State v. Bridges

OPINION

The primary issue in this appeal is whether the warrantless seizure of cocaine from the defendant’s person during a detention and frisk was constitutionally permissible under the “plain feel” or “plain touch” doctrine expounded in Minnesota v. Dickerson, 508 U.S. 366, 113 S.Ct. 2130, 124 L.Ed.2d 334 (1993). In this case, the trial court denied the defendant’s motion to suppress, and thereafter, the defendant pled guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to sell, but reserved the right to appeal the constitutionality of the warrantless seizure pursuant to Tenn. R.Crim. P. 37(b)(2).1…