OPINION AND ORDER Niheeme Anderson (“Mr. Anderson” or “Defendant”) stands charged in a four-count indictment of: (1) possession with intent to distribute narcotics in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B); (2) possession with intent to distribute narcotics in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C); (3) possession of firearms and ammunition during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§924(c)(1)(A)(i); and (4) unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition after a felony conviction in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§922(g)(1) and 924(e). (Doc. 8). Pending before the Court is Defendant’s motion made pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 12(b)(3) to suppress all evidence seized from his person following his warrantless arrest on December 6, 2023, including all evidence obtained derivatively as fruits of the allegedly illegal search and seizure. (Doc. 21, “Def. Br.”).1 The Government opposed the motion to suppress (Doc. 22, “Opp.”), and Defendant filed reply papers (Doc. 23, “Reply”). The Court heard oral argument from the parties on October 16, 2024. Defendant argues that the police violated his Fourth Amendment rights when they forcibly searched and seized him on December 6, 2023. His motion seeks to suppress evidence recovered during the search — a bag of approximately 400 grams of powdered cocaine found on his person — as well as his post-arrest statements to the police and the contraband found in his apartment pursuant to a search warrant obtained after the arrest. Defendant also requested an evidentiary hearing on his motion. The Government argues that a hearing is not necessary. For the reasons set forth below, Defendant’s motion is DENIED. BACKGROUND I. The Investigation A Confidential Informant (“CI”), in late November 2023, told members of the New York State Police (“NYSP”) that an individual named “Mike” was selling a ghost gun in the City of Poughkeepsie. (Def. Br., Ex. A, “DiPasquale Aff.” 7). On December 2, 2023, the CI provided photographs of the gun and a phone number for Mike. (Id. 8). The next day, the NYSP attempted to conduct an undercover purchase of the gun from Mike. (Id. 9). When Mike did not answer the CI’s call, the CI called someone he identified only as “Light” and asked if he had spoken to Mike. (Id.). “Light” said, “I just seen him and copped that.” (Id.). “Light’s” response, in sum and substance, was that he had just purchased the gun from Mike but that the CI could purchase another firearm from Mike. (Doc. 1, “Compl.” 11). On December 5, 2023, the CI contacted Investigator DiPasquale and advised that “Light” was planning to make a trip from Poughkeepsie to New York City to pick up a “resupply of narcotics.” (DiPasquale Aff. 10; Compl. 12). The CI specified that “Light” would be traveling in a red 2013 Dodge Durango bearing New York Registration JCV3959 (the “Durango”). (DiPasquale Aff. 11). The next day, Investigator DiPasquale notified Investigator Michael Moore of the Troop K Community Stabilization unit that “Light” may be making a trip to New York City in the Durango. (Id.). Investigator Moore listed the Durango on a “Hotlist.” (Id.). Trooper Dale Beckmann of Troop K recorded in the police report that on December 6, 2023, he “received information from SIU-Hudson Valley that [the Durango] was making a trip to New York City to possibly purchase narcotics” and that “information obtained revealed that the unknown male is known to carry a firearm.” (Def. Br., Ex. B, “Beckmann Report” at 5). At approximately 1:29 p.m. on December 6, 2023, a License Plate Reader identified the Durango driving southbound on the Taconic State Parkway in Westchester County, New York. (DiPasquale Aff. 11; Compl. 13(a)). Thereafter, at approximately 3:27 p.m., the CI informed Investigator DiPasquale, in sum and substance, that the CI had spoken to “Light” and that “Light” was traveling from the New York City area back to the Poughkeepsie area. (DiPasquale Aff. 11; Compl. 13(b)). II. The Stop At approximately 5:10 p.m. on December 6, 2023, Troopers Dale Beckmann and Sean Rohde observed the Durango heading north on the Taconic State Parkway in the vicinity of the Town of East Fishkill. (Compl. 13(c)). Trooper Beckmann initiated a traffic stop after observing that the Durango (i) had dark tinted windows and an obscured front license plate; (ii) failed to maintain its lane; and (iii) “accelerat[ed] while the driver had the brake pedal pressed.” (Id.; Beckmann Report at 5; DiPasquale Aff. 11). The driver of the Durango identified herself as Stacy Paulin and the sole passenger of the Durango, later identified as the Defendant, identified himself as Niheeme. (Compl. 13(c); Beckmann Report at 6). Stacy complied with the Troopers’ directives, stated that she was driving to Poughkeepsie after about four hours in New York City, and identified Defendant as her brother. (Compl. 13(d); Beckmann Report at 6; Bodycam at 17:12:40-17:12:45). Trooper Beckmann reported that Stacy appeared nervous and was unable to state why she went to New York City. (Beckmann Report at 6). Trooper Beckmann then interviewed Defendant while Defendant was seated in the front passenger seat. (Compl. 13(e); Beckmann Report at 6). During that conversation, Defendant stated, inter alia, that (i) he was traveling to Poughkeepsie from the Bronx (after initially stating that he was coming from Manhattan and then immediately correcting himself); (ii) Stacy was his girlfriend; and (iii) they spent approximately six hours in the Bronx. (Id.; Bodycam at 17:13:30-17:16:35). Trooper Beckman reported that Defendant failed to make eye contact and spoke in a low voice during that conversation. (Id.). Upon receiving Stacy’s consent to search the car, Trooper Beckman instructed Defendant to exit the vehicle for further interview and informed Defendant that he was not under arrest. (Compl. 13(f); Beckmann Report at 6; Bodycam at 17:18:40-17:19:05). Defendant, who was wearing a bulky, waist-length jacket, got out of the car. (Bodycam at 17:19:00-17:19:10). Trooper Beckmann informed him that he was going to pat him down and asked whether he had any weapons. (Id.). Defendant turned around to face the car, lifted his jacket above his stomach, and raised his hands in the air, which Trooper Beckmann stated was not necessary. (Id. at 17:19:10-17:19:18). Trooper Beckman described in his report that Defendant was making furtive movements such as positioning his body away from the Trooper, placing his hand inside his pocket, and acting nervous. (Compl. 13(f); Beckmann Report at 6). Trooper Beckmann proceeded to conduct a pat down, starting with the backside of Defendant’s body. (Bodycam at 17:19:18-17:19:27). The pat down briefly ceased while Trooper Beckmann spoke to Defendant and then continued less than a minute later, resuming on the front side of Defendant’s body.2 (Id. at 17:19:50-17:20:05). Trooper Beckmann observed something in Defendant’s jacket, asked what it was, and Defendant responded that it was a “package for my brother.” (Id.; Beckmann Report at 6; Def. Aff.
9-11). Trooper Beckmann then felt “a large bulky item” in Defendant’s front left jacket pocket. (Id.). Trooper Beckmann directed Defendant to put his hands behind his back and attempted to handcuff him, but Defendant tried to flee on foot. (Bodycam at 17:20:05-17:20:50). NYSP officers at the scene took Defendant down and handcuffed him. (Id.). While handcuffed and on the ground, Trooper Beckmann reached into Defendant’s jacket and removed a clear plastic bag containing a white chunky substance from his front left interior jacket pocket. (Id. at 17:20:50-17:21:10; Def. Aff.
