Commonwealth v. Sanchez

In summary: Following the stop of a car on the highway, the car was impounded, and inventory searches disclosed some 14.6 grams of cocaine in a jacket hung over the driver’s seat and a larger quantity in a suitcase in the trunk. The defendant, one of the passengers, was indicted for *412trafficking in the larger amount.1 On motion to suppress, the defendant argued that the impoundment was unjustified, thereby invalidating the inventory searches. The motion was denied. At trial, the defendant, on his motion for a required finding of not guilty, contended that there was insufficient evidence that…