State v. Renda

PATTERSON, Judge.

This is an appeal from an order granting the defendant’s motion to suppress evidence seized in the search of a motor vehicle. We reverse.

In the early morning hours of December 14, 1988, three members of the Lakeland Police Department were on patrol in a predominantly black neighborhood known for high levels of crime and drug abuse. The officers were members of a special investigations unit targeted primarily at drug-related crimes.

At about 2:30 a.m., the officers noticed a white Mazda truck parked on the side of the road. The driver of the truck was a white male; a black male…