Com. v. Padilla, R.

J-A17040-21
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee :
:
v. :
:
RAMON PADILLA :
:
Appellant : No. 1110 EDA 2020
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered March 4, 2020
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-51-CR-0003828-2019
BEFORE: McLAUGHLIN, J., KING, J., and PELLEGRINI, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY KING, J.: FILED DECEMBER 29, 2021
Appellant, Ramon Padilla, appeals from the judgment of sentence
entered in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, following his
stipulated bench trial convictions for persons not to possess firearms, firearms
not to be carried without a license, and carrying firearms on public streets or
public property in Philadelphia.1 We affirm.
The relevant facts and procedural history of this case are as follows. On
the evening of April 17, 2019, Officers Ryan Redmond, Mark Wildsmith and
Robert McGrody of the Philadelphia Police Department were on routine patrol
on the 3100 block of E Street in Philadelphia. (N.T. Suppression Hearing,
____________________________________________
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1 18 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 6105(a), 6106(a)(1), and 6108, respectively.
J-A17040-21
10/9/19, at 7). This area was known as a “high-drug and crime area; [with]
lots of shootings” and a “lot of drugs sold on [this] block.” (Id. at 10). At
this time, Officer Redmond had served as a Philadelphia Police Officer for four
years. (Id.) During their patrol, the officers observed a white Toyota Corolla
driving northbound on E Street with dark-tinted windows. (Id. at 8). All the
windows were illegally tinted except the windshield. (Id.) As a result of the
tinted windows, the officers conducted a traffic stop. (Id.) Officers Redmond
and McGrody approached the vehicle after it stopped. (Id. at 12).
The vehicle had three occupants. (Id.) Appellant was in the front
passenger seat. (Id.) Officer Redmond approached the passenger’s side door
and he positioned himself on the passenger side of the vehicle between the
front and back seat passenger. (Id. at 15). Officer Redmond testified that
Appellant “kept on like adjusting his groin area, like trying to conceal
something.” (Id. at 8). In the meantime, one of the officers asked for all
three of the occupants’ identifications. (Id. at 18). The driver and Appellant
complied with this request and provided their driver’s licenses. (Id.) Officer
Wildsmith took the licenses and returned to the patrol car to verify their
information through a computer in the patrol car. (Id.)
After Officer Wildsmith returned to the patrol car from running the
licenses, Officer Redmond had a conversation with Appellant. “And
throughout that talk, [Appellant] kept on adjusting [his groin] again. So at
that point [Officer Redmond] thought [Appellant] might have been concealing
-2-
J-A17040-21
something in his groin area consistent with a firearm.” (Id. at 8). Officer
Redmond explained that typically when he recovers concealed guns from an
individual they are usually located in the subject’s waistband without a holster.
(Id. at 11).
In addition to his testimony, Officer Redmond’s body cam was admitted
as exhibit C-1 and viewed during the suppression hearing. (Id. at 12). The
body cam, which included audio, captured only a portion of this stop. (See
C-1 Body Cam). Officer Redmond’s body cam includes the following
interaction: Officer Redmond asked: “No weapons in the car?” (Id.) Nobody
responded. (Id.) The officer then said “Nah?” (Id.) Again, none of the
occupants responded. (Id.) Appellant failed to admit that he had a firearm
on him, and instead he declined to answer. (Id.)
After viewing a portion of the body cam, Officer Redmond testified that
“[i]n that clip [of the body cam] you can actually see [Appellant]’s—I think it
was his left hand actually on his crotch area.” (Id. at 14). Officer Redmond
continued by testifying that “a few other times during the stop [Appellant]
does the same thing, adjust his groin area.”2 (Id.) Officer Redmond believed
Appellant might have a concealed firearm because he typically recovered guns
from individuals “usually in their waistband.” (Id. at 11). Officer Redmond
elaborated on his training and experience as to why he thought Appellant’s
____________________________________________
2 Most of the body cam footage does not show Appellant’s hands or his lap.
-3-
J-A17040-21
adjusting his groin area was indicative of a concealed weapon as follows: “But
usually over the course of your career you develop cues on body language
movements that they make when they’re concealing a firearm. So over my
four years I’ve discovered that, you know, constant movements toward [the
groin] area would indicate that they’re probably hiding something.” (Id. at
16).
