that Officer Redmond’s testimony that

Appellant adjusted his groin during his interaction with the officer did not

support a belief that Appellant was armed and dangerous.              Appellant

emphasizes that his alleged movements toward his groin area are not seen on

Officer Redmond’s body cam video, which contradicts the officer’s testimony.

Further, Appellant asserts that Officer Redmond showed no concern for officer

safety because the officer did not comment on Appellant’s alleged movements

during the traffic stop. Appellant highlights that Officer Redmond did not order

Appellant out of the car immediately after he purportedly saw Appellant adjust

his groin. Rather, Officer Redmond allowed Appellant to reach to the floor and

open a shoebox. Appellant insists the officer’s actions are inconsistent with

his testimony that the officer believed Appellant could be armed and

____________________________________________

3 Appellant concedes that the officers executed a lawful traffic stop based on
the tinted windows. (See Appellant’s Brief at 15).
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dangerous. Appellant reasons that Officer Redmond’s observations consisted

of a mere unparticularized suspicion or hunch, which was insufficient to

warrant the serious intrusion of a pat-down search. Appellant concludes the

trial court’s suppression ruling was erroneous, and this Court should vacate

the judgment of sentence and reverse the court’s order denying his motion to

suppress. We disagree.

      The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I,

Section 8 of the Pennsylvania Constitution guarantee the right of the people

to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and possessions from

unreasonable searches and seizures.       Commonwealth v. Morrison, 166

A.3d 357, 363-64 (Pa.Super. 2017). “To secure the right of citizens to be free

from unreasonable search and seizure, courts in Pennsylvania require law

enforcement officers to demonstrate ascending levels of suspicion to justify

their interactions with citizens to the extent those interactions compromise

individual liberty.”   Commonwealth v. Hampton, 204 A.3d 452, 456

(Pa.Super. 2019). Because interactions between law enforcement and the

general citizenry are widely varied, search and seizure law examines how the

interaction is classified and if a detention has occurred. Commonwealth v.

DeHart, 745 A.2d 633, 636 (Pa.Super. 2000).

      The focus of search and seizure law “remains on the delicate balance of

protecting the right of citizens to be free from unreasonable searches and

seizures and protecting the safety of our citizens and police officers by allowing

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police to make limited intrusions on citizens while investigating crime.”

Commonwealth v. Moultrie, 870 A.2d 352, 356 (Pa.Super. 2005) (quoting

Commonwealth v. Blair, 860 A.2d 567, 571 (Pa.Super. 2004)) (internal

quotation marks omitted).     “[I]n assessing the lawfulness of citizen/police

encounters, a central, threshold issue is whether...the citizen-subject has

been seized.” Commonwealth v. Strickler, 563 Pa. 47, 57, 757 A.2d 884,

889 (2000).

      Contacts between the police and citizenry fall within three general

classifications:

         The first [level of interaction] is a “mere encounter” (or
         request for information) which need not be supported by
         any level of suspicion, but carries no official compulsion to
         stop or to respond. The second, an “investigative detention”
         must be supported by a reasonable suspicion; it subjects a
         suspect to a stop and a period of detention, but does not
         involve such coercive conditions as to constitute the
         functional equivalent of an arrest. Finally, an arrest or
         “custodial detention” must be supported by probable cause.

Commonwealth v. Goldsborough, 31 A.3d 299, 305 (Pa.Super. 2011),

appeal denied, 616 Pa. 651, 49 A.3d 442 (2012) (quoting Commonwealth

v. Bryant, 866 A.2d 1143, 1146 (Pa.Super. 2005), appeal denied, 583 Pa.

668, 876 A.2d 392 (2005)). Police must have reasonable suspicion that a

person seized is engaged in unlawful activity before subjecting that person to

an investigative detention.   Commonwealth v. Cottman, 764 A.2d 595

(Pa.Super. 2000).

         An investigative detention, unlike a mere encounter,
         constitutes a seizure of a person and thus activates the
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         protections of Article 1, Section 8 of the Pennsylvania
         Constitution. To institute an investigative detention, an
         officer must have at least a reasonable suspicion that
         criminal activity is afoot. Reasonable suspicion requires a
         finding that based on the available facts, a person of
         reasonable caution would believe the intrusion was
         appropriate.

