United States v. Jenkins, No. 11-1302 (1st Cir. 2012)
Annotate this CaseThe trooper saw a minivan with what appeared to be a glinting blue light, like those mounted behind the windshields of police cars. Because Maine law prohibits such lights on civilian vehicles, the trooper gave chase with his siren going. The driver continued on for 39 seconds, making unusual motions. The trooper saw a television screen attached to the windshield by a large blue suction cup and a blue placard on the rearview mirror. The driver was talking on a cell phone, and, asked about his furtive motions, said he had dropped the phone, picked it up, and called his wife; he claimed to have left his license and registration at home. He gave a false name, which did not match computerized records, and eventually admitted that he did not have a valid license. Arrested, he refused to be fingerprinted. The officer was applying for a search warrant when the driver admitted that he was wanted for kidnapping. A pistol, ammunition, and marijuana were found in the van. He entered a conditional plea of guilty to being a felon in possession, 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), and was sentenced to 36 months The First Circuit affirmed, rejecting challenges to denial of a motion to suppress and to the sentence.
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