Court Opinion

ID: 9527015
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 03:26:51.562427+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:25:24.936328
License: Public Domain

J. H. Gillis, J.
Defendant was arrested on October 14, 1976, as he was entering an automobile in a municipal parking lot in Coldwater, Michigan. A search of the defendant and the vehicle he was about to enter revealed a tinfoil packet containing *529heroin and an automatic pistol. Defendant was charged with possession of a controlled substance, to-wit: heroin, contrary to MCL 355.341(4)(a); MSA 18.1070(41)(4)(a), and carrying a concealed weapon, contrary to MCL 750.227; MSA 28.424.
Before trial, defendant filed a motion to suppress the heroin and the pistol on the basis that the police officers lacked probable cause to arrest defendant and, therefore, the evidence seized pursuant to the unlawful arrest was inadmissible at trial. This motion was denied. Defendant now appeals by leave granted challenging the validity of this ruling.
The crux of defendant’s argument on appeal can be set forth in one rather simple sentence. Did the police officers have probable cause to arrest defendant?
Our review of the record leads us to answer the aforementioned question in the affirmative. Admittedly, the factual situation in the instant matter presents a close case as to the existence of probable cause. However, once the trial court has found probable cause for an arrest, we will only overturn such a ruling when an abuse of discretion is shown. People v Langston, 57 Mich App 666; 226 NW2d 686(1975).
In the instant case, defendant was driving an automobile which had been used in an "undercover” drug buy earlier in the day. The undercover officers were still attempting to locate the money they had used to purchase the drugs. Defendant reacted in a suspicious manner when passing the officers’ vehicle. The arresting officers had sufficient information to believe that the missing money was in the car.
These facts and circumstances would lead a reasonably prudent person to the honest belief *530that a felony had been committed and that defendant participated therein. See People v Langston, supra, at 675.
Accordingly, we find no abuse of discretion on the part of the trial court in denying defendant’s motion to suppress the evidence.
Affirmed.
R. B. Burns, P. J., concurred.