State v. Raines

ALTENBERND, Judge.

The state appeals an order suppressing cocaine found in Tyrone Raines’ hand while he was in his car, as well as drug paraphernalia subsequently found in his car. We reverse. The police officers approached the defendant’s car for an encounter. The defendant’s actions in response to the police encounter created a founded suspicion of criminal activity and a justification for a pat-down search. The cocaine was observed at the outset of the pat-down search.

At approximately 11 p.m. on June 8, 1988, three St. Petersburg police officers assigned to the narcotics division were…