On Point blog, page 2 of 59
COA finds police had reasonable suspicion to extend traffic stop to conduct field sobriety tests; reverses suppression order.
State of Wisconsin v. Alex Mark Hagen, 2024AP1180, 3/6/25 District IV (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity
COA reversed the circuit court’s order suppressing evidence of field sobriety tests and their fruits, finding that police had reasonable suspicion to extend a traffic stop to investigate the defendant for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
COA holds there was reasonable suspicion to seize motorist for unreadable license plate even if plate was, in actuality, readable
State v. Glen Michael Braun, 2022AP1764, 2/25/25, District III (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity
In a case demonstrating the tough hill that litigants must climb to prove an officer lacks reasonable suspicion, COA affirms an order denying Braun’s suppression motion based on a possible equipment violation.
COA: Traffic stop not unreasonably prolonged by officer’s request for field sobriety tests
State v. Emily Anne Ertl, 2023AP234-CR, 2/18/25, District III (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity
Ertl appeals the denial of her motion to suppress on the ground that police impermissibly extended the scope of her initial detention when the officer asked her if she would consent to field sobriety tests. COA affirms, concluding that her detention was not unreasonably prolonged by law enforcement’s single request that she voluntarily submit to field sobriety tests.
COA: Tint meter evidence not required to confirm officer’s belief that vehicle windows were illegally tinted to establish reasonable suspicion for stop.
State v. Joseph Paul Morello, 2024AP931-CR, 2/6/25, District IV (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity
COA affirms circuit court’s order denying Joseph Morello’s motion to suppress the fruits of his traffic stop. Although COA did not address circuit court’s conclusion that police had reasonable suspicion that Morello’s vehicle was connected to reports of gunshots, it affirmed on alternative ground that there was reasonable suspicion Morello’s vehicle’s windows were excessively tinted.
COA: Driver passed out in car not seized or subjected to custodial interrogation after police knocked on window to investigate.
State v. Lavelle Edgar Young, 2024AP470, 12/26/24, District I (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity
The Court of Appeals affirmed the circuit court’s order denying Lavelle Young’s motion to suppress physical evidence and his statements when an officer knocked on the window of his vehicle after observing Young sleeping in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. The Court held that Young was not seized and was not in custody when he was questioned by police.
Defense win! COA affirms suppression of evidence, concluding officer lacked reasonable suspicion for traffic stop
City of Platteville v. Travis Jon Knautz, 2024AP1291 & 1292, 12/5/24, District IV (1-judge decision, ineligible for publication); case activity
In this drunk driving forfeiture case, the city appeals an order granting Knautz’s motion to suppress all of the evidence that police obtained after an investigatory traffic stop. The COA affirms, concluding that the city failed to show that there was reasonable suspicion for the stop.
COA: No reasonable suspicion to require driver to perform field sobriety tests where report of “potential drunk driver” not corroborated; circuit court’s order granting motion to suppress affirmed.
State v. Joseph Blankenship, 2024AP791-CR, 11/7/24, District IV (one judge decision; not eligible for publication); case activity
The Court of Appeals affirmed the circuit court’s order granting Joseph Blankenship’s motion to suppress because police did not have reasonable suspicion to direct him out of his vehicle to perform field sobriety tests.
COA reverses order to suppress because driver of vehicle not seized; dissent disputes reasonable person surrounded in vehicle by police would feel free to leave.
State v. Kahreem Rashah Wilkins, Sr., 2023AP1385-CR, 10/8/24, District I (not recommended for publication); case activity
In a 2-1 decision, the Court of Appeals reversed the circuit court’s order granting Kahreem Wilkins’ motion to suppress evidence seized from his vehicle. The majority found that Wilkins was not seized when police approached the vehicle and saw a firearm in plain view, while the dissent concluded a reasonable person surrounded in his vehicle by four officers would not feel free to leave.
COA: Reports of domestic incident justified stopping vehicle as community caretaking function; extending stop to perform field sobriety tests permitted based on reasonable suspicion of OWI.
State v. Reichert, 2023AP1224, 8/14/24, District II (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity
Roxanne Reichert appealed from a judgment of conviction after she pled no contest to operating a vehicle under the influence. She argued that the circuit court erred when it denied her motion to suppress evidence seized after she was stopped in her vehicle. The Court of Appeals affirmed and found that: 1) police were justified to stop Reichert as a community caretaking function; and 2) police had reasonable suspicion to extend the stop to investigate Reichert for criminal activity, including OWI.
Defense Wins in SCOW: Community Caretaking does not allow police to continue seizure after purpose for stop is resolved. Concurring opinion questions community caretaking analysis in light of SCOTUS decision.
State v. Michael Gene Wiskowski, 2024 WI 23, 6/18/24, reversing and remanding an unpublished court of appeals decision; case activity (including briefs)
Community caretaking does not allow police to continue seizure after officer resolves purpose for stop unless reasonable suspicion or probable cause developed. Three justices question continuing validity of Wisconsin’s community caretaking precedent in light of SCOTUS’s decision in Caniglia v. Strom.