When Pretext Matters: Seventh Circuit Suppresses 15 Kilograms of Cocaine After Sham Commercial-Vehicle Inspection
United States v. Martinez, No. 24-1890 (7th Cir. July 7, 2026) TL;DR An Illinois State Police K-9 trooper received information from another law-enforcement agency that a specific semitruck was transporting a large quantity of narcotics. The trooper was not on routine patrol. He called another K-9 trooper, and the two waited along the interstate for at least 30 minutes for the truck to arrive. When it appeared, the trooper stopped it—not based on a traffic violation or reasona
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One Taser Deployment, a Fatal Fall, and Qualified Immunity: The Fifth Circuit Draws the Line Between Passive and Active Resistance
Navejas v. City of El Paso, No. 25-51061 (5th Cir. Oct. 8, 2026) United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Affirmed — Summary judgment in favor of the officer and municipality. TL;DR The Fifth Circuit upheld qualified immunity for an El Paso police officer who deployed his Taser once against a 70-year-old man suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's disease during a domestic violence investigation. Although the man died after falling following the deployment, the co
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Smell of Marijuana, Traffic-Stop Timing, and Frisks: Fourth Circuit Upholds Gun Seizure
United States v. Carson, No. 25-4200 (4th Cir. July 8, 2026) TL;DR Police stopped a vehicle because the driver had a suspended license. Within seconds of arriving, another officer smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle and then observed a digital scale with white residue inside. Officers searched the vehicle and ordered the occupants out. One passenger, Jermaine Carson, was frisked. During the frisk, Carson told the officer he had a gun, and officers recovered a loaded Glo
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