In re T.T. CA2/7

INTRODUCTION

The juvenile court found true allegations that T.T. had unlawfully possessed a loaded firearm and live ammunition. T.T. argues that the police obtained the handgun and ammunition from an unlawful pat search and that the trial court erred by denying his motion to suppress. We reverse.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

The People filed a petition pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 602 alleging that T.T. had committed the offenses of carrying a loaded and unregistered handgun (Pen. Code, § 25850, subd. (a), a felony), possession of a firearm by a minor (id., § 29610, a felony), and possession of live ammunition by a minor (id., § 29650, a misdemeanor). T.T. denied the allegations and filed a motion to suppress. The trial court heard T.T.’s motion to suppress at the jurisdiction hearing. Los Angeles Police Officer Richard Pacheco testified that on August 16, 2014 he and his partner, Officer Wilhelm, were among additional officers assigned to patrol the Nickerson Gardens and Jordon Downs housing developments because of a recent increase in rival gang violence. The gang violence included a drive-by shooting the previous week at Nickerson Gardens. One of…