Documented record
Robert P. Steel, Norman Wise, and Jeremy Urban challenged a second traffic stop and search of their Winnebago on Interstate 80. A filed appearance identifies Rouse as defense counsel for Steel.
Chief Judge Ronald E. Longstaff found the stop objectively unreasonable, the continued detention unlawful, and Steel's consent ineffective to cure the illegality. The court granted all three suppression motions. It later denied the government's motion to reconsider. The United States dismissed the indictment without prejudice as to all defendants expressly 'in view of' the suppression ruling.
Why this matter is included
Contemporary reporting attributed to the Dallas County sheriff identified the seizure as 360 pounds of cocaine and described it as the largest cocaine seizure in Iowa history.
Principal sources
- Appearance for Robert SteelFiled appearance identifying Rouse as defense counsel.
- Suppression rulingOrder granting suppression motions.
- DismissalGovernment dismissal following the suppression ruling.
- Dallas County seizes record amount of drugsRadio Iowa, May 7, 2005.
This page is historical and informational, not legal advice. It is part of a curated, non-exhaustive archive and should be read with the linked sources.
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