State v. Hirning

KONENKAMP, Justice.

[¶ 1.] Will probable cause exist to search a passenger when the driver admits to a highway patrol officer that drugs found in the car belong to all the occupants? As probable cause only requires reasonable, individualized suspicion, the all-encompassing admission, together with the other circumstances, created sufficient justification to search the passenger for drugs. We uphold the search and the resulting conviction for possession of methamphetamine.

Facts

[¶ 2.] On July 20,1997, at 2:30 a.m., Denise and Billy Mills and defendant, Milo Hirning, were traveling on Highway 12,…