People v. Davis CA5

INTRODUCTION

Appellant and defendant Billie Earl Davis (appellant) was pulled over for a traffic violation and found in possession of narcotics, a firearm, and ammunition. The trial court denied his motion to suppress. Thereafter, he pleaded no contest to drug and firearm offenses and he was sentenced to the indicated term of three years. On appeal, his appellate counsel filed a brief which summarized the facts with citations to the record, raised no issues, and asked this court to independently review the record. (People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436.) We affirm.

FACTS

The following evidence was introduced at the evidentiary hearing on appellant’s motion to suppress. Officer Stella Chavez of the Bakersfield Police Department was the only witness and testified as follows, supported by photographs from her body-worn camera. At approximately 6:48 p.m. on April 10, 2023, officers Chavez and Medrano were in uniform and on patrol in a marked police vehicle. Medrano was driving and Chavez was in the front passenger seat. Chavez testified they were traveling northbound on Donna Avenue in Bakersfield, when she observed a grey Ford Focus pass them in the opposite southbound lane. Chavez…