State of Tennessee v. Cedric Ruron Saine

This is a State appeal from an order dismissing the indictment against the Defendant, Cedric Ruron Saine. The Defendant was indicted for possession with the intent to sell more than 300 grams of cocaine. The issue presented for our review is whether the trial court erred in granting the motion to suppress evidence seized from the Defendant’s residence and vehicle or, more specifically, whether the search warrant affidavit contained sufficient facts to establish probable cause that drugs were located inside the Defendant’s home and, if not, whether the warrantless search of the Defendant’s car was supported by exigent circumstances. After a review of the record and the applicable authorities, we affirm the order of the trial court granting the Defendant’s motion to suppress the evidence discovered during the search of his residence, but we reverse the decision to suppress the drugs found during the search of the Defendant’s car. We vacate the order dismissing the indictment, and the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.