During his conversation with Appellant, Officer Redmond asked what
was inside a shoebox located at Appellant’s feet. Appellant said shoes, and
then showed them to the officer. (Id. at 19). After this interaction, the officer
engaged the backseat passenger in conversation. (Id.) Officer Redmond then
asked Appellant what was in his pocket, and Appellant removed a pill bottle
which he showed the officer. (Id. at 20). Subsequently, Officer Redmond
had a conversation with Officer Wildsmith, during which Officer Wildsmith
informed Officer Redmond that the backseat passenger had an outstanding
warrant for trespassing. (Id. at 24). In addition, the officers had a
conversation about Appellant where they referenced Appellant as the “front-
seat passenger.” (Id. at 25). Neither officer could recall the content of that
conversation. (Id. at 26, 37). Shortly after this conversation, Officer
Redmond asked Officer Wildsmith to “pull [Appellant] out” of the car and then
Officer Redmond stated “[l]et’s check him out.” (Id. at 27).
Officer Redmond testified that the reason he asked Appellant to step out
of the car was “[a]fter watching [Appellant] adjust the groin area, I thought
-4-
J-A17040-21
[Appellant] was concealing a firearm.” (Id. at 15). Further, Officer Redmond
explained that the reason for waiting for Officer Wildsmith before requesting
Appellant exit the car was that Officer Redmond “was waiting just in case
[Appellant] tried to run or anything. We’d have more officers in the area or
close to the area, so [Appellant] wouldn’t get away.” (Id. at 30). Officer
Redmond reiterated his reason for waiting as follows: “I waited until he got
out of the vehicle. So in case [Appellant] tried something, another officer
would be right next to me to help me.” (Id.) Immediately after Appellant
exited the vehicle, Officer Redmond patted Appellant down and recovered a
loaded handgun in Appellant’s groin area. (Id. at 8-9).
On July 11, 2019, Appellant filed a motion to suppress. The court held
a suppression hearing on October 9, 2019. At the conclusion of the hearing,
the court denied the motion to suppress. On October 29, 2019, Appellant filed
a motion for reconsideration. The court denied the reconsideration motion
without a hearing on November 13, 2019. On November 15, 2019, the court
convicted Appellant of the above-mentioned crimes after a stipulated waiver
trial. On March 4, 2020, the court sentenced Appellant to an aggregate 18 to
36 months’ imprisonment plus two years of probation. Appellant filed a timely
notice of appeal on April 3, 2020. On May 26, 2020, the court ordered
Appellant to file a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) concise statement of errors complained
of on appeal, and Appellant timely complied. Following the grant of an
extension of time, Appellant filed a supplemental Rule 1925(b) statement on
-5-
J-A17040-21
June 29, 2020.
Appellant raises the following issue for our review:
Did the suppression court err in denying Appellant’s motion
to suppress the firearm recovered from his person as fruit
of an unlawful frisk unsupported by reasonable suspicion
that he was armed and dangerous where Appellant, a
compliant passenger in a car lawfully stopped for a traffic
violation, adjusted his groin a few times while speaking to
police?
(Appellant’s Brief at 3).
“Our standard of review in addressing a challenge to a trial court’s denial
of a suppression motion is limited to determining whether the factual findings
are supported by the record and whether the legal conclusions drawn from
those facts are correct.” Commonwealth v. Williams, 941 A.2d 14, 26
(Pa.Super. 2008) (en banc) (internal citations omitted).
[W]e may consider only the evidence of the prosecution and
so much of the evidence for the defense as remains
uncontradicted when read in the context of the record as a
whole. Where the record supports the findings of the
suppression court, we are bound by those facts and may
reverse only if the court erred in reaching its legal
conclusions based upon the facts.
Id. at 27. The reviewing court’s scope of review is limited to the evidentiary
record of the pre-trial hearing on the suppression motion. In re L.J., 622 Pa.
126, 79 A.3d 1073 (2013). “It is within the suppression court’s sole province
as factfinder to pass on the credibility of witnesses and the weight to be given
their testimony.” Commonwealth v. Luczki, 212 A.3d 530, 542 (Pa.Super.
2019) (quoting Commonwealth v. Clemens, 66 A.3d 373, 378 (Pa.Super.
-6-
J-A17040-21
2013)). If appellate review of the suppression court’s decision “turns on
allegations of legal error,” then the trial court’s legal conclusions are
nonbinding on appeal and subject to plenary review. Commonwealth v.
Smith, 164 A.3d 1255, 1257 (Pa.Super. 2017).
