Officer Bird

ESSAY ASSIGNMENT 1

OFFICER BIRD

Read the scenario and answer in detail the questions that follow using key terms and concepts from the textbook:

Officer Bird was patrolling downtown Center City late Saturday night. Primarily, she was on the lookout for drunk drivers after the bars closed, but violent incidents were on the rise in the area, so she was also looking for suspicious activity. She had just pulled over across the street from the Central Pub when a red sports car went speeding by. Officer Bird turned on her siren and pursued the sports car. The car pulled over, and Officer Bird approached the vehicle. When she got to the door, she noticed the driver shoving something under the front seat. She rapped on the window, and the driver, visibly angry, rolled it down.
“What?” he said.
 Officer Bird told him to step out of the vehicle. The driver slammed the door and stepped toward Officer Bird. She then ordered him to turn around and place his hands on the roof of the vehicle. The man swore, but he complied. Officer Bird did a weapons pat-down and did not find a weapon.
“OK, Sir, now I need to see some identification.” When the man handed over his license, she saw that his name was Alejandro Quintana. Before running his license, she shined her flashlight in the sports car. Sticking out from under the front seat, she saw a revolver. She seized it. In addition, she also saw a small bag containing a white powdery substance next to the revolver. She seized that as well.
“You should see what’s in the trunk,” Quintana said menacingly.
 Officer Bird just placed Quintana under arrest, and did not check out the trunk.

Write a 2-page (only), double-spaced essay. (This does not include the cover page and references page. Points will be deducted for not meeting or exceeding the page limit.)
Break down the facts of the case.
Explain what are the grounds for a lawful vehicle search after a traffic stop?
What Supreme Court decision(s) govern this activity?
Cite at least two cases.
Explain the findings of the selected cases and how they would apply to this case.
Did Officer Bird’s actions (search and arrest) satisfy the constitutional requirement(s)? Explain why or why not?
Could Officer Bird have legally searched the trunk? Explain why or why not?

ESSAY NOTES:

Follow the above “Writing Assignment Protocols.”
Your essay should be thorough, yet concise, and in your own words.
You must use your textbook and at least two (2) other scholarly articles to support your position/findings.

Helpful websites:

U. S. Courts

U.S. Constitution

WRITING ASSIGNMENTS SHOULD:

reflect critical thinking.
include concrete examples/details and avoid generalities.
include a separate cover page.
include the title of assignment, your name, the course, the name of the college, and the date.
include a separate references page for sources used.
be typed.
be in Times New Roman, 12 point font, black.
be double-spaced.
be standard/proper English, spelling and grammar.
be in essay format.
be written in paragraph format, with complete sentences.
contain an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.
Hint: The introduction states your thesis or the purpose of the paper. Organize your body paragraphs to include a main idea, which is then developed or illustrated by support evidence. The conclusion is a restatement of your thesis.
properly cite sources using in-text citations and a reference list (APA format).