Stiffler v. State

CAMPBELL, Judge.

Appellant pleaded nolo contendere to possession of cocaine and possession of cannabis, reserving the right to appeal the denial of his motion to suppress. We conclude that the court erred in denying that motion.

The record reveals that Officer Mareo-trigiano first saw appellant and Timothy Knowlton, both Caucasian, at 2 a.m., driving a white open-air Jeep in a high crime/ drug area that is predominantly African-American. Appellant was driving the Jeep. The officer watched the Jeep circle the block twice before coming to a stop. When it stopped, a black male came running toward…