Judge to rule Monday on defense motion to suppress evidence after Greyhound restroom encounter

Summary

At a Jan. 10 suppression hearing, defense attorneys asked the court to suppress identity, cash and statements from Juan Martinez, arguing police entered a restroom stall at the Greyhound station without lawful basis; the state said detectives had articulable suspicion and probable cause. The judge took the motion under advisement and will issue a ruling on Monday.

A San Antonio judge took under advisement a defense motion to suppress identity, cash and statements obtained after officers forced entry into a restroom stall at the downtown Greyhound bus station and detained Juan Martinez on Jan. 10, 2024.

Defense counsel argued the stop and search were unlawful and coercive, asking the court to suppress Martinez’s identity, the cash found on him and any statements he made. "They broke the door open. They dragged him out to the floor, his pants still down, handcuffed him," defense counsel told the court, urging that the events showed a search and seizure conducted without the specific articulable facts required under the Fourth Amendment and Texas law.

The state replied that detectives had specific articulable facts linking Martinez to an ongoing narcotics investigation involving Ryan Westbrook, a person the detectives had been surveilling. Prosecutor Brandon Prater told the court that Martinez had…

Judge to rule Monday on defense motion to suppress evidence after Greyhound restroom encounter

Summary

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