People v. Romero CA2/6

FACTS

Prosecution Evidence On June 19, 2008, around 11:13 p.m., Officers Teya Deblauw and Anthony Snow were parked in their patrol car near a "known narcotics residence." They turned to follow a vehicle that was leaving from about half a block from the residence. Noticing that the vehicle's registration tags appeared altered or destroyed, they conducted a traffic stop. Romero's friend Michele Horn was the driver and Romero was sitting in the passenger seat. Officer Deblauw asked them for identification. Romero and Horn told Officer Deblauw their names but did not have any identification on them. Horn did not have her registration or proof of insurance. Officer Deblauw had Romero and Horn step out of the vehicle while she searched it for identification. Underneath the front passenger seat, she discovered a glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine. There was a white substance lodged in the pipe that was later determined to be .24 grams of methamphetamine. Horn stated that she owned the vehicle but was unaware of any drug paraphernalia in it. She said she had not used drugs in the last seven years. In response to police questioning, Romero admitted that the pipe…