People v. Brant

In this interlocutory appeal, the prosecution challenges the trial court's suppression of evidence obtained as a result of a traffic stop, a police officer's protective search for weapons, and the officer's subsequent "plain feel" discovery of illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia. The trial court found that the police had reasonable suspicion for the traffic stop but exceeded the permissible scope of a protective search. We disagree.

A police officer pulled over a car for a broken taillight. While walking to the car following the stop, an officer saw the defendant, Violet Brant, place…