US v. Whitfield, 09-3031

Motion to suppress in conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm

US v. Whitfield, 09-3031, concerned a challenge to the district court's denial of a motion to suppress a gun and other evidence, in a prosecution of defendant for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  In affirming the judgment, the court held that, applying the collective knowledge doctrine, there is little question that there was reasonable suspicion to seize defendant.


As the court wrote: "It would make little sense to decline to apply the collective knowledge doctrine in a fast-paced, dynamic situation such as we have before us, in which the officers worked together as a unified and tight-knit team; indeed, it would be impractical to expect an officer in such a situation to communicate to the other officers every fact that could be pertinent in a subsequent reasonable suspicion analysis."

Related Link:

• Read the Third Circuit's Full Decision in US v. Whitfield, 09-3031