Kentucky Supreme Court · 2009
McCloud v. Commonwealth
After a lawful probable-cause arrest you may search the arrestee's person. Under Gant, you may search the car incident to that arrest only if he can reach the passenger compartment, or it is reasonable to believe the car holds evidence of the arrest offense. Here a drug arrest made that belief reasonable.
286 S.W.3d 780
Find the opinion for McCloud v. CommonwealthKentucky Supreme Court · 2013
Commonwealth v. Bucalo
A traffic stop may last only as long as needed to handle the violation. Holding the driver longer takes reasonable, articulable suspicion of other crime from the whole picture, including what you knew before the stop, and you must diligently work to confirm or dispel it. An exterior dog sniff during a lawful stop is not a search.
422 S.W.3d 253
Find the opinion for Commonwealth v. BucaloKentucky Supreme Court · 1999
Mills v. Commonwealth
A clear, voluntary 'yes' is a lawful warrantless search — but the Commonwealth carries the burden to prove the consent was voluntary by a preponderance, judged on the totality of the circumstances. Capture the exchange.
996 S.W.2d 473
Find the opinion for Mills v. CommonwealthEach summary was checked against the court’s majority opinion on September 30, 2026. Read the decision and follow your agency’s policy; this is reference guidance, not legal advice.