Florida v. Royer

460 U.S. 491 (1983)

Facts

Upon request, but without oral consent, Royer (D) produced his airline ticket (which was under an assumed name) and driver's license to detectives. The detectives informed D that they were narcotics investigators and suspected him of transporting narcotics. Without returning either D's ticket or his license, they asked D to accompany them to a small room adjacent to the concourse. One of the detectives retrieved D's luggage and brought it to the room. D did not respond to the detectives' request for consent to search his luggage. However, D produced a key and unlocked one suitcase, in which marijuana was found. D did not know the combination to the other suitcase but did not object to it being opened. The officers pried it open and found more marijuana. The Trial court denied D's pretrial petition to suppress the evidence. D was convicted of felony possession of marijuana. The Appeals court reversed, holding that D had been involuntarily confined without probable cause, and the detention exceeded the limit restraint permitted by Terry v. Ohio, and the consent was invalid because it was tainted. The state (P) appealed.