State v. Baird

OPINION

DAVIDSON, Judge:

Defendant appeals from a conviction of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and seeks reversal of the denial of his motion to suppress and reversal of his conviction.

FACTS

On February 9, 1987, Paul Mangelson, a sergeant with the Utah Highway Patrol, was parked in the Interstate 15 median beneath an overpass near Mona, Juab County. He was checking the speed of cars with a radar unit and observing inspection stickers and registrations.

At approximately 3:45 p.m., Mangelson observed a “nice looking,” late model Cadillac approaching at 56 mph. The car had Arizona…