Ricks v. State

Having carefully reviewed the record in this case, I believe that the search of Ricks’ jacket was justified for two reasons. First, I am convinced that Ricks’ jacket was properly searched incident to his arrest. Second, the jacket itself is independent evidence of crime because eyewitness testimony established that Ricks obtained drugs from the jacket preparatory to selling them to the confidential informant. Under the circumstances, the jacket could have been seized and searched even if Ricks had avoided arrest. I therefore dissent from the decision to reverse.

In deciding whether the search…