I will try to be brief and yet detailed. I was driving with my brother in law on the interstate in southern alabama when i was pulled over by an officer in greenville. I was told that i was pulled over due to the fact (1) that my license plate was in my rear window instead of on the bumper (previous to the current plate, my plate was stolen and the bumper was broken in such a way that made attaching a new plate impossible, I explained this to the officer) and (2) the officer said that my license plate number had not been entered into the alabama database (I got the plate over 6 months previous to the stop). He asked for my license, registration, and insurance all of which i provided to him, he went back to his car and checked all of my information and returned to tell me that it was all correct and he was not sure why my license number was not in the "Alabama System" but that sometimes they got behind. He then instructed me to get out of my car, which i did, and to go with him to his cruiser, which i also did. He then proceeded to do a pat down on me, and then further explained his reasonings for pulling me over. He said that he was looking for people trafficing in large amounts of illegal drugs and for large amounts of cash, He said that if I had any small amounts of either that if I would give them to him he would throw them away and we would be on our way. I told him that I had no drugs or any other contraband in my vehicle, he proceeded to ask me the same question at least another 7 times, and every time i answered no. He then went to speak to my brother in law (who was still sitting in the passenger seat of my car, he instructed me to stay by his cruiser so I am not sure what was discussed) He then returned to his cruiser with my brother in law and frisked him, He then stated that he asked my brother in law the same questions as I and that he responded the same as I did. He then asked if he could search my vehicle, which I said no. Then he asked why he couldn't search, and I said that I didnt want them to damage my car (i.e. rip up seats, cut open tires, etc) and that I did not want to spend any more time on the side of the dangerous interstate than I was required to. He then told me that if I did not let him search my vehicle that he was going to call in a K-9 and that they could usually get one there within four hours, He also went on to explain that if I allowed him to search that he would assure me that he would not damage my vehicle in any way, but that if I made him wait for the K-9 that they would damage the vehicle (claws thru the leather, etc...). I then allowed him to search, (the time between the intial no to the search and the allowance of the search was approx. 15 minutes of the officer speaking). During the course of the seach, inside a suitcase in the trunk the officer found a very small amount of marijuana (less than a tenth of an ounce) and a small pipe.
My questions are whether or not you believe this to be an illegal search or something that could be supressed, and if no supression is available what type of outcome someone who has never been arrested before should expect.
I have filed for a court appointed attorney as I do not have the funds to hire one, I have been granted an attorney; however, she will not return my calls and i have never spoken to her. Any help that you can give would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You,
My questions are whether or not you believe this to be an illegal search or something that could be supressed, and if no supression is available what type of outcome someone who has never been arrested before should expect.
I have filed for a court appointed attorney as I do not have the funds to hire one, I have been granted an attorney; however, she will not return my calls and i have never spoken to her. Any help that you can give would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You,
