In re William G

In In re William G. (1985) 40 Cal.3d 550, a school administrator saw William and two other students walking through the center of campus. (William G., supra, 40 Cal.3d at p. 555.) The school administrator noticed William was carrying a small vinyl calculator case, which had an "odd-looking bulge." (Ibid.) The school administrator asked the students where they were going and why they were late for class. (Ibid.) As he was speaking to the students, William placed the calculator case "in a palmlike gesture to his side and then behind his back." (Ibid.) When asked what was in his hand, William replied, "'Nothing.'" (Ibid.) The school administrator attempted to see the case, and William told him he needed to get a warrant. (Ibid.) William was taken to the school administrator's office, and after "repeated unsuccessful efforts to convince William to hand over the case, the school administrator forcefully took and unzipped it." (Ibid.) Inside the case were four baggies of marijuana, a small metal gram weight scale, and some cigarette papers. (Ibid.) The California Supreme Court concluded the search of William's calculator case was illegal. The school administrator had not articulated any facts to support a "reasonable suspicion that William was engaged in a proscribed activity justifying a search. The record reflected a complete lack of any prior knowledge or information on the part of the school administrator relating William to the possession, use, or sale of illegal drugs or other contraband." (William G., supra, 40 Cal.3d at p. 566.) The William G. court further noted that "William's 'furtive gestures' in attempting to hide his calculator case from the school administrator's view could not, standing alone, furnish sufficient cause to search. . Similarly, William's demand for a warrant did not create a reasonable suspicion upon which to base the search." (Id. at p. 567.)