State v. Compton

Rummel, A.C.J. *

Trooper Owen of the Washington State Patrol stopped a vehicle driven by appellant Compton for two minor traffic violations. The trooper testified that he detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle as the appellant was producing his driver’s license. The appellant was asked to step from the vehicle and put his hands on top of it. The officer then “frisked” him for weapons, the search being a pat-down procedure which resulted in Trooper Owen’s feeling a small round object in a right front pocket which he judged to be a film canister. When Compton put his hand…