Lawson v. Commonwealth

Clarence Lawson was indicted for possession of heroin in violation of Code § 54-524.101:2 [now Code § 18.2-250]. The defendant, having waived trial by jury, was tried by the court, found guilty and sentenced to eight years confinement in the penitentiary. The court suspended two years of the sentence. Lawson has appealed, claiming that the officers did not have probable cause to arrest him or to search the automobile in which he was riding.

On April 10,1975, about 5:30 p. m., an unidentified informant telephoned Detective T. W. Morgan of the Hampton Police Department and told him that Clarence…