People v. Helfend

Opinion

ROTH, P. J.

—At approximately 4 p.m. on October 23d, appellant, driving a white Oldsmobile slowly, crossed the border at Tijuana into Mexico. The curiosity of Mr. Orendain, a Mexican border inspector, was aroused when he saw a spare tire on the rear seat. He stopped the car and inquired what was in the trunk and asked for the key. Appellant replied he had rented the car and had no key. He was directed to park at a place off the highway. The trunk was opened by Mexican custom officials with a tire iron and a jack post. The key was thereafter found in one of the pockets of a coat which…