1. Five officers' swift and coordinated action eliminated the risk that any of the four occupants would gain immediate access to the weapon. State v. Robinson 228 N.J. 529 (2017).
Although the circumstances gave rise to a reasonable suspicion that there was a weapon in the vehicle, the five officers' swift and coordinated action eliminated the risk that any of the four occupants would gain immediate access to the weapon. Accordingly, the protective sweep exception to the warrant requirement does not govern this case. The community-caretaking exception to the warrant requirement is irrelevant. However, the inevitable discovery exception to the exclusionary rule may be pertinent to this case.
1. The
Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article I, Paragraph 7 of the New Jersey Constitution guarantee "[t]he right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures," and set forth the requirements for warrants. Warrantless searches are permissible only if justified by one of the few specifically established and well-delineated exceptions to the warrant requirement. It is the State's burden to prove that a warrantless search falls within one or more of those exceptions.
2. The protective sweep exception to the warrant requirement derives from Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1 (1968). In Terry, the Supreme Court held that a police officer may initiate an investigatory stop in the presence of "specific and articulable facts which, taken together with rational inferences from those facts, reasonably warrant that intrusion." Id. at 21. Terry stops are narrowly drawn to permit a reasonable search for weapons.
3. The United States Supreme Court applied the protective sweep exception to an automobile setting in Michigan v. Long, 463 U.S. 1032, 1049 (1983). The Court adopted that standard in State v. Lund, 119 N.J. 35, 48 (1990), but rejected the State's claim that the search reviewed in that case was a valid protective sweep. In State v. Gamble, the Court upheld an automobile search as a lawful protective sweep. 218 N.J.412, 431-33 (2014).
4. Long and the Court's opinions in Lund and Gamble define the standard for a valid protective sweep of an automobile following a traffic stop: the State must present specific and articulable facts that, considered with the rational inferences from those facts, warrant a belief that an individual in the vehicle is dangerous and that he or she may gain immediate control of weapons. The protective sweep exception in the automobile setting does not turn solely on the potential presence of a weapon in a vehicle. Instead, it addresses the imminent danger to police when a driver or passenger will be permitted access to a vehicle that may contain a weapon or may be in a position to evade or overpower the officers at the scene. That standard governs this appeal.
5. In light of the Officer observations of defendant's driving, there were specific and articulable facts giving rise to reasonable suspicion that defendant had committed motor vehicle violations and that the traffic stop was therefore lawful. However, the Officer's search of the car was not a valid protective sweep. There is no doubt that Officer's concerns that defendant and Henderson could be armed were justified, but Officer's addressed the potential danger with prompt and effective action. None of the four occupants was given an opportunity to return to the car or was in a position to gain access to any weapon. The record did not reveal specific and articulable facts that, at the time of Officer's search of the vehicle, would reasonably warrant the conclusion that any of the vehicle's four occupants was potentially capable of gaining immediate control of weapons. The search of the car was not within the protective sweep exception to the warrant requirement.
6. This case does not fit within the narrow parameters of the community-caretaking doctrine as applied to the search of a motor vehicle. There was no potential threat to any person's safety warranting application of the doctrine at the time that the search took place. The Court does not reach the "plain-feel" exception.
7. In light of the officers' continued control over the vehicle, their reasonable concern that one or more occupants could have been armed, and the uncertain status of the vehicle's owner, it may have been inevitable that the handgun would have been discovered. Consequently, the inevitable discovery exception to the exclusionary rule is potentially relevant to this case. The Court explains that exception and provides guidance for evaluating its applicability on remand, but offers no view on the resolution of any issues raised on remand. (A-40-15; 076267)
2. Fun Upcoming Running Races & Charity events selected by Kenneth Vercammen
Sept. 9 Fallen Heroes Memorial Run Bar Anticipation, Lake Como
5k 9:30 Co-Sponsor Wakefern Shoprite
Sept. 9 Edison Elks end of Summer bash Sept 9th is the End of summer Bash. Let's put the pool to bed with a great day out. 3 bands, BBQ, Pig Roast, and Horse Shoes! Tickets at the Edison Elks Social area call 732) 985-2487 Edison Elks 2487
375 Old Post Road Edison NJ 08817-4653 $20 per person
Sept. 10 Hightstown Triathlon starting at 7:00am
Sept. 10 JSRC Picnic at Monmouth Park Racetrack
Sept. 11 every year 911 Memorial run Belmar boardwalk to Spring Lake 6pm [not a race]
Sept. 16 Ocean Grove Run for Arts 5k 9am Co-Sponsor Wakefern Shoprite
Sept. 24 Steeplechase 5k & 10k Hillsborough 8:45
Sept. 26 Wills, Estate Planning & Probate Seminar
at Sayreville Senior Center
10am open to the public
423 Main Street
Sayreville NJ 08872
For information Call Sayreville Senior Center
732-390-7059 Jen Krushinski
Sept. 30 A "Knight" of Comedy
Presented By:The Valdez Agency, LLC of
The Knights of Columbus
St. Bartholomew Parish Hall
470 Ryders Lane, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
Dinner at: 7:00 PM Show Starts at: 8:00PM
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Buffet Dinner, Beer, Wine, Dessert, and Laughter!
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For Tickets Call: 732- 955-6730 or 732-322-4008
50/50 Raffle and Many Prizes
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Oct. 7 Metuchen Fair
3. Defendant has automatic standing to challenge the search of a residential apartment. State v. Amir Randolph 228 NJ 566 (2017)
HELD: Defendant had automatic standing to challenge the search of the apartment because he was charged with possessory drug offenses and because the State failed to show that the apartment was abandoned or that defendant was a trespasser. Failing to issue the "mere presence" charge was harmless error.
