State v. DeWitt
Annotate this CasePolice officers initiated an investigatory encounter with William DeWitt in Walmart based initially on information provided to them by a confidential informant. The officers decided to confront DeWitt and take him outside to his car to talk to him about their suspicion he was selling drugs. One or both of the officers took DeWitt by the arm. DeWitt broke free from their grasp, and the officers responded by taking him to the ground and handcuffing him. DeWitt was subsequently convicted of possession with intent to deliver, violation of the drug stamp act, and interference with official acts. The court of appeals affirmed the convictions. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) the district court did not err in denying DeWitt's motion to suppress, as the officers' conduct in physically restraining DeWitt was not a violation of his right to be protected from unreasonable seizures under the state and federal constitutions; and (2) under the facts and circumstances of this case, the evidence was sufficient to support DeWitt's conviction.
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