                                 *    *    *

         Reasonable suspicion exists only where the officer is able to
         articulate specific observations which, in conjunction with
         reasonable inferences derived from those observations, led
         him reasonably to conclude, in light of his experience, that
         criminal activity was afoot and that the person he stopped
         was involved in that activity. Therefore, the fundamental
         inquiry of a reviewing court must be an objective one,
         namely, whether the facts available to the officer at the
         moment of intrusion warrant a [person] of reasonable
         caution in the belief that the action taken was appropriate.

Commonwealth v. Jones, 874 A.2d 108, 116 (Pa.Super. 2005) (internal

citations omitted).

      “[T]he question of whether reasonable suspicion existed at the time of

an investigatory detention must be answered by examining the totality of the

circumstances to determine whether there was a particularized and objective

basis for suspecting the individual stopped of criminal activity.” Cottman,

supra at 598-99 (quoting Commonwealth v. Beasley, 761 A.2d 621, 625-

26 (Pa.Super. 2000), appeal denied, 565 Pa. 662, 775 A.2d 801 (2001)).

“These circumstances are to be viewed through the eyes of a trained officer.”

Commonwealth v. Jackson, 907 A.2d 540, 543 (Pa.Super. 2006).

         In making this determination, we must give due weight...to
         the specific reasonable inferences the police officer is
         entitled to draw from the facts in light of his experience.
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          Also, the totality of the circumstances test does not limit our
          inquiry to an examination of only those facts that clearly
          indicate criminal conduct. Rather, even a combination of
          innocent facts, when taken together, may warrant further
          investigation by the police officer.

Commonwealth v. Young, 904 A.2d 947, 957 (Pa.Super. 2006), appeal

denied, 591 Pa. 664, 916 A.2d 633 (2006) (internal citations and quotation

marks omitted).

       Additionally,

          If, during the course of a valid investigatory stop, an officer
          observes unusual and suspicious conduct on the part of the
          individual which leads him to reasonably believe that the
          suspect is armed and dangerous, the officer may conduct a
          pat-down of the suspect’s outer garments for weapons. In
          order to establish reasonable suspicion [to conduct a pat-
          down], the police officer must articulate specific facts from
          which he could reasonably infer that the individual was
          armed and dangerous.

Commonwealth v. Mack, 953 A.2d 587, 590 (Pa.Super. 2008).

       The Terry4 totality of the circumstances test applies to traffic stops or

roadside encounters in the same way that it applies to typical police

encounters. See Commonwealth v. Mesa, 683 A.2d 643, 646 (Pa.Super.

1996). Moreover, the principles of Terry apply to all occupants of a stopped

vehicle, not just the driver. See id. (applying principles of Terry to determine

whether police were permitted to conduct pat-down search of passenger in

____________________________________________

4 Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 20 L.Ed.2d 889 (1969) (holding
police have authority to pat-down or frisk individual for weapons based upon
reasonable belief that criminal activity is afoot, and that suspect might be
armed and dangerous).
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vehicle that was stopped pursuant to motor vehicle violation).          Indeed,

“roadside encounters, between police and suspects are especially hazardous,

and that danger may arise from the possible presence of weapons in the area

surrounding a suspect.” In re O.J., 958 A.2d 561, 564 (Pa.Super. 2008) (en

banc) (citing Michigan v. Long, 463 U.S. 1032, 1049, 103 S.Ct. 3469, 77

L.Ed.2d 1201 (1983)).

      “The officer need not be absolutely certain that the individual is armed;

the issue is whether a reasonably prudent [person] in the circumstances would

be warranted in the belief that his safety or the safety of others was in

danger.” Commonwealth v. Cooper, 994 A.2d 589, 592 (Pa.Super. 2010),

appeal denied, 608 Pa. 660, 13 A.3d 474 (2010). See also Commonwealth

v. Watley, 153 A.3d 1034, 1045 (Pa.Super. 2016) (explaining that it was not

relevant to reasonable suspicion inquiry that “neither of the troopers testified

that they feared for their safety”; rather, relevant inquiry is objective

reasonableness of search).     The sole justification for the pat-down is the

protection of the police officers and others nearby.      Commonwealth v.

Cartagena, 63 A.3d 294, 299 (Pa.Super. 2013) (en banc), appeal denied,

620 Pa. 728, 70 A.3d 808 (2013). The pat-down of an individual must be

confined in scope to an intrusion reasonably designed to discover weapons.

Commonwealth v. Wilson, 927, A2d 279, 285 (Pa.Super. 2007).

