Appeals court says La Crosse police did have reason to search a car for drugs

A Wisconsin appeals court disagrees with a drug suspect’s claim that La Crosse police didn’t have a good reason to search his car two years ago. 

The appeals judges have ordered another local court hearing for Houadou Yang, arrested in 2018 for drug possession. 

Yang argued successfully to a La Crosse judge that evidence found in the search should be suppressed, because the officers had little reason to justify an 11-minute traffic stop that included a dog-sniffing search. 

The appeals court says there were many factors which made the search justifiable. 

They say that police knew Yang had a drug record…his car had dark tinted windows…he was parked at Bridgeview Plaza, where drug activity has been known to occur…and he was shaking and sweating when officers questioned him.    

The case has yet to go to trial.