State v. Lawrence

| .WILLIAM H. BYRNES, III, Judge.

The State of Louisiana requests a review of the trial court’s ruling that granted the defendant, James Lawrence’s motion to suppress the evidence. We reverse and remand.

At issue is whether the officers seized the drugs without a prior unlawful intrusion into Lawrence’s right to be free from governmental interference. The question is whether the officers had probable cause to arrest, or reasonable suspicion for an investigatory stop, and whether lawfully Detective Murray asked Lawrence to raise his shirt. When Lawrence complied, the officers saw the plastic bag…