State v. K.C.

The State appeals an order granting K.C.’s motion to suppress. The State argued it did not need to obtain a warrant before searching an abandoned cell phone. We disagree and affirm, concluding that accessing the contents of the password-protected cell phone without a warrant violated the Fourth Amendment.

A Lauderhill police officer initiated a traffic stop of a vehicle that was speeding and driving without its headlights on at night. The vehicle pulled into a shopping plaza and then made an abrupt stop. Two unidentified individuals got out of the vehicle, briefly looked at the officer, and…