Tommy Allen Gow, Petitioner v. the People of the State of Colorado, Respondent.

Summary

The court affirmed the judgment upholding the denial of Gow’s suppression motion. It held that the pat-down and search of the box were constitutional because, under the trial court’s supported factual findings, Gow initiated the encounter by requesting a courtesy ride and expressly consented to both searches as conditions of receiving it. The court affirmed on narrower grounds than the lower appellate court, relying on voluntary consent rather than a general courtesy-ride search exception.