Appellant argues that although the police conducted a lawful traffic stop
of the vehicle,3 the officers lacked reasonable suspicion to perform a pat-down
search for weapons. Appellant contends that he and the other occupants of
the car complied with the officers’ requests, did not act nervous, and did not
attempt to flee. Appellant claims that Officer Redmond’s testimony that
Appellant adjusted his groin during his interaction with the officer did not
support a belief that Appellant was armed and dangerous. Appellant
emphasizes that his alleged movements toward his groin area are not seen on
Officer Redmond’s body cam video, which contradicts the officer’s testimony.
Further, Appellant asserts that Officer Redmond showed no concern for officer
safety because the officer did not comment on Appellant’s alleged movements
during the traffic stop. Appellant highlights that Officer Redmond did not order
Appellant out of the car immediately after he purportedly saw Appellant adjust
his groin. Rather, Officer Redmond allowed Appellant to reach to the floor and
open a shoebox. Appellant insists the officer’s actions are inconsistent with
his testimony that the officer believed Appellant could be armed and
____________________________________________
3 Appellant concedes that the officers executed a lawful traffic stop based on
the tinted windows. (See Appellant’s Brief at 15).
-7-
J-A17040-21
dangerous. Appellant reasons that Officer Redmond’s observations consisted
of a mere unparticularized suspicion or hunch, which was insufficient to
warrant the serious intrusion of a pat-down search. Appellant concludes the
trial court’s suppression ruling was erroneous, and this Court should vacate
the judgment of sentence and reverse the court’s order denying his motion to
suppress. We disagree.
The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I,
Section 8 of the Pennsylvania Constitution guarantee the right of the people
to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and possessions from
unreasonable searches and seizures. Commonwealth v. Morrison, 166
A.3d 357, 363-64 (Pa.Super. 2017). “To secure the right of citizens to be free
from unreasonable search and seizure, courts in Pennsylvania require law
enforcement officers to demonstrate ascending levels of suspicion to justify
their interactions with citizens to the extent those interactions compromise
individual liberty.” Commonwealth v. Hampton, 204 A.3d 452, 456
(Pa.Super. 2019). Because interactions between law enforcement and the
general citizenry are widely varied, search and seizure law examines how the
interaction is classified and if a detention has occurred. Commonwealth v.
DeHart, 745 A.2d 633, 636 (Pa.Super. 2000).
The focus of search and seizure law “remains on the delicate balance of
protecting the right of citizens to be free from unreasonable searches and
seizures and protecting the safety of our citizens and police officers by allowing
-8-
J-A17040-21
police to make limited intrusions on citizens while investigating crime.”
Commonwealth v. Moultrie, 870 A.2d 352, 356 (Pa.Super. 2005) (quoting
Commonwealth v. Blair, 860 A.2d 567, 571 (Pa.Super. 2004)) (internal
quotation marks omitted). “[I]n assessing the lawfulness of citizen/police
encounters, a central, threshold issue is whether...the citizen-subject has
been seized.” Commonwealth v. Strickler, 563 Pa. 47, 57, 757 A.2d 884,
889 (2000).
Contacts between the police and citizenry fall within three general
classifications:
The first [level of interaction] is a “mere encounter” (or
request for information) which need not be supported by
any level of suspicion, but carries no official compulsion to
stop or to respond. The second, an “investigative detention”
must be supported by a reasonable suspicion; it subjects a
suspect to a stop and a period of detention, but does not
involve such coercive conditions as to constitute the
functional equivalent of an arrest. Finally, an arrest or
“custodial detention” must be supported by probable cause.
Commonwealth v. Goldsborough, 31 A.3d 299, 305 (Pa.Super. 2011),
appeal denied, 616 Pa. 651, 49 A.3d 442 (2012) (quoting Commonwealth
v. Bryant, 866 A.2d 1143, 1146 (Pa.Super. 2005), appeal denied, 583 Pa.
668, 876 A.2d 392 (2005)). Police must have reasonable suspicion that a
person seized is engaged in unlawful activity before subjecting that person to
an investigative detention. Commonwealth v. Cottman, 764 A.2d 595(Pa.Super. 2000).
An investigative detention, unlike a mere encounter,
constitutes a seizure of a person and thus activates the
-9-
J-A17040-21
protections of Article 1, Section 8 of the Pennsylvania
Constitution. To institute an investigative detention, an
officer must have at least a reasonable suspicion that
criminal activity is afoot. Reasonable suspicion requires a
finding that based on the available facts, a person of
reasonable caution would believe the intrusion was
appropriate.
