Motion to Suppress Evidence Seized Incident to Arrest in Michigan

The police look for excuses to search a person’s car. If they can find any lawful reason to make an arrest, the law permits them to search the vehicle. If your rights have been violated, you need a constitutional warrior to protect and defend you.

The Current Practice of Searching the Passenger Compartment – Follow it or face a Motion to Suppress!

On April 21, 2009, the United States Supreme Court issued an opinion that significantly alters the current practice of searching the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle upon the arrest of an occupant. Michigan Motion to Suppress Attorneys constantly monitor state and federal cases to ensure they can provide the best possible defense for felony and misdemeanor criminal cases.

In Arizona v. Gant, the defendant was arrested for driving while his license was suspended. After Gant was handcuffed and secured in a patrol car, officers searched the passenger compartment of his car, finding a baggie containing cocaine and a gun.

The officers in Gant were presumably relying on the long-standing rule that allowed officers to search a vehicle without a warrant incident to the arrest of an occupant of the vehicle.

The Court’s opinion in Gant changes that rule and held:

“Police may search a vehicle incident to a recent occupant’s arrest only if the arrestee is within reaching distance of the passenger compartment at the time of the search or it is reasonable to believe the vehicle contains evidence of the offense of arrest. When these justifications are absent, a search of an arrestee’s vehicle will be unreasonable unless police obtain a warrant or show that another exception to the warrant requirement applies.”

The Current Rule for Searches Incident to Arrest

What does this decision mean for the officer on the street? Officers may no longer automatically search a vehicle incident to the arrest of an occupant.

The Court emphasized that once a suspect has been arrested, handcuffed, and secured in the patrol car, a search of the car incident to a lawful arrest is not justified unless the officer articulates a reason to believe that evidence of the crime of arrest can be located in the car.

While this ruling will impact how searches of vehicles incident to arrest are conducted, officers may still conduct a full search of a person incident to a lawful arrest. In addition, officers may search vehicles using other exceptions to the warrant requirement (e.g., probable cause, inventory, consent). If the officer searches the driver, passenger, or vehicle without legal justification, a Michigan Motion to Suppress Attorney can fight to get evidence thrown out of court.

Michigan Motion to Suppress Attorneys

If you are accused of a felony or misdemeanor offense and are concerned about your rights, being treated fairly in court, and obtaining the best possible outcome, LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. can help you. Our Michigan Motion to Suppress Attorneys have decades of experience winning for clients in courts throughout Michigan. We routinely file motions to suppress evidence in cases where we find that our client’s rights have been violated.

Call us today at (248) 263-6800 for a free consultation or complete a Request for Assistance Form. We will contact you promptly and find a way to help you.