Trafficking in Methamphetamine - Motion to Suppress Allowed - Case Dismissed

SS, a 42-year-old Construction worker, was stopped in his motor vehicle by local police. Police stopped the car after seeing SS speak with a known drug user in a busy urban area. Police did not see SS and the known drug user do anything that is consistent with a drug deal. The owner of the car had an "expired" Massachusetts license. After the stop, SS provided police with a valid license from another state. Police made SS get out of the car. They searched SS's car and found methamphetamine in the center console.

The Court granted the Motion to Suppress, finding that the police should have let SS drive away after he provided a valid license. The "exit order" was not supported by law. The fact that SS was having a mere conversation with a known drug user was insufficient to require SS to get out of the car.

With the Motion allowed, the evidence found in the car was "thrown out." There being no evidence left to prosecute SS, the government dismissed the case.