United States Fourth Circuit

District court properly denied Defendant's motion to suppress the evidence of cocaine seized from his car. Officers had reason to believe that their informant was truthful and that his tip was reliable where: 1) the informant was under arrest on a possessory offense and had every incentive to cooperate with the police; 2) he believed that his phone calls to arrange a drug deal with Defendant were being recorded; and 3) every bit of information that he provided was quickly borne out by actual events.

Appellate Information

• Decided 12/12/2008
• Published 12/12/2008

Judges

• Before WILKINSON and GREGORY, Circuit Judges, and MARTIN K. REIDINGER, United States District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina, sitting by designation.

Court

• United States Fourth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:  Harry Robert Reinhart, Columbus, Ohio, for Appellant.   Monica Lynn Dillon, Office of the United States Attorney, Charleston, West Virginia, for Appellee.   ON BRIEF:  Charles T. Miller, United States Attorney, Charleston, West Virginia, for Appellee.