      In Commonwealth v. Simmons, 17 A.3d 399 (Pa.Super. 2011), police

pulled over a vehicle in a high crime area for inoperable brake lights. Simmons

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was the passenger. The officer, a twelve-year veteran, saw Simmons make a

movement toward the floor and across his chest. Accordingly, he conducted

a pat-down search while the defendant was seated in the car and recovered

several vials of cocaine. In analyzing whether the search was valid, this Court

stated:

          Under such circumstances, we hold that [the officer’s]
          observation of furtive movements, within the scope of a
          lawful stop, led him to reasonably be concerned for his
          safety and therefore justified the Terry protective frisk.
          Indeed, on multiple occasions we have held that similar
          furtive movements, when witnessed within the scope of a
          lawful traffic stop, provided a reasonable basis for a
          protective frisk.

Id. at 404.

      Similarly, we have held that a defendant’s “furtive movement of leaning

forward and appearing to conceal something under his seat, along with his

extreme nervousness and [a] nighttime stop, was sufficient to warrant a

reasonable police officer to believe that his safety was in danger and that [the

defendant] might gain immediate control of a weapon.” Commonwealth v.

Buchert, 68 A.3d 911, 916-17 (Pa.Super. 2013), appeal denied, 623 Pa. 759,

83 A.3d 413 (2014). See also Commonwealth v. Foglia, 979 A.2d 357,

361 (Pa.Super. 2009) (en banc) (stating “if a suspect engages in hand

movements that police know, based on their experience, are associated with

the secreting of a weapon, those movements will buttress legitimacy of a

protective weapons search of the location where hand movements occurred”);

O.J., supra at 566 (holding police had reasonable suspicion where traffic stop
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occurred at night, defendant initially failed to stop his vehicle when signaled

by police, and defendant made “rapid and furtive hand movements over the

[vehicle’s] console,” which had been left partially opened); Commonwealth

v. Tuggles, 58 A.3d 840, 844 (Pa.Super. 2012) (explaining “[w]here a person

performs an activity that is indicative of an attempt to secrete a weapon, that

movement, regardless of whether it is singular or multiple, can support a belief

that the person has a gun”); Commonwealth v. Murray, 936 A.2d 76, 80

(Pa.Super. 2007) (holding police had reasonable suspicion where traffic stop

occurred at night and in high-narcotics area, defendant’s vehicle had tinted

windows, and defendant made “a lot of movement in the vehicle” as officer

was approaching); Commonwealth v. Jackson, 907 A.2d 540 (Pa.Super.

2006) (recognizing that frisks for weapons can be appropriate when police

confront suspect in area known for guns and violence).

      A suspect’s location in a high-crime area may be a factor supporting an

officer’s   reasonable    suspicion   that   criminal   activity   is   afoot.   See

Commonwealth v. Mackey, 177 A.3d 221, 233 (Pa.Super. 2017).                      “This

factor [of being located in a high-crime area] enhances the danger that police

may encounter an armed subject in a fashion similar to, but greater than, a

nighttime stop.” Commonwealth. v. Scarborough, 89 A.3d 679, 683-84

(Pa.Super. 2014).        Also relevant are the time of day, “[t]he danger of

approaching a vehicle with tinted windows,” and “excessive movement” within

the car. See Murray, supra at 79-80.

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       We also observe that a video recording made part of the certified record

may, in rare cases, contradict a trial court’s factual findings that are based on

credibility determinations. See Commonwealth v. Griffin, 116 A.3d 1139,

1143 (Pa.Super. 2015) (reversing trial court’s denial of suppression motion on

basis that officer’s testimony alleging lawfulness of at-issue seizure of

contraband was clearly contradicted by video evidence; stating “[t]his is one

of those rare cases where a dash cam video, which was made a part of the

certified record, can contradict a trial court’s factual finding often based on its

credibility determinations”). This Court subsequently clarified that the Griffin

Court’s analysis applies solely to situations where the video in question

blatantly contradicts the officer’s testimony such that we would be compelled

to reject the trial court’s credibility determination. See Commonwealth v.

