People v. Wilson CA2/2

── People v. Wilson CA2/2 ── Court: California Court of Appeal Date: May 28, 2026 Category: General Filed 5/28/26 P. v. Wilson CA2/2 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115. IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT DIVISION TWO THE PEOPLE, B342114 Plaintiff and Respondent, (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. v. 24CMCF00880) BRANDON WILSON, Defendant and Appellant. APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Carol J. Najera, Judge. Affirmed. Lise M. Breakey, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Charles C. Ragland, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Susan Sullivan Pithey, Assistant Attorney General, Noah P. Hill and Thomas C. Hsieh, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent. ______________________________  Defendant and appellant Brandon Wilson (Wilson) moved under Penal Code section 1538.51 to suppress evidence discovered by police during a warrantless search of his vehicle. The trial court denied the motion. Wilson then pled no contest to misdemeanor possession of a gun in a vehicle. (§ 25850, subd. (a).) On appeal, Wilson argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress. We affirm. BACKGROUND I. Facts On May 8, 2024, at approximately 6:45 p.m., Los Angeles Police Department Officer Brandon Feria was on patrol with his partner. They drove by a location familiar to Officer Feria through his assignment with the Southeast Gang Enforcement Detail. Officer Feria had responded to and conducted investigations at the location numerous times. The Be-Bopp Watts Bloods were known to loiter and trespass within the parking lot. Officer Feria saw an SUV backed into a handicap parking stall without a handicap placard on display. The front driver’s side door was open, and Wilson was standing between the open door and the body of the SUV. Officer Feria made a U-turn into the parking lot to investigate the missing handicap placard. He also believed that Wilson might be loitering. As he made the turn, Officer Feria saw Wilson look in the direction of the officers. Wilson “appeared to become visibly nervous and startled by [the] police presence.” Officer Feria saw 1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated. 2 Wilson make an underhand tossing motion toward the passenger compartment of the SUV. Based on his training and experience, including his knowledge of the area, Officer Feria believed that Wilson “was tossing contraband, such as narcotics or a firearm, into the vehicle.” Wilson closed the door to the SUV and began to walk away. Officer Feria “believe[d] that [Wilson] was attempting to disassociate himself from the vehicle.” The officers gave Wilson verbal commands to stop. Wilson did not comply, so Officer Feria requested an additional unit and a supervisor to assist with the investigation. Wilson was detained about 5 to 10 feet away from the SUV. Wilson gave the officers his identification and told them that he was at work. The officers patted down Wilson to search for weapons. Officer Feria conducted a “wingspan search” of the SUV, including the area where he had seen Wilson make a tossing motion. Officer Feria put his hand on top of a pair of pants, felt what he recognized to