SUPERIOR COURT
A defendant facing drug trafficking charges was in Jones County Superior Court attempting to suppress evidence found in a traffic stop that led to his charges.
Michael Terreco Willis was represented by defense attorney Lars Anderson in the Aug. 31 motion to suppress. Willis was charged following his Dec. 27 arrest with trafficking cocaine, illegal drugs marijuana or methamphetamine, felony possession, manufacture, distribution or sale of marijuana, possession of a schedule IV drug with intent, possession of a schedule II narcotic and possession of a firearm or knife during commission of or attempt to commit certain felonies.
Assistant District Attorney Cara Fiore prosecuted the case, and the arguments were heard by Superior Court Judge Amanda Petty. Fiore said the defendant’s motion to suppress was for the search of Willis’ truck in addition to the drugs found in the search.
The state called four witnesses in the proceeding, who were the deputies involved in the defendant’s arrest. The first witness was Jones County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Travis Walker, who was the lead investigator in the case.
Walker testified to receiving a tip from a confidential informant about Willis and a buy that was set up to happen at a local convenience store. He said he was present when the CI received a call from the defendant about the pending transaction.
Walker said surveillance was set up, and all the information furnished by the CI turned out to be “spot on.”
The sergeant said, when the suspect pulled into the parking lot of the store, officers approached and took him into custody. Walker said there was a strong order of green marijuana from the truck, which was subsequently searched.
“Cocaine, marijuana, Xanax, hydrocodone and a loaded firearm were found in the truck,” he said.
Anderson questioned Walker about that phone call, which the attorney noted was not in the officer’s report. Other witnesses for the state were Lt. Wesley Ransom, Investigator Barron Hall and Corp. Jeff Sullivan, who testified about their roles in the take down of Willis. The deputies confirmed the information they were given prior to their surveillance, which was his description, descriptions of the vehicles the suspect was known to drive and the fact he was known to be armed.
Hall said he was the only full-time JCSO drug investigator, and Walker assisted with investigations. He said Walker told him about the case, including the CI and the phone call that Willis was in the area.
The witness said Willis’ truck was identified, and officers performed a felony take down with weapons drawn.
Anderson asked about a warrant for the search of the truck. Hall said all that was known about Willis prior to his arrest was his first name and the three vehicles he could be driving.
“That’s not enough to get a warrant,” he said.
The defense attorney was polite in his questioning of the deputies but questioned their truthfulness during his closing arguments.
“I don’t believe that call existed,” he said. Each attorney cited precedents for their arguments. Anderson said reports by the officers did not mention the phone call or his client bringing drugs into Jones County. He claimed there was no reason for stopping Willis and no probable cause for the search of his truck.
“This was a cleverly disguised traffic stop,” the attorney said. “There is no evidence Mr. Willis was a known drug dealer.”
Anderson asked the court to grant the motion to suppress.
Fiore argued that it was important to note that Willis came to the location given to investigators by the confidential informant.
“The information from the source was what took place, which is enough to show the informant was reliable,” she said.
The prosecutor asked the court to deny the motion to suppress.
Evidence in the case included officers’ body cam and dash cam videos and copies of the precedents cited by the attorney.
Petty said she would take all evidence and information from the motion preceding and issue her ruling in writing.
