State v. Bentley

PATTERSON, Judge.

The state appeals the order granting Eric D. Bentley’s motion to suppress cocaine. The cocaine was found in the car in which Bentley was a passenger after the police stopped and subsequently searched the vehicle. We reverse.

On September 19, 1990, Officer Pryor of the Tampa Police Department, while on regular patrol, observed Edward Bagsby driving a four-door vehicle with no visible license tag. Pryor pulled the vehicle over, his normal procedure upon observing this type of traffic violation. Bagsby immediately exited his vehicle and began walking toward Pryor’s police…