In Re Ian C.

The police detained appellant Ian C. for violating a city’s age-based curfew ordinance and transported him to a “curfew center” facility to await notification of his parents and their arrival at the facility where he would be released to them. The police searched appellant before placing him in the curfew center with other children, and found packets of marijuana and a large amount of cash in his sock and shoe. Appellant was arrested and a wardship petition was filed charging appellant with possessing marijuana for sale. (Health & Saf. Code, § 11359; Welf. & Inst. Code, § 602, subd. (a).) Appellant failed in his efforts to suppress the seized evidence, and the juvenile court sustained the petition. Appellant renews his challenge to the detention and search. We affirm the order.

Facts

On July 11, 1999, just after midnight, San Jose Police Officer Mark Efigenio and another officer stopped a group of seven young people loitering in an area known for drug trafficking. The group included several minors, including 16-year-old appellant. The minors were detained for being in violation of curfew, and Officer Efigenio drove them to the local curfew center for notification of…