Upon arriving at Sheetz, Officer Maverick observed two men wearing backpacks emerging from a side entrance of the building. Maverick announced herself as a police officer and commanded the men to “freeze.” The men immediately began running; Maverick gave chase and eventually discovered one of the men, Jim Trout, hiding behind the dumpster of a nearby business. Maverick drew her Taser, began handcuffing Trout, and asked him “why he was running.” Trout stated that he had been “stealing stuff from the store and didn’t want to get caught.”
A pat-down search of Trout revealed a screwdriver, a pair of gloves, and numerous items of merchandise bearing price tags from the store. Maverick then told Trout that he was “under arrest,” advised him of his Miranda rights, and placed him in the back of her patrol car. As she drove him to the police station for booking, Maverick asked Trout several questions about his activities at the store and Trout responded with incriminating statements.
Trout has filed a motion to suppress the statements he made while being handcuffed and the statements he made while being transported to the station. Discuss whether or not the statements were given in violation of Trout’s constitutional rights.