State v. Bell

CASANUEVA, Judge.

The State of Florida appeals the trial court’s order suppressing a law enforcement officer’s seizure of illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia. Because the facts of this case mirror Illinois v. Wardlow, 528 U.S. 119, 120 S.Ct. 673, 145 L.Ed.2d 570 (2000), we conclude that the deputy who stopped appellee Brian Bell did have reasonable suspicion to do so, contrary to the circuit court’s finding. We reverse.

Facts

The night of Mr. Bell’s arrest, an anonymous caller to the sheriffs department reported drug activity at a location that had been the subject of twenty to thirty anonymous…