E.D.N.C.: Just being a little slow to respond to a command to put hands on wheel is not RS

The fact that defendant was a little slow in responding to an officer’s command to put his hands on the steering wheel does not justify a protective weapons search of the car. The officer first called him “reluctant,” then qualified it. In addition, the government used every innocuous fact to attempt to show reasonable suspicion and came up short [damaging its credibility in the meantime; like a lawnmower and weedeater in the trunk must have meant the defendant was trading for drugs]. United States v. Wright, 856 F. Supp. 2d 736 (E.D. N.C. 2012), Adopted by, Motion denied by United States v. Wright, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 29440 (E.D.N.C., Mar. 3, 2012).*

Trash pulls and a records check of the resident showing a drug history was probable cause for issuance of a search warrant for drugs in the house. State v. Mooney, 2012 Ohio 852; 2012 Ohio App. LEXIS 745 (5th Dist. February 23, 2012).*

Police responded to a shooting call and asked for permission to look in defendant’s house to see if anyone was shot. Defendant let them in. The officer could see marijuana and scales in plain view in the kitchen and, through a floor heating vent, he saw marijuana in baggies. The officer removed the vent grill and pulled out what he could. Then he went to the basement to get the rest by removing the ductwork. All this was reasonable. State v. Smith, 2012 Ohio 845, 2012 Ohio App. LEXIS 737 (2d Dist. March 2, 2012).*