State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Appellant v. Samuel Sheffield, Defendant-Respondent

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey held that a police officer may approach and question a person on the street without probable cause and that the defendant's gesture to his mouth gave the officer probable cause to arrest and seize the heroin, so the evidence was admissible and the conviction was reinstated. Justice Sullivan's opinion reversed the Appellate Division and the dissent argued the opposite, contending the officer lacked lawful authority to detain the defendant.