Judge v. State

RYDER, Judge.

Contending that because the impoundment of his car was illegal, and thus drugs found during an inventory search should have been suppressed, Gilbert Judge appeals his conviction for trafficking in heroin. We hold that this inventory search was invalid and reverse.

Defendant below was arrested for driving with a suspended license. The record indicates that he was not advised that impoundment need not occur if a reasonable alternative was provided; it also indicates that during consultation with police officers, the available alternatives were not even considered. The overriding…