Dressing Like a Hooker Justifies Car Search, Says NM Court

We couldn't help ourselves

Police were right to search a vehicle carrying a passenger dressed like a prostitute, New Mexico's highest court declared in an August 30 ruling. The state Supreme Court did so to reinstate the conviction of Gunnar Olson, who was arrested December 1, 2007 after being searched by Albuquerque Police Officer Trey Economidy. At around 12:30am, Economidy spotted Olson driving behind a 7-11 convenience store at the intersection of University Boulevard and Central Avenue. He found Olson's behavior suspicious.

"The vehicle pulls in the alley, doesn't conduct any business in the alley, kind of sees me in my marked police unit, kind of gives me the impression like, 'Oh, no, the police,' then backs out and then heads back southbound," the officer testified.

Comments

[sflorman]

Anybody with half a brain would have that reaction upon seeing a police car, especially these days. That reaction is not a sign of guilt, it's a sign of common sense. What does the officer think, that citizens expect he's gonna give them directions to the nearest pay phone?