Observation Of a Hand-To-Hand Transaction Alone Is Insufficient to Have a Reasonable and Articulable Suspicion of a CDS Transaction

State v. GIBSON Appellate Docket No.: A-3410-19 Decided January 10, 2022 Submitted by New Jersey New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark In a recent unpublished opinion, the Appellate Division of New Jersey reversed a denial of a motion to suppress after officers simply observed a hand to hand transaction without seeing what was exchanged and conducted…

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An Investigatory Stop, Followed by An Arrest Requires Reasonable and Articulable Suspicion as Well as Probable Cause

State v. Ruiz-Montano Appellate Docket No.: A-1070-19 Decided January 7, 2022 Submitted by New Jersey New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark In a recent unpublished opinion, the Appellate Division of New Jersey affirmed a denial of a motion to suppress without an evidentiary hearing after detectives detained defendant, brought him back to the police station, and…

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Officers Conducted a Motor Vehicle Stop and Found a Firearm Upon Searching for the Driver’s Credentials After a Refusal

State v. Reid Appellate Docket No.: A-4238-19 Decided December 8, 2021 Submitted by New Jersey New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark In a recent unpublished opinion, the Appellate Division of New Jersey reversed a denial of a motion to suppress after officers conducted a motor vehicle stop and found a firearm upon searching for the driver’s…

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Two Lindenwold Juveniles Charged With Possession of a Firearm

Submitted by New Jersey New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark Lindenwold, N.J. – Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer and Lindenwold Police Chief Michael McCarthy, Jr., announce that two Camden County youth (both 17 years of age) have been charged with firearms offenses as a result of an investigation conducted by the Lindenwold Police Department…

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Officers Are Not Allowed to Ask for Passenger Identification Unless They Believe the Passenger Is Also Committing a Crime.

State v. Boston Appellate Docket No.: A-4752-17 Decided September 16, 2021 Submitted by New Jersey New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark In a recent published opinion, the Appellate Division of New Jersey reversed a conviction for an improper request for identification of a passenger in a vehicle, leading to the finding of warrants and cocaine on…

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Can a Witness’s Exclamatory Outbursts During Trial Testimony Warrant a Mistrial?

State v. Sullivan Appellate Docket No.: A-1675-18 Decided October 22, 2021 Submitted by New Jersey New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark In a recent unpublished opinion, the Appellate Division of New Jersey reviewed whether a witness’s exclamatory outbursts during trial testimony warranted a mistrial, despite the Judge issuing limiting instructions immediately. In State v. Sullivan, Ryan…

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To Effectuate a Traffic Stop, Or Investigation and Questioning Officers Only Need a Reasonable Suspicion That a Crime Is Being Committed

State v. Days-Jackson Appellate Docket No.: A-2002-19 Decided October 18, 2021 Submitted by New Jersey New Jersey Criminal Lawyer, Jeffrey Hark In a recent unpublished opinion, the Appellate Division of New Jersey reviewed whether probable cause existed for a search of the trunk revealing marijuana and firearms. In State v. Days-Jackson, while on duty one night,…

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