Q: I was initially stopped for a traffic citation that resulted in an arrest for possession of a controlled substance.
Two officers approached the passenger window and asked for our ID’s. They informed me of the traffic violations annd immediately asked me to get out and sit in the patrol car while they wrote them up. I did so after declining their request to search me and the vehicle.
Sitting in the front of the cop car, I watched at they then handcuffed the passenger and placed in a separate patrol car.
They immediately did a sniff test where the K-9 alerted.
I was then cuffed and pat down, and placed into the backseat of the car.
They searched the vehicle. Nothing was found.
They questioned me about drugs because of the alert. Specifically, they were very interested in what I knew about the passenger and their usage of such.
I denied answering and around 20 minutes later they looked in my cigarette pack and found a $20 bag of narcotics. It’d been on the front seat of the patrol car since my initial pat down.
Is this similar to State V Lelm case from ND in 2021?
A: Your rights during a police search are critical, and any potential violation of these rights could impact the outcome of your case. Legal representation will help you navigate these complex issues and ensure your rights are protected throughout the legal process.
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