State v. Lurdes Rosario (077420) (Monmouth and Statewide)

Defendant Lurdes Rosario pled guilty to third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance. She appealed, claiming error in the trial court’s denial of her motion to suppress contraband found in her possession and statements that she made during her encounter with a Colts Neck police officer. After defendant’s unsuccessful appeal to the Appellate Division, we agreed to review her suppression issues.

First and foremost, we must address whether and at what point defendant’s interaction with the police officer escalated from a field inquiry into an investigative detention. Then we must…