Mathis v. State

Darren Mathis appeals the denial of his motion to suppress cocaine found on his person pursuant to an illegal search. Because we conclude that under the totality of the circumstances the officer lacked probable cause to search Mathis, we reverse.

At the hearing on the motion, the arresting officer testified that he first became aware of Mathis through a tipster. He described the informant as someone that he knew for approximately two years. He also testified that he had received forty to sixty calls from the same informant. The informant had never given the officer information that did not…