Chamagua
People v. Chamagua
Opinion
Lead Opinion
Wiley, J.
*927 The trial court denied Ralph R. Chamagua's motion to suppress evidence. The issue concerns a consensual encounter. We affirm.
I
At the suppression hearing, Sheriff's Deputy Brian Gorski testified he and his partner were patrolling in a marked patrol car about 10:45 p.m. on February 8, 2018. According to Gorski, Chamagua saw the patrol car, immediately changed direction, and quickly walked into an apartment complex driveway. At the same time, Gorski saw Chamagua put something in his pocket.
Gorski said his partner pulled their patrol car "just slightly" into the driveway, alongside Chamagua. The officers got out of their car. Gorski asked Chamagua, "Hey, how are you doing? What's your name? Do you got anything illegal on you?" Chamagua responded, "I have a pipe on me." Gorski searched Chamagua and found a pipe with traces of crystal methamphetamine.
Gorski asked, "Hey, you know, anything else illegal that you have on you?" Gorski said Chamagua "said, 'Yeah, I have a bunch of meth on me,' and he apologized." Gorski searched Chamagua's pocket and found a ping-pong-sized ball of crystal meth inside a transparent green container, like the type "commonly used as, like, a…