* * *
Reasonable suspicion exists only where the officer is able to
articulate specific observations which, in conjunction with
reasonable inferences derived from those observations, led
him reasonably to conclude, in light of his experience, that
criminal activity was afoot and that the person he stopped
was involved in that activity. Therefore, the fundamental
inquiry of a reviewing court must be an objective one,
namely, whether the facts available to the officer at the
moment of intrusion warrant a [person] of reasonable
caution in the belief that the action taken was appropriate.
Commonwealth v. Jones, 874 A.2d 108, 116 (Pa.Super. 2005) (internal
citations omitted).
“[T]he question of whether reasonable suspicion existed at the time of
an investigatory detention must be answered by examining the totality of the
circumstances to determine whether there was a particularized and objective
basis for suspecting the individual stopped of criminal activity.” Cottman,
supra at 598-99 (quoting Commonwealth v. Beasley, 761 A.2d 621, 625-
26 (Pa.Super. 2000), appeal denied, 565 Pa. 662, 775 A.2d 801 (2001)).
“These circumstances are to be viewed through the eyes of a trained officer.”
Commonwealth v. Jackson, 907 A.2d 540, 543 (Pa.Super. 2006).
In making this determination, we must give due weight...to
the specific reasonable inferences the police officer is
entitled to draw from the facts in light of his experience.
- 10 -
J-A17040-21
Also, the totality of the circumstances test does not limit our
inquiry to an examination of only those facts that clearly
indicate criminal conduct. Rather, even a combination of
innocent facts, when taken together, may warrant further
investigation by the police officer.
Commonwealth v. Young, 904 A.2d 947, 957 (Pa.Super. 2006), appeal
denied, 591 Pa. 664, 916 A.2d 633 (2006) (internal citations and quotation
marks omitted).
Additionally,
If, during the course of a valid investigatory stop, an officer
observes unusual and suspicious conduct on the part of the
individual which leads him to reasonably believe that the
suspect is armed and dangerous, the officer may conduct a
pat-down of the suspect’s outer garments for weapons. In
order to establish reasonable suspicion [to conduct a pat-
down], the police officer must articulate specific facts from
which he could reasonably infer that the individual was
armed and dangerous.
Commonwealth v. Mack, 953 A.2d 587, 590 (Pa.Super. 2008).
The Terry4 totality of the circumstances test applies to traffic stops or
roadside encounters in the same way that it applies to typical police
encounters. See Commonwealth v. Mesa, 683 A.2d 643, 646 (Pa.Super.
1996). Moreover, the principles of Terry apply to all occupants of a stopped
vehicle, not just the driver. See id. (applying principles of Terry to determine
whether police were permitted to conduct pat-down search of passenger in
____________________________________________
4 Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 20 L.Ed.2d 889 (1969) (holding
police have authority to pat-down or frisk individual for weapons based upon
reasonable belief that criminal activity is afoot, and that suspect might be
armed and dangerous).
- 11 -
J-A17040-21
vehicle that was stopped pursuant to motor vehicle violation). Indeed,
“roadside encounters, between police and suspects are especially hazardous,
and that danger may arise from the possible presence of weapons in the area
surrounding a suspect.” In re O.J., 958 A.2d 561, 564 (Pa.Super. 2008) (en
banc) (citing Michigan v. Long, 463 U.S. 1032, 1049, 103 S.Ct. 3469, 77
L.Ed.2d 1201 (1983)).
“The officer need not be absolutely certain that the individual is armed;
the issue is whether a reasonably prudent [person] in the circumstances would
be warranted in the belief that his safety or the safety of others was in
danger.” Commonwealth v. Cooper, 994 A.2d 589, 592 (Pa.Super. 2010),
appeal denied, 608 Pa. 660, 13 A.3d 474 (2010). See also Commonwealth
v. Watley, 153 A.3d 1034, 1045 (Pa.Super. 2016) (explaining that it was not
relevant to reasonable suspicion inquiry that “neither of the troopers testified
that they feared for their safety”; rather, relevant inquiry is objective
reasonableness of search). The sole justification for the pat-down is the
protection of the police officers and others nearby. Commonwealth v.
Cartagena, 63 A.3d 294, 299 (Pa.Super. 2013) (en banc), appeal denied,
620 Pa. 728, 70 A.3d 808 (2013). The pat-down of an individual must be
confined in scope to an intrusion reasonably designed to discover weapons.
