State v. Ray Burgess

OPINION

Justice GOLDBERG, for the Court.

The defendant, Ray Burgess, stands convicted of one count of possession of cocaine. On appeal, he argues that the trial justice erred in denying his motion to suppress physical evidence seized and statements he made following an unlawful arrest. We agree and, therefore, vacate his conviction.

Facts and Travel

On October 26, 2011, during the course of a traffic stop, Rhode Island State Police Officer Brian Macera (Det. Macera)1 discovered that the passenger of the stopped vehicle was the subject of an outstanding warrant.2 We shall refer to this passenger *197as…