Drug Evidence Proper Despite Officer’s ‘Prolonged’ Encounter

Methamphetamine and a firearm found in a vehicle was properly introduced into evidence against a man who pleaded guilty on drug charges, the Ninth Circuit said Thursday, rejecting claims that the vehicle stop was unconstitutionally prolonged by the arresting officer.

Shane Nault argued the officer improperly prolonged the vehicle stop by asking for his license and registration after determining that the vehicle’s registered owner—who had an outstanding arrest warrant—wasn’t in the vehicle.

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit disagreed in an opinion by Judge Jacqueline H. Nguyen. These questions didn’t violate Nault’s Fourth Amendment rights, Nguyen ...