GA: State’s argument that defendant consented to a stop and was free to ignore blue lights to stop him “strains credulity”

State’s argument that defendant consented to a stop and was free to ignore blue lights to stop him strains credulity. Of course he was stopped, and it was without any legal justification at all. Dryer v. State, 323 Ga. App. 734, 747 S.E.2d 895 (2013):

In contrast, here, Dryer did not come upon a scene where an officer was already parked with his vehicle’s lights illuminated. Instead, after the officer first observed Dryer’s vehicle parked in the lot, he decided to approach and investigate. Dryer then attempted to leave but immediately stopped when the officer activated his patrol vehicle’s blue lights. Given these facts, any argument that Dryer would have, nevertheless, felt free to ignore the police officer and continue driving away strains credulity. Thus, the trial court erred in ruling that the police officer’s initial contact with Dryer was a first-tier encounter not requiring reasonable, articulable suspicion of criminal activity.

“Strains credulity” is putting it kindly.