State v. Ledbetter

Defendant was indicted for possession of a controlled substance. ORS 475.992(4). The state appeals from an order granting defendant’s motion to suppress evidence obtained as a result of a police search of a box found in her purse. ORS 138.060(3). We affirm.

On April 3, 1986, a Portland police officer on mounted patrol duty near Southwest Fourth and Taylor in downtown Portland saw defendant stop her car alongside the curb and open a door on the driver’s side to let a passenger out into the traffic lane. To avoid the passenger, the driver of an approaching vehicle abruptly applied his brakes.…