Shepherding our guardians!
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
839 F. 2d 285
Published/Precedential
February 12, 1988
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The 6th Circuit found the following factors relevant and sufficient to justify the defendants' seizure at the Memphis airport:
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they were traveling from a "source city";
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their tickets were purchased only the day before and paid for with cash;
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they deplaned separately and attempted to conceal the fact that they were traveling together;
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sometime after deplaning, both in Atlanta and Memphis, defendants were observed talking together;
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immediately upon deplaning in Atlanta, defendant Ware rushed to the restroom holding her arms across her stomach; and
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none of the defendants were known at the callback number given when their tickets were purchased.
Detention of defendants at airport did not exceed scope and duration allowable for investigatory detention and the investigation was expedited through presence of drug-sniffing dog, which allowed sniff to be conducted as soon as possible.
Positive reaction of narcotics dog to defendants’ luggage established probable cause not only to search luggage, but also to arrest defendants immediately.
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