Palmer v. State

John Chad Palmer appeals his judgments and sentences in two cases following the denial of his dispositive motions to suppress evidence. We reverse the trial court’s decision in case number 97-00999A and affirm the decision in case number 96-04726A.

Mr. Palmer was stopped by a police officer on September 27, 1996, because he was driving a car that had been reported stolen. During a lawful pat-down, the officer felt an object that he believed to be a cocaine pipe. When he asked what it was, Mr. Palmer admitted that it was a cocaine pipe. During an additional search incident to arrest, the…