Commonwealth v. Wilson, 927, A2d 279, 285 (Pa.Super. 2007).
In Commonwealth v. Simmons, 17 A.3d 399 (Pa.Super. 2011), police
pulled over a vehicle in a high crime area for inoperable brake lights. Simmons
- 12 -
J-A17040-21
was the passenger. The officer, a twelve-year veteran, saw Simmons make a
movement toward the floor and across his chest. Accordingly, he conducted
a pat-down search while the defendant was seated in the car and recovered
several vials of cocaine. In analyzing whether the search was valid, this Court
stated:
Under such circumstances, we hold that [the officer’s]
observation of furtive movements, within the scope of a
lawful stop, led him to reasonably be concerned for his
safety and therefore justified the Terry protective frisk.
Indeed, on multiple occasions we have held that similar
furtive movements, when witnessed within the scope of a
lawful traffic stop, provided a reasonable basis for a
protective frisk.
Id. at 404.
Similarly, we have held that a defendant’s “furtive movement of leaning
forward and appearing to conceal something under his seat, along with his
extreme nervousness and [a] nighttime stop, was sufficient to warrant a
reasonable police officer to believe that his safety was in danger and that [the
defendant] might gain immediate control of a weapon.” Commonwealth v.
Buchert, 68 A.3d 911, 916-17 (Pa.Super. 2013), appeal denied, 623 Pa. 759,
83 A.3d 413 (2014). See also Commonwealth v. Foglia, 979 A.2d 357,
361 (Pa.Super. 2009) (en banc) (stating “if a suspect engages in hand
movements that police know, based on their experience, are associated with
the secreting of a weapon, those movements will buttress legitimacy of a
protective weapons search of the location where hand movements occurred”);
O.J., supra at 566 (holding police had reasonable suspicion where traffic stop
- 13 -
J-A17040-21
occurred at night, defendant initially failed to stop his vehicle when signaled
by police, and defendant made “rapid and furtive hand movements over the
[vehicle’s] console,” which had been left partially opened); Commonwealth
v. Tuggles, 58 A.3d 840, 844 (Pa.Super. 2012) (explaining “[w]here a person
performs an activity that is indicative of an attempt to secrete a weapon, that
movement, regardless of whether it is singular or multiple, can support a belief
that the person has a gun”); Commonwealth v. Murray, 936 A.2d 76, 80
(Pa.Super. 2007) (holding police had reasonable suspicion where traffic stop
occurred at night and in high-narcotics area, defendant’s vehicle had tinted
windows, and defendant made “a lot of movement in the vehicle” as officer
was approaching); Commonwealth v. Jackson, 907 A.2d 540 (Pa.Super.
2006) (recognizing that frisks for weapons can be appropriate when police
confront suspect in area known for guns and violence).
A suspect’s location in a high-crime area may be a factor supporting an
officer’s reasonable suspicion that criminal activity is afoot. See
Commonwealth v. Mackey, 177 A.3d 221, 233 (Pa.Super. 2017). “This
factor [of being located in a high-crime area] enhances the danger that police
may encounter an armed subject in a fashion similar to, but greater than, a
nighttime stop.” Commonwealth. v. Scarborough, 89 A.3d 679, 683-84
(Pa.Super. 2014). Also relevant are the time of day, “[t]he danger of
approaching a vehicle with tinted windows,” and “excessive movement” within
the car. See Murray, supra at 79-80.
- 14 -
J-A17040-21
We also observe that a video recording made part of the certified record
may, in rare cases, contradict a trial court’s factual findings that are based on
credibility determinations. See Commonwealth v. Griffin, 116 A.3d 1139,
1143 (Pa.Super. 2015) (reversing trial court’s denial of suppression motion on
basis that officer’s testimony alleging lawfulness of at-issue seizure of
contraband was clearly contradicted by video evidence; stating “[t]his is one
of those rare cases where a dash cam video, which was made a part of the
certified record, can contradict a trial court’s factual finding often based on its
credibility determinations”). This Court subsequently clarified that the Griffin
Court’s analysis applies solely to situations where the video in question
blatantly contradicts the officer’s testimony such that we would be compelled
to reject the trial court’s credibility determination. See Commonwealth v.
Goral, 222 A.3d 802 (Pa.Super. filed Oct. 3, 2019) (unpublished
memorandum).5
Instantly, the court explained its reasoning for denying the motion to
suppress as follows:
… Officer Redmond testified that [Appellant’s] left hand
moved to his groin area multiple times during the vehicle
stop. This [c]ourt was also shown body worn camera
footage that showed [Appellant’s] left hand near his groin.