Goral,    222    A.3d    802    (Pa.Super.     filed   Oct.   3,   2019)   (unpublished

memorandum).5

         Instantly, the court explained its reasoning for denying the motion to

suppress as follows:

           … Officer Redmond testified that [Appellant’s] left hand
           moved to his groin area multiple times during the vehicle
           stop. This [c]ourt was also shown body worn camera
           footage that showed [Appellant’s] left hand near his groin.
           Officer Redmond believed [Appellant’s] hand movement
           near his groin to be an attempt by [Appellant] to conceal a
           gun. … Officer Redmond, in his 4 years as a Philadelphia
____________________________________________

5 An unpublished non-precedential memorandum decision of the Superior
Court filed after May 1, 2019, may be cited for its persuasive value. See
Pa.R.A.P. 126(b)(1) and (2).
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         Police Officer, had recovered multiple firearms from
         individuals and in his experience, most recovered firearms
         were located in the waistband without a holster. Thus,
         Officer Redmond [had] reasonable suspicion to perform a
         frisk of [Appellant].

(Trial Court Opinion, filed 10/21/20, at 8). On this record, we see no reason

to disrupt the court’s credibility determination in favor of Officer Redmond.

      Although Appellant contends that his alleged movements provided the

sole basis for Officer Redmond’s suspicion that Appellant was armed and

dangerous (see Appellant’s Brief at 13), the record shows that various factors

existed to support reasonable suspicion: (1) Officer Redmond’s four years’

experience as a Philadelphia Police Officer, see Jackson, supra; (2) a

roadside vehicle stop, see In re O.J., supra; (2) the stop occurred at

nighttime, see Buchert, supra; (3) the vehicle had tinted windows, see

Murray, supra; (4) the stop occurred in a high crime area, see Simmons,

supra; (5) the area was known for gun violence, see Jackson, supra; (6)

Appellant made furtive movements towards his groin, see Tuggles, supra;

(7) Appellant’s hand movements were associated with an area used for

secreting a weapon, see Foglia, supra; and (8) the pat-down occurred for

protection of the police officers, see Cartagena, supra.

      Further, Appellant’s argument that the body cam video contradicts

Officer Redmond’s testimony regarding Appellant’s hand movements is

unpersuasive. Even if other movements occurred that were not captured by

the body cam, the trial court credited Officer Redmond’s testimony that

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Appellant “kept on like adjusting his groin area, like trying to conceal

something.” (Trial Court Opinion at 3). Notably, Officer Redmond’s body cam

footage did not begin until after the traffic stop was made and the police

obtained the occupants’ identification cards. (See N.T. Suppression Hearing

at 13). As a result, the body cam footage did not capture Officer Redmond’s

initial interaction with Appellant and the car’s other occupants. (Id.) The

body cam is also positioned in the middle of the officer’s chest and does not

reveal everything that the officer observed.    (Id. at 15).   Regardless of

whether Appellant’s movements are depicted on the body cam footage, the

trial court was free to credit Officer Redmond’s testimony where the footage

does not contradict that testimony.    The record simply does not support

Appellant’s argument that the body cam footage blatantly contradicts Officer

Redmond’s testimony that he observed Appellant adjust his groin area several

times, such that we should reject the trial court’s credibility determination.

See Griffin, supra; Goral, supra.

      We also disagree with Appellant’s assertion that Officer Redmond’s

actions contradict his testimony that he feared Appellant might be armed and

dangerous. Although Officer Redmond did not immediately remove Appellant

from the vehicle once he suspected that Appellant might be armed, Officer

Redmond explained that he “was waiting just in case [Appellant] tried to run

or anything. We’d have more officers in the area or close to the area, so

[Appellant] wouldn’t get away.” (N.T. Suppression Hearing at 30). Officer

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Redmond reiterated his reason for waiting as follows: “I waited until he got

out of the vehicle. So in case [Appellant] tried something, another officer

would be right next to me to help me.” (Id.)

     In light of this testimony, the record demonstrates that Officer Redmond

suspected Appellant was concealing a firearm but wanted to wait for more

officer assistance before immediately removing Appellant from the vehicle.

The fact that Officer Redmond subsequently learned information from Officer

Wildsmith during their conversation which provided additional reasons to

justify the frisk did not negate the officer’s concern for safety. Under these

circumstances, Officer Redmond’s observation of Appellant’s repeated

movements towards his groin, within the scope of a lawful stop, led him to

reasonably be concerned for his safety and therefore justified the Terry

protective frisk. See Simmons, supra. Accordingly, we affirm.

     Judgment of sentence affirmed.

     Judge McLaughlin joins this memorandum.

     Judge Pellegrini files a dissenting memorandum.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 12/29/2021

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