Commonwealth v. Cartagena
63 A.3d 294
| Pa. Super. Ct. | 2013Background
- Commonwealth appeals to en banc review from suppression court’s order suppressing a .32 caliber gun found in Cartagena’s center console during a protective vehicle search.
- Stop occurred at 1:50 a.m. on Lehigh Avenue for illegal window tint; Cartagena pulled into a center breakdown lane.
- Officers approached from both sides; request to lower windows; Cartagena hesitated and opened center console.
- Pat-down of Cartagena and a preliminary “courtesy search” of the driver’s seat and center console led to discovery of the gun.
- Suppression court ruled the center-console search unlawful; Commonwealth appealed.
- Court ultimately affirms the suppression order on different grounds, applying Long/Morris standards to conclude lack of reasonable suspicion for a protective search.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether the protective search of the center console was lawful. | Cartagena (Commonwealth) | Cartagena | No; unpersuasive record for reasonable suspicion. |
| Whether tinted windows and late-night stop alone establish reasonable suspicion. | Commonwealth | Cartagena | Insufficient; totality of circumstances falls short. |
| Whether nervousness plus center-console conduct justifies a Long-type frisk. | Commonwealth | Cartagena | Not supported by record; insufficient articulable facts. |
| Whether the stop’s timing—late at night—affects permissible scope of search. | Commonwealth | Cartagena | Not enough to sustain a protective search. |
| Whether the record supports applying Long to permit a protective search in this Pennsylvania case. | Commonwealth | Cartagena | No; record fails to show reasonable suspicion. |
Key Cases Cited
- Michigan v. Long, 463 U.S. 1032 (U.S. 1983) (protective search of vehicle for weapons requires reasonable suspicion; limited scope for officer safety)
- Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1 (U.S. 1968) (brief protective search when suspect may be armed; reasonable suspicion standard)
- Commonwealth v. Morris, 537 Pa. 417, 644 A.2d 721 (Pa. 1994) (extends Long to Pennsylvania vehicle stops; Article I, §8 context)
- In re O.J., 958 A.2d 561 (Pa.Super.2008) (en banc; protective search upheld under Long factors)
- Murray, 936 A.2d 76 (Pa.Super.2007) (protective search supported by totality of circumstances (night, high-narcotics area, movement))