Officer Redmond believed [Appellant’s] hand movement
near his groin to be an attempt by [Appellant] to conceal a
gun. … Officer Redmond, in his 4 years as a Philadelphia
____________________________________________
5 An unpublished non-precedential memorandum decision of the Superior
Court filed after May 1, 2019, may be cited for its persuasive value. See
Pa.R.A.P. 126(b)(1) and (2).
- 15 -
J-A17040-21
Police Officer, had recovered multiple firearms from
individuals and in his experience, most recovered firearms
were located in the waistband without a holster. Thus,
Officer Redmond [had] reasonable suspicion to perform a
frisk of [Appellant].
(Trial Court Opinion, filed 10/21/20, at 8). On this record, we see no reason
to disrupt the court’s credibility determination in favor of Officer Redmond.
Although Appellant contends that his alleged movements provided the
sole basis for Officer Redmond’s suspicion that Appellant was armed and
dangerous (see Appellant’s Brief at 13), the record shows that various factors
existed to support reasonable suspicion: (1) Officer Redmond’s four years’
experience as a Philadelphia Police Officer, see Jackson, supra; (2) a
roadside vehicle stop, see In re O.J., supra; (2) the stop occurred at
nighttime, see Buchert, supra; (3) the vehicle had tinted windows, see
Murray, supra; (4) the stop occurred in a high crime area, see Simmons,
supra; (5) the area was known for gun violence, see Jackson, supra; (6)
Appellant made furtive movements towards his groin, see Tuggles, supra;(7) Appellant’s hand movements were associated with an area used for
secreting a weapon, see Foglia, supra; and (8) the pat-down occurred for
protection of the police officers, see Cartagena, supra.Further, Appellant’s argument that the body cam video contradicts
Officer Redmond’s testimony regarding Appellant’s hand movements is
unpersuasive. Even if other movements occurred that were not captured by
the body cam, the trial court credited Officer Redmond’s testimony that
- 16 -
J-A17040-21
Appellant “kept on like adjusting his groin area, like trying to conceal
something.” (Trial Court Opinion at 3). Notably, Officer Redmond’s body cam
footage did not begin until after the traffic stop was made and the police
obtained the occupants’ identification cards. (See N.T. Suppression Hearing
at 13). As a result, the body cam footage did not capture Officer Redmond’s
initial interaction with Appellant and the car’s other occupants. (Id.) The
body cam is also positioned in the middle of the officer’s chest and does not
reveal everything that the officer observed. (Id. at 15). Regardless of
whether Appellant’s movements are depicted on the body cam footage, the
trial court was free to credit Officer Redmond’s testimony where the footage
does not contradict that testimony. The record simply does not support
Appellant’s argument that the body cam footage blatantly contradicts Officer
Redmond’s testimony that he observed Appellant adjust his groin area several
times, such that we should reject the trial court’s credibility determination.
See Griffin, supra; Goral, supra.
We also disagree with Appellant’s assertion that Officer Redmond’s
actions contradict his testimony that he feared Appellant might be armed and
dangerous. Although Officer Redmond did not immediately remove Appellant
from the vehicle once he suspected that Appellant might be armed, Officer
Redmond explained that he “was waiting just in case [Appellant] tried to run
or anything. We’d have more officers in the area or close to the area, so
[Appellant] wouldn’t get away.” (N.T. Suppression Hearing at 30). Officer
- 17 -
J-A17040-21
Redmond reiterated his reason for waiting as follows: “I waited until he got
out of the vehicle. So in case [Appellant] tried something, another officer
would be right next to me to help me.” (Id.)
In light of this testimony, the record demonstrates that Officer Redmond
suspected Appellant was concealing a firearm but wanted to wait for more
officer assistance before immediately removing Appellant from the vehicle.
The fact that Officer Redmond subsequently learned information from Officer
Wildsmith during their conversation which provided additional reasons to
justify the frisk did not negate the officer’s concern for safety. Under these
circumstances, Officer Redmond’s observation of Appellant’s repeated
movements towards his groin, within the scope of a lawful stop, led him to
reasonably be concerned for his safety and therefore justified the Terry
protective frisk. See Simmons, supra. Accordingly, we affirm.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judge McLaughlin joins this memorandum.
Judge Pellegrini files a dissenting memorandum.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 12/29/2021
- 18 -