Hamel v. State

In Hamel v. State, 582 S.W.2d 424, 426 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1979) the appellant had been under surveillance for suspicion of burglary and narcotics trafficking. The appellant was arrested for shoplifting after his car was stopped due to suspicion of shoplifting and contraband was found in plain view. Ibid. The Court held that the defendant's car was a "suspicious place" under the facts because the appellant had previous convictions for selling heroin, for burglary, and was further known by the arresting officers as the subject of numerous burglary investigations. Ibid. The appellant's behavior as the "wheel man" in front of the store was suspicious, as was the hurried, nervous and watchful behavior of the appellant and his companions, all of whom went into the store empty handed, but emerged carrying objects in their hands. Ibid. Thus, the Court held that the arrest of the defendant was authorized under 14.03(a)(1). Id. at 426-27.