People v. Hickerson CA1/1

BACKGROUND

In August 2019, Solano County Sheriff’s Deputy Armando Sanchez and his partner who was driving, Deputy Jesse Irvin, initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle that did not have a front license plate—a violation of Vehicle Code section 5200, subdivision (a). After pulling the vehicle over, the officers contacted the two occupants. Defendant was the driver. When asked for his driver’s license, defendant said he did not have one and told the officers his name was “Leon Hickerson” and provided a date of birth. The officers then communicated with their dispatch center, which ran the name. The dispatch center informed them there was an active arrest warrant for Leon Hickerson. The officers also requested a “Cal. Photo” from dispatch, which dispatch provided and which appeared to be of defendant. At that point another officer, Deputy Robertson, arrived. The officers asked both occupants to exit the vehicle. Defendant was handcuffed, placed under arrest, and placed in the back of Deputy Sanchez’s patrol car. Deputy Sanchez told defendant he was being arrested on the outstanding warrant. The passenger was placed in the back of Deputy Robertson’s car. After the arrests, the officers…