Washington Supreme Court

State v. Armenta

December 24, 1997948 P.2d 1280

Summary

The court held that Armenta and Cruz were seized when the officer took their money and placed it in his patrol car, and that the seizure was unsupported by reasonable, articulable suspicion of criminal activity. Their subsequent consent to search, though voluntary, was tainted by the illegal detention, as were their later statements. The court reversed the Court of Appeals and reinstated the trial court's dismissal of the charges.