Commonwealth v. Bartlett

Following a routine stop of a motor vehicle for speeding, a State trooper embarked upon an interrogation of the occupants that led to an arrest of the defendant and, ultimately, his conviction of trafficking in more than fourteen grams of cocaine. G. L. c. 94C, § 32E(&)(1). A motion to suppress as evidence cocaine seized by the trooper was denied by a Superior Court judge. We conclude that the officer proceeded on a hunch, rather than reasonable suspicion, and that, therefore, the drugs seized should have been suppressed.

We take our facts largely from careful findings made by the motion…