People v. Santiago CA5

FACTS

On February 2, 2013, Santiago was involved in an auto accident and left the scene without identifying himself. Atwater police officers located Santiago and arrested him after finding a loaded revolver, digital scales, and two baggies containing methamphetamine in a jacket Santiago dropped on the ground. On August 9, 2013, Santiago filed a suppression motion, contending the search of his jacket containing the contraband was the product of an unlawful detention. On August 20, 2013, at a hearing on the suppression motion, Atwater Police Officer Matthew Vierra testified that on February 2, 2013, at approximately 7:09 p.m., he responded to a call regarding a traffic collision on Willow Street and Mitchell Avenue and spoke with Maria Benitez. Benitez told the officer she was driving westbound on Mitchell when she turned left (south) onto Willow and collided with a vehicle that was traveling eastbound on Mitchell. After the collision both vehicles pulled off to the side. After she and the other driver, who was eventually identified as Santiago, got out of their cars, Santiago told Benitez, “You don’t have to call the police, I don’t have a driver’s license.” Santiago did, however,…