McSwain v. State

Ruffin, Judge.

After stopping a vehicle driven by Dexter McSwain, police discovered cocaine in the trunk. McSwain and his three passengers, Antonio Stepps, Toriono Lawson, and Eric Easter, were arrested and charged with trafficking in cocaine. The defendants moved to suppress the evidence obtained in the search of the vehicle, but the trial court denied their motion. McSwain and Stepps appeal, asserting that the police lacked reasonable suspicion to initiate the traffic stop. As explained more fully below, we reverse.

The uncontroverted evidence presented at the suppression hearing follows. On…