State of Florida v. Stacey Renee McRae

The State appeals the lower court’s order granting Stacey Renee McRae’s motion to suppress her statements to police and all physical items seized from her motel room and vehicle. The State argues the court erred in suppressing her post-Miranda statements because the totality of the circumstances justified a protective .sweep of the motel room and further questioning of McRae. 1 We agree and reverse.

I

The parties do not dispute the court’s factual findings leading to McRae’s arrest for armed robbery. On December 30, 2013, a convenience store was robbed in Vernon. A surveillance camera captured…