Monthly Archives: May 2017

IL: “Immediately apparent” for plain view really means “probable cause”

Product bar codes found in plain view in defendant’s car were seized with probable cause. Officers experienced in investigating retail theft from a Best Buy were investigating thefts that involved altered bar codes. “Immediately apparent” for plain view really means … Continue reading

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M.D.Fla.: Unauthorized driver of rented car with suspended DL had no REP in car even if driving with permission of renter

Defendant had a subjective reasonable expectation of privacy in a rental vehicle he was driving with permission of the renter and potentially the implicit permission of the rental company because he was seen in it by them. [Whether they knew … Continue reading

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NY1: A request to produce ID isn’t always a seizure

The request to defendant to produce his ID when the police were investigating a potential trespass doesn’t constitute a seizure per se. Here, the defendant volunteered to take the officer to where he was going. That was all consent. People … Continue reading

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W.D.Mo.: Driveway not curtilage for dog sniff of car

Relying on United States v. Beene, 818 F.3d 157 (5th Cir. 2016) (posted here), defendant’s car parked on the driveway in front of his home was subject to a dog sniff as if it was on the street. Because of … Continue reading

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SCOTUS: Co. of LA v. Mendez: No constitutional basis for the Ninth Circuit’s “provocation” rule that an officer’s conduct that provokes a violent response is a separate Fourth Amendment claim

There is no constitutional basis for the Ninth Circuit’s “provocation” rule that an officer’s conduct that provokes a violent response is a separate Fourth Amendment claim. County of Los Angeles v. Mendez, 2017 U.S. LEXIS 3396 (U.S. May 30, 2017). … Continue reading

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N.D.Cal.: It’s not for LEO to second guess a probation search condition’s validity or application

If the probation search condition applies on its face, and even if the search is for general law enforcement purposes, it’s not for the searching officer to inquire into the details of whether there might be some argument behind the … Continue reading

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N.D.W.Va.: Officers arrived at an injured person call, and the assailant wasn’t around; protective sweep permissible

“Here, the officers arrived to a chaotic scene. The Defendant was severely injured after being hit by a bottle. There were at least two other individuals present. The Police were told the assailant, who had demonstrated his violent nature, was … Continue reading

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TN: Blood draw without consent was valid at the time it happened; therefore valid

Obtaining defendant’s blood draw without consent was a practice authorized by binding appellate precedent at the time it occurred. Therefore, the denial of defendant’s motion to suppress was appropriate because the officer was acting under a good faith belief that … Continue reading

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W.D.Va.: Misstatement of crack v. powder cocaine wasn’t Franks violation

In a 2255 case, it wasn’t ineffective assistance for defense counsel to fail to make a Franks challenge to a misstatement of crack v. powder cocaine in a search warrant application. United States v. Moyer, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 79279 … Continue reading

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S.D.Tex.: Immigration stop was extended with RS

Extending an immigration stop: “The Court finds that Agent Gonzalez’s questions related to Garcia’s citizenship, documents proving citizenship, and his travel plans and thus were within the scope of an immigration stop. Further, the Court finds that the questioning was … Continue reading

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D.P.R.: Parents lacked apparent authority to consent to adult child’s room

The government failed to prove common authority by the consenter, defendant’s mother, for a search of the adult defendant’s separate bedroom. Common authority is far more readily found when the child is a minor, but not when the child is … Continue reading

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IA: While Iowa doesn’t recognize anticipatory warrants by statute, a federal anticipatory SW that ended up in state court was valid

“The defendant now appeals, arguing among other things that Iowa’s search warrant statutes do not authorize anticipatory warrants. We agree, but hold that where the federal government conducts a search pursuant to a valid federal search warrant for purposes of … Continue reading

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FISA judge finds five years of illegal surveillance of some U.S. persons, but it wasn’t willful; remedial measures required; still, 4A not violated

McClatchy: Secret court rebukes NSA for 5-year illegal surveillance of U.S. citizens by Tim Johnson: U.S. intelligence agencies conducted illegal surveillance on American citizens over a five-year period, a practice that earned them a sharp rebuke from a secret court … Continue reading

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OH8: Citizen’s warning of sobriety checkpoints in Parma, Ohio was protected speech and not obstruction of governmental business

Defendant’s actions of having a sign and warning people of a sobriety checkpoint did not amount to obstruction of official business, so his arrest was unjustified. Ohio practice requires the police to warn of sobriety checkpoints, too. City of Parma … Continue reading

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FL4: Just being on somebody else’s property is not RS of a crime without more; telling def to “stand by” is a seizure

Defendant’s friends saw a police officer coming and all walked away. Defendant did not. That did not mean that when the encounter started, defendant was free to leave. On this record, he was not, and it was a detention without … Continue reading

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S.D.Iowa: Stepping aside and gesturing for officer to enter house was consent to enter

Defendant consented to police entry by stepping aside and gesturing for police to enter. United States v. Faler, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 188840 (S.D. Iowa April 28, 2015).* During a traffic stop, defendant was the passenger, and he was fidgety. … Continue reading

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E.D.Mich.: Undercover officers entering public areas of a strip club as customers not a search

First undercover officers and then other officers entered plaintiff’s strip club to investigate alleged misdeeds inside. No warrant was needed under Macon because the parts of the club entered by the officers were open to the customers. ABECE Operating v. … Continue reading

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NYTimes: Body Cameras, Long Distrusted, Now Help Show ‘Human Side of the Badge’

NYTimes: Body Cameras, Long Distrusted, Now Help Show ‘Human Side of the Badge’ by Julie Bosman: Law enforcement’s use of body-worn cameras has expanded around the country, largely in response to high-profile civilian deaths at the hands of officers and … Continue reading

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CA8: A 1 in 11 chance homeowner had CP on computer was enough for qualified immunity; search turned up nothing and he lost job then home

Child pornography was able to be downloaded from plaintiff’s IP address, so Minot police got a search warrant for plaintiff’s address, which appeared to be a single family dwelling. When they got there, however, they learned that 11 people lived … Continue reading

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A.F.Ct.Crim.App.: Request for phone password after signed consent to search phone after Miranda warning not interrogation

Defendant had consented to a search of his cell phone in writing. He’d been Mirandized and then was asked for the passcode, which he gave. The request (not an order) for the passcode, was not an interrogation. United States v. … Continue reading

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