From Routine Stop to Courtroom Victory: Dwayne Hill’s Story
Judge tosses eight kilos of cocaine seized from a routine traffic stop.
After a motion to suppress hearing led by attorney Micah Clemons, on October 29, 2024, the district court judge excluded eight kilos of cocaine from being used as evidence against our client, Dwayne Hill, that officers purportedly seized in a routine traffic stop.
On May 28, 2024, Dwayne Hill found himself in a frightening situation while driving home when law enforcement followed Mr. Hill for several miles on Interstate 10 before the officer stopped Mr. Hill’s vehicle for a window tint violation. Three armed officers then demanded that Mr. Hill exit his vehicle for such a minor traffic violation. Despite Dwayne exiting the vehicle voluntarily, he was handcuffed on the side of the interstate while the officer wrote a warning—not even a citation—for the window tint.
During the Motion to Suppress hearing, Attorney Micah Clemons emphasized the importance of body camera footage contradicting what the officer alleged in his report. The evidence also included officers muting the audio of their body camera during critical moments, raising serious questions about officer transparency. Micah argued that officers violated Mr. Hill’s Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable searches and seizures when they detained Mr. Hill for an extended period after an officer ran his license and issued Mr. Hill a written warning.
Officers questioned Mr. Hill repeatedly about irrelevant matters and conducted a K-9 sniff around his vehicle. Once Mr. Hill signed the written warning and received his license and registration back, there was no legal justification for his continued detention. Instead, officers intentionally prolonged the traffic stop to search Mr. Hill’s vehicle despite having no legal justification for doing so.
This case serves as a reminder that our rights are not just words on paper; they are protections we must stand up for. Dwayne’s experience highlights the potential for wrongful detention and the importance of being vigilant about your constitutional rights. Everyone deserves the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. We are proud to represent Dwayne Hill in his fight for justice! Stay informed, stay safe, and always know your rights!
