State v. Merit

Ruffin, Presiding Judge.

The State appeals the trial court’s order granting Bryan Merit’s motion to suppress evidence. For reasons that follow, we affirm.

In reviewing the trial court’s ruling on a motion to suppress, we follow three principles:

First, when a motion to suppress is heard by the trial judge, that judge sits as the trier of facts. The trial judge hears the evidence, and his findings based upon conflicting evidence are analogous to the verdict of a jury and should not be disturbed by a reviewing court if there is any evidence to support [them]. Second, the trial court’s decision…