State v. Brown, 89-01707

Decision Date09 February 1990
Docket NumberNo. 89-01707,89-01707
Citation556 So.2d 790
Parties15 Fla. L. Weekly D467 STATE of Florida, Appellant, v. Phillip BROWN, Appellee.
CourtFlorida District Court of Appeals

Robert A. Butterworth, Atty. Gen., Tallahassee, and Anne Y. Swing, Asst. Atty. Gen., Tampa, for appellant.

James Marion Moorman, Public Defender, and Kevin Briggs, Asst. Public Defender, Bartow, for appellee.

PER CURIAM.

The state appeals an order granting appellee Phillip Brown's motion to suppress cocaine. We reverse.

On December 8, 1988, a reliable informant advised a Lakeland detective that two people in the area of Fifth and Kettles Streets (a "high drug area") were selling rock cocaine. The informant described both persons, one male and one female, as well as the automobile they were using. He also gave the man's "street name" of "Playboy." The detective testified that appellee Brown was known to employ this pseudonym. Soon thereafter the police located a vehicle matching the description and containing three subjects. Because the car's windows were tinted it was not until after stopping it that the officers confirmed that appellee and a woman matching the informant's description were inside. The officers apprised appellee of the reason for the stop and indicated they would perform a pat-down search. Appellee said, "Fine. I don't have any drugs on me." Inside his jacket pocket was a pill bottle containing cocaine residue.

We find this case indistinguishable in principle from State v. Edwards, 547 So.2d 183 (Fla.2d DCA 1989). In both instances the detention and subsequent search of the suspect's vehicle was based upon a proven informant's detailed information. We found in Edwards, and we find here, that once the police verified all but the "final detail" of the informant's tip they had probable cause to arrest and thus to search.

Reversed for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

FRANK, A.C.J., and THREADGILL and PATTERSON, JJ., concur.

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10 cases
  • State v. Butler
    • United States
    • Florida Supreme Court
    • June 1, 1995
    ...634 So.2d 700 (Fla. 1st DCA 1994), which certified conflict with State v. Flowers, 566 So.2d 50 (Fla. 2d DCA 1990), and State v. Brown, 556 So.2d 790 (Fla. 2d DCA 1990). We have jurisdiction. Art. V, Sec. 3(b)(4), Fla. Const. We quash the decision below and approve State v. Flowers, 566 So.......
  • Butler v. State, 92-3090
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • March 15, 1994
    ...and police verify all details of the tip except for the "final detail" (i.e., commission of the crime). Similarly, in State v. Brown, 556 So.2d 790 (Fla. 2d DCA 1990), the court found there was probable cause for the detention and search of a car where a reliable CI told police two people w......
  • State v. Clark
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • February 22, 2008
    ...566 So.2d 50, 51 (Fla. 2d DCA 1990); see also Butler, 655 So.2d at 1129-31 (approving Flowers, 566 So.2d at 51, and State v. Brown, 556 So.2d 790 (Fla. 2d DCA 1990)); Roman v. State, 786 So.2d 1220, 1222 (Fla. 4th DCA 2001) (finding probable cause for a suspect's arrest where the police hea......
  • Bravo v. State
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • August 31, 2007
    ...566 So.2d 50, 51 (Fla. 2d DCA 1990); see also Butler, 655 So.2d at 1129-31 (approving Flowers, 566 So.2d at 51, and State v. Brown, 556 So.2d 790 (Fla. 2d DCA 1990)). VII. For these reasons, the trial court properly denied Mr. Bravo's motion to suppress. Accordingly, we affirm Mr. Bravo's j......
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