United States v. Mapp, Sterling

Opinion for the court filed by Circuit Judge HENDERSON.

KAREN LECRAFT HENDERSON, Circuit Judge:

Sterling Mapp (Mapp) was indicted on one charge of possessing with intent to distribute more than one hundred grams of phencyclidine (PCP) in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B). Mapp moved to suppress evidence, arguing that the arresting officers’ search of his vehicle^ — and discovery of PCP — was not conducted “incident to a lawful arrest” and therefore excepted from the Fourth Amendment’s warrant requirement under Thornton v. United States, 541 U.S. 615, 124 S.Ct. 2127, 158 L.Ed.2d…