When Suspicion Isn’t Enough — and When It Is: A Training Comparison of State v. Matt (Montana) and Moody v. State (Mississippi)
Police officers routinely face one of the hardest judgment calls in criminal enforcement: Does what I’m seeing amount to mere suspicion, or does it rise to probable cause or proof of possession? Two recent appellate decisions — State v. Matt (Montana 2025) and Moody v. State (Mississippi 2025) — offer a powerful, real-world contrast that every patrol officer, interdiction unit, and investigator can learn from. One conviction was reversed because the evidence never crossed
4 min read
When “Trusted” Informants Sink a Warrant: What United States v. Felton Teaches Officers About Affidavits, Omissions, and GPS Trackers
In law enforcement, we rely heavily on confidential informants. Many times, they’re the difference between having a good hunch and having actual probable cause. But the Seventh Circuit’s decision in United States v. Felton (2025) gives us an important reminder: if your warrant affidavit leans on an informant, you must tell the judge the whole story — not just the parts that help you. This case walks through what happens when officers omit key credibility details , fail to co
4 min read
When Reliable Isn’t Enough: Why Nagle Was Suppressed and Long Wasn’t
Cases Compared: State v. Nagle , No. A23-0927 (Minn. Oct. 22, 2025) United States v. Long , No. 24-3377 (6th Cir. Oct. 17, 2025) TL;DR Holding (Nagle): Minnesota’s high court suppressed evidence from a home search based solely on an uncorroborated informant tip. Holding (Long): The Sixth Circuit upheld a home search based on a pattern of corroborated surveillance and drug activity. Importance: These two cases, decided just days apart, show the razor-thin line between pro
3 min read