Motion to suppress illegal search and seizure of car and occupants allowed

Worcester District Court: On June 2, 2011, police were patrolling a parking lot as a result of several reports of drug activity. While doing so, officers saw a truck pull into the lot and noticed that no one exited the truck for about 5 minutes. The officers then saw another car pull into the lot and park to the left of the truck. One officer recognized the car as belonging to our client, claimed by the officer to be a known drug dealer. The officer had observed our client in the past conducting brief transactions in parking lots consistent with the appearance of drug deals. An occupant of the truck entered the passenger’s side of our client’s car, and police approached the two. The officer saw our client holding a $100 bill and ordered him to put his hands on the wheel, after which he saw drugs in the passenger’s lap and in the center console and control panel. After search of our client and the car, our client was charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, distribution of oxycodone and oxymorphone, possession of cocaine, a school zone violation, and conspiracy. Denise Dolan of our office moved to suppress on the grounds that the search and seizure was in violation of our client’s constitutional rights. The motion was allowed and the drugs were suppressed.