Judge denies motion to suppress warrantless blood draw in State v. Singleton

Judge David Booth denied a defense motion to suppress a warrantless blood draw in State of Tennessee v. Nicholas Singleton after a hearing in Prince County Circuit Court, finding the trooper had sufficient probable cause and that Singleton’s consent was knowing and voluntary.

The motion, filed by the defense, alleged Trooper Worley lacked probable cause to seek a blood draw and that the implied-consent process was not a knowing, voluntary waiver. The defense argued the officer’s report contained clerical errors, that she did not detect the odor of alcohol and that her observations did not rise to probable cause. Assistant prosecutors cited State v. Reynolds and related Tennessee precedent in arguing that probable cause is a fact-specific determination and that the totality of circumstances here justified the request for blood.

Trooper Worley, a trooper with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, testified she responded after dispatch…