The Fourth Amendment is an important aspect of the United States Constitution, and it prevents police officers from illegally searching or seizing the property of Massachusetts residents. However, this important safeguard doesn’t necessarily protect you from constitutional violations. Even if you are aware that your constitutional rights have been violated, you may need to file numerous appeals before achieving justice. This is exactly what one defendant recently did in Massachusetts, and he eventually experienced relief. An experienced Boston defense attorney may be able to help you achieve the same results.
The Background of the Case
In late June of 2025, the Supreme Judicial Court in Massachusetts reviewed a case involving cocaine possession after a traffic stop. The case stems from a 2019 traffic stop in Wilbraham. At about 9:30 PM, a police officer noticed the defendant in a grey sedan and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. According to the police officer, the defendant was moving at more than 60 miles per hour. After activating his police lights, the officer pulled over the sedan and approached the defendant on foot.
Based on footage from the police officer’s dashcam, it appears that the defendant then stepped on the gas and drove away. The officer then re-entered his cruiser and pursued the defendant. Moments later, the defendant lost control of his vehicle before exiting and fleeing on foot. After an on-foot pursuit into a wooded area, the officer recovered a bag of cocaine allegedly dropped by the defendant. Although the defendant initially escaped, the authorities then searched his vehicle and recovered documents with his identification information. A subsequent investigation led to the defendant’s arrest.
Superior Court Finds that Traffic Stop Was Unlawful and Unconstitutional
Two evidentiary hearings determined that this traffic stop was unlawful and unconstitutional. A motion judge described the reason for the stop as a “mystery,” noting several inconsistencies about the pursuing officer’s testimony. In short, there was not enough evidence to establish that the defendant was doing anything wrong at the time of the initial traffic stop, and GPS data seemed to cast doubt on the speeding allegations.
Initially, a trial judge tried to argue that the defendant’s decision to flee made the bag of cocaine admissible as evidence. The Supreme Judicial Court disagreed, noting that the defendant’s decision to flee an illegal traffic stop was valid. The Supreme Court also noted that the officer’s testimony was unreliable, even going so far as to imply that this might have been the result of racial profiling.
Can a Massachusetts Defense Attorney Help With Fourth Amendment Violations?
This case highlights how the Fourth Amendment works in Massachusetts, and it provides hope to numerous defendants who may have faced unreasonable traffic stops. If you feel as though a police officer violated your constitutional rights, you may want to contact an experienced Boston defense attorney. As this case illustrates, it is possible to appeal a decision on Fourth Amendment grounds to achieve relief. Contact Edward R. Molari for more information.