State v. Burgess

The State appeals from the district court's order granting Cora Lee Burgess's motion to suppress evidence found inside her vehicle subsequent to a traffic stop. The State argues the district court erred in ruling the police abandoned the purpose of the initial traffic stop by unlawfully prolonging the stop to verify the passenger's probationary status.

I

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Shortly before midnight, officers stopped Burgess's vehicle for failing to stop before entering a roadway. One officer approached Burgess's side of the vehicle and after calling in the stop, another officer…