Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Criminal Law Blogs -> Fourth Circuit Blog

Criminal Law

: Fourth Circuit Blog

Hand-to-Hand Activity Leads to Reasonable Suspicion, Arrest

By Jonathan Byrne

US v. Johnson: Johnson was observed on a sidewalk in Baltimore in a neighborhood known for drug activity. An officer saw him make "quick hand-to-hand contact with three different men," which the officer interpreted as being drug transactions. The officer then saw Johnson, with two other men in tow, head for a restaurant, which aroused suspicion because "local dealers sometimes conduct their business in legitimate shops in order to elude police cameras." Officers followed Johnson and another man (the third one kept walking up the street) into the restaurant, identified themselves, and asked Johnson to show his hands. Johnson threw a single heroin gelcap of the restaurant counter. "A struggle ensued," after which Johnson was arrested. Reviewing surveillance videos, officers discovered a car in which they suspected Johnson was storing drugs, which they confirmed when they saw more gelcaps in plain view...continue to full post

Full post as published by Fourth Circuit Blog on April 02, 2010 (boomark / email).