United States v. Belton

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA __________________________________ ) UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) ) v. ) Criminal Action No. 18-246 (RMC) ) LORENZO BELTON, ) ) Defendant. ) _________________________________ ) MEMORANDUM OPINION During a routine traffic stop, a veteran police officer observed the end of a knotted plastic bag sticking out of the groin area of the driver’s pants. The officer immediately believed that the plastic bag contained drugs. The question is whether the totality of circumstances provided probable cause to arrest the driver and conduct a search…