Satterfield v. State

William Satterfield appeals from his convictions of possessing methamphetamine, amphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana in his bodily fluids. In his only enumeration of error, Satterfield asserts the trial court erred by denying his motion to suppress. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm. So viewed, the record shows that while conducting surveillance of suspected drug activity at a residence, police observed Satterfield and a woman enter the residence for approximately five minutes and drive away. An officer conducting surveillance recognized the passenger as a known drug seller and asked a police officer in a marked car to stop Satterfield and determine his identity. When Satterfield turned into the driveway of his passenger’s residence, the officer pulled in behind Satterfield’s car and activated his blue lights. The record also indicates that Satterfield stopped his car at the same moment the officer activated his blue lights. The officer testified that at this point, Satterfield and his passenger were not free to leave.

The officer stepped out of his car and asked Satterfield and his passenger to get out of Satterfield’s car. At this point, the officer requesting the stop arrived and saw suspected methamphetamine near the front passenger seat in plain view. When neither Statterfield nor his passenger admitted ownership of the contraband, the officers arrested them both. After learning that Satterfield was on probation for a previous conviction, the police tested his urine pursuant to the conditions of his probation, and these tests revealed the presence of methamphetamine, amphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana.