Monthly Archives: June 2021

CA1: Direct evidence and indirect inferences showed PC

“Lindsey argues that there was no probable cause to believe there was evidence of drug dealing on the cellphones because the affidavit offered ‘no direct evidence’ that the phones would contain evidence of any drug dealing and the ‘indirect’ evidence … Continue reading

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CA8: A car with a flat tire is still inherently mobile for automobile exception

“The officers indisputably had probable cause to search Short’s vehicle, and an easily repairable flat tire did not cause the vehicle to lose its inherent mobility.” United States v. Short, 2021 U.S. App. LEXIS 19242 (8th Cir. June 29, 2021). … Continue reading

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D.D.C.: One has to assert standing to challenge a Facebook warrant

The target does not assert standing to challenge the search warrant for this Facebook account, which he must. In re Information Associated with One Account Stored at Premises Controlled by Facebook, 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 120036 (D.D.C. June 4, 2021). … Continue reading

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CA8: Officers had PC to arrest despite later investigation casting doubt and the criminal case getting dismissed

Officers had probable cause for plaintiff’s arrest for a sexual assault charge based on the totality of information, even though charges were later dismissed. Further later investigation cast doubt, but the officers weren’t reckless. Walz v. Randall, 2021 U.S. App. … Continue reading

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D.Mass.: Dismissal of criminal case not remedy for 4A violation

Dismissal is not the remedy for a Fourth Amendment violation. United States v. Colburn, 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 119756 (D. Mass. June 25, 2021). The CI “was a citizen informant. He volunteered information to dispatch and Mortensen without wanting anything … Continue reading

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CA7: When false arrest is the claim, ptf’s bond conditions are not separate seizures for SoL purposes

Plaintiff’s false evidence claim arises from the arrest or release from detention, and here it is time barred. His release on detention was not a separate Fourth Amendment seizure. Smith v. City of Chi., 2021 U.S. App. LEXIS 19136 (7th … Continue reading

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ID: Automobile exception doesn’t apply to purse that used to be in car before PC developed

Defendant’s purse was not in the car at the time probable cause arose for the automobile exception to apply. Therefore, it did not apply to her purse. State v. Maloney, 2021 Ida. LEXIS 117 (June 28, 2021). “It is unnecessary … Continue reading

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WaPo: A student’s rape went unsolved for 14 years. Police say the suspect gave his DNA to a genealogy database.

WaPo: A student’s rape went unsolved for 14 years. Police say the suspect gave his DNA to a genealogy database. By Katie Shepherd:

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SCOTUS: CA8 reversed for clarity on whether a prone restraint is constitutional per se if suspect is not resisting

“Because it is unclear in this excessive force case whether the Eighth Circuit incorrectly thought the use of a prone restraint is per se constitutional so long as an individual appears to resist officers’ efforts to subdue him, the U.S. … Continue reading

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D.Idaho: Officer can inquire of passenger’s history when contemplating turning over vehicle to passenger on driver’s arrest

“This case presents what appears to be an issue of first impression: Whether, following Rodriguez and Landeros, an officer who has reasonable suspicion that the driver of a vehicle has committed an arrestable offense (as opposed to a traffic infraction) … Continue reading

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IA: Two employees erroneously made “safety sensitive” for workplace drug testing

In this employee drug testing case, the employer wrongly classified two employees as “safety sensitive.” “Courts that have considered whether a position was ‘safety sensitive’ for purposes of satisfying Fourth Amendment or statutory protections likewise focus on the specific requirements … Continue reading

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N.D.Iowa: There is a REP in a wheelchair as an “effect”

Defendant had a reasonable expectation of privacy in his wheelchair where he’d hidden a gun. The automobile exception doesn’t apply to wheelchairs, and neither does Chadwick on the locked footlocker. The gun was seen by Walmart employees who called the … Continue reading

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Reason: Cops Say Encryption Hinders Investigations. These Documents Say Otherwise.

Reason: Cops Say Encryption Hinders Investigations. These Documents Say Otherwise. by J.D. Tuccille (“Law enforcers have plenty of tools; they just want to paw through our data without effort or expense.”)

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N.D.Ga.: No constitutional right to pre-enforcement challenge to an OSHA administrative warrant

There is no constitutional right to pre-enforcement challenge to an OSHA administrative warrant. “FFG contends that it has the constitutional right to a pre-execution challenge of OSHA’s warrant. [Doc. 14 at 4-5]. After a review of the record, the Court … Continue reading

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GA: Mistake as to smell of MJ v. hemp was reasonable, if there was one

“At most, Gowen’s assertion about the similarity of the smells of hemp and marijuana calls into question the reasonableness of the officer’s belief that he smelled burnt marijuana. Assuming for purposes of this appeal that Gowen’s assertion is correct (even … Continue reading

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CA9: Order to get out of car permitted in Mimms doesn’t unreasonably extend stop

“The officer’s order to step out of the vehicle and his directive to stand by the patrol car were reasonable under the Fourth Amendment. See Pennsylvania v. Mimms, 434 U.S. 106, 109-11 (1977) (per curiam). The officer lawfully initiated the … Continue reading

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D.Kan.: Seizure under part of SW without PC is suppressed, but remainder valid

“Whitmore’s motions are granted in part and denied in part. Specifically, his motion to exclude evidence from his arrest is denied. With respect to the search of the cell phone, the affidavit provides no probable cause for seeking evidence of … Continue reading

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TX3: Def doesn’t get art. 38.23 jury instruction on RS

Because a jury would never understand the question of law in reasonable suspicion, a Texas defendant doesn’t get an art. 38.23 jury instruction on it. “Appellant’s second alleged disputed fact concerns the existence or nonexistence of reasonable suspicion and probable … Continue reading

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S.D.W.Va.: Def unaware he was blocked in his car wasn’t “seized”

“Inasmuch as Mr. Mitchem was unaware that his car was blocked given his somnambulant state, the mere blocking of his vehicle is of no Fourth Amendment consequence.” United States v. Mitchem, 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 118388 (S.D. W.Va. June 25, … Continue reading

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S.D.Ga.: Attacking dashcam video unavailing where credibility of officer seeing gun wasn’t challenged

“Harris’ objection to the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation that the seizure of the firearm was permissible focuses on whether the submitted video evidence clearly showed that the object in his waistband was a firearm, and whether the officers had sufficient reasonable … Continue reading

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