State v. Montoya

DAVIS, Presiding Judge:

Defendant Randy J. Montoya appeals the trial court’s denial of his motion to suppress evidence on the grounds that the inventory search of the vehicle he was using was legally deficient and that the officers improperly interrogated defendant before any Miranda 1 warnings were given. We reverse.

I. FACTS

We recite the facts in a light most favorable to the lower court’s findings when reviewing its decision denying defendant’s motion to suppress. See State v. Anderson, 910 P.2d 1229, 1230 (Utah 1996).

In the early morning hours of August 24, 1994, Officer Paul Gill of the…