Probable cause to search a car includes locked glove compartment

Following an Anders brief, probable cause from a dog alert justifies opening a locked glove compartment in a car. State v. Buckner, 2007 Ohio 4329, 2007 Ohio App. LEXIS 3877 (2d Dist. August 24, 2007).

Defendant’s stop was based on fact, and the consent was granted after the defendant was told he was free to go and did not have to consent. Commonwealth v. Duncan, 2007 PA Super 267, 932 A.2d 226 (2007):

When Duncan exited the vehicle, Officer Sacks did not act on his observation of the contraband lying in plain view on the driver’s seat but instead proceeded with the traffic stop. After he had finished his investigation, the officer told Duncan he was free to go, but that due to his license suspension he would have to contact someone else to remove the car. Significantly, the record also establishes that when Officer Sacks made his request to search, he reminded Duncan that he did not have to consent and was in fact free to go. Thus, Officer Sacks assured Duncan of the voluntary nature of the continuing interaction not once, but twice.

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