The state dropped two different drug cases against the same client after Amanda R. Gaddis filed Motions to Suppress challenging the illegal stops after police violated the client’s Fourth Amendment constitutional rights against unreasonable search and seizure.
In the first case, the client was stopped by Woodstock Police Department for “circling a parking lot” and allegedly running a stop sign. A review of the videotape, however, revealed that the client did in fact stop at the sign. After the client was illegally stopped, police searched her car and arrested her for possession of marijuana. In addition, prior to trial, the state was unable to produce a test showing that the items seized from her were in fact marijuana because the evidence was destroyed prior to being tested. After filing motions challenging both, the state agreed that the case would not survive a Motion to Suppress. All charges against the client were dismissed.
One month after the first stop, the client was stopped again by the same department. Again, the police officer had no reason to stop the car–she was merely pulling out of a parking lot late at night which is not a crime or even suspicion of a crime according to Georgia law or laws interpreting the United States Constitution. Officers observed no illegal activity or traffic violations before stopping and searching the vehicle. Because law enforcement violated the client’s constitutional rights, the state again agreed the case would not survive a Motion to Suppress and they chose to dismiss the case entirely as well.
Because the Law Office of Gregory Hicks advocated for the client’s constitutional rights, the client maintains a clean criminal record.
All charges against the client were dismissed after illegal stop by City of Woodstock Police.
State dismisses case entirely, Law Office of Gregory Hicks maintains client's clean record