Post details: Ambiguous response that defendant was "right over there" was not consent to enter to arrest him

05/06/07

Permalink 11:43:23 am, by fourth, 915 words, 423 views   English (US)
Categories: General

Ambiguous response that defendant was "right over there" was not consent to enter to arrest him

Officers asked for defendant who the householder said was "right over there." This was not consent and was ambiguous, so government did not prove consent to enter to arrest the defendant. United States v. Castapheny, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 32872 (S.D. W.Va. May 3, 2007).

Protective sweep that lasted too long was unreasonable. And, inevitable discovery does not apply because there was no ongoing line of investigation that would have inevitably led to finding the drugs. United States v. Ibarra, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 32901 (D. S.D. May 3, 2007):

The Magistrate's Report and Recommendation correctly concluded that this Court is limited by the Eighth Circuit's interpretation of Buie in the Waldner case. The "sweep" in the case at hand lasted longer than what was necessary to dispel any reasonable suspicion of danger, and extended beyond a "cursory inspection" of any potentially dangerous space within the trailer home. Further, at the time Officer Ellman discovered the narcotics on the plate he could no longer have possessed "a reasonable belief based on specific and articulable facts that the area to be swept harbor[ed] an individual posing a danger." Buie, 494 U.S. at 337. For these reasons the Magistrate's Report and Recommendation correctly rejects the Government's position that the search was valid under the protective sweep doctrine.

. . .

In addition, this Court does not find that in the facts of this case there existed "an ongoing line of investigation that is distinct from the impermissible or unlawful technique," so as to satisfy the second factor of the inevitable discovery exception to the exclusionary rule. See United States v. Villalba-Alvarado, 345 F.3d 1007, 1020 (8th Cir. 2003). Although Officer Ellman when identifying individuals in the back room discovered that one of the women had an outstanding arrest warrant, this incident does not constitute a substantial, alternative line of investigation that the officer was pursuing at the time his conduct exceeded the scope of a valid protective sweep. Having satisfied neither of the two factors, the facts of this case do not support the inevitable discovery exception to the exclusionary rule.

Evidence seized during unlawful search cannot constitute proof against the victim of the search, and this exclusionary prohibition extends to both direct and indirect products of the unlawful search. Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471 (1963). Since this Court has determined that the officer's conduct exceeded the scope of a Constitutionally valid protective sweep at the time the drugs on the plate were found in the bedroom, and since this Court has found that the inevitable discovery exception to the exclusionary rule does not apply, this Court concludes that evidence of the drugs on the plate shall be suppressed, and the evidence of other drugs and drug related items that were found in the trailer as well as Defendant's statements that were made after being confronted with the evidence of the drugs on the plate, shall be suppressed as the fruit of the unlawful search.

The question of consent for entry to arrest was fact bound, as defendants concede, so summary judgment was precluded. Stokes v. City of New York, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 32787 (E.D. N.Y. May 3, 2007).*

Posting plaintiff on a "Mug/Drug website" with a disclaimer that the individuals posted had been arrested but not convicted did not state a § 1983 claim. It did not state a state claim for defamation because it was true. Blake v. Minner, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 32819 (D. Del. May 1, 2007).*

Government showed sufficient reasonable cause to seize money as possible drug money to survive motion to dismiss a forfeiture action under CAFRA (essentially the same probable cause to seize it in the first place). United States v. $50,040 in United States Currency, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 32840 (N.D. Cal. April 19, 2007):

This order looks to the totality of the circumstances to evaluate the sufficiency of the complaint. Mondragon, 313 F.3d at 866. In the instant case, the $ 50,040 consisted of 118 hundred-dollar bills, 108 fifty-dollar bills, 1641 twenty dollar bills and 2 ten-dollar bills. The currency "was divided into 50 individually rubber-banded stacks" contained in "two separate heat-sealed pouches," further sealed in a computer box (Compl. PP 9). Although strong evidence, a large sum of money, by itself, is insufficient to show a connection to drugs. United States v. Currency, U.S. $42,500.00, 283 F.3d 977, 981-982 (9th Cir. 2002). But other factors present here suggest a connection to drugs. Courts have found the manner of packaging used in this case to be consistent with drug trafficking. Id. at 982 (wrapping money in cellophane was commonly used to conceal drug odor and avoid detection by drug dogs); United States v. $242,484.00 in U.S Currency, 389 F.3d 1149, 1161-1163 (11th Cir. 2004) (rubber-banded money sealed in cellophane-like material and Christmas wrap was consistent with drug couriers). The narcotic detection canine alerted to the package. $42,500.00, 283 F.3d at 982 (whether there is a sophisticated dog alert is an important factor). When questioned, the claimant gave inconsistent statements. The addressee denied knowing the claimant and disclaimed the package. United States v. $22,474.00 in U.S. Currency, 246 F.3d 1212 1216-1217 (9th Cir. 2001) (inconsistent statements and discrepancies in stories support an inference that the money was drug-related). The totality of these allegations support a reasonable belief that the currency was connected to drugs. Mondragon, 313 F. 3d at 866 (the sum, unusual packaging in sealed plastic bags and drug dog alert on money found sufficient). The complaint is detailed enough that Moss could have commenced a meaningful investigation and drafted a responsive pleading. Finding that the complaint sufficiently states a claim under both Rule G and Rule E(a)(2), this order denies claimant's motion to dismiss.

Pingbacks:

No Pingbacks for this post yet...

FourthAmendment.com

Notes on Use

September 2010
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
<< <     
      1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30    

Search

© 2003-10
Online since Feb. 24, 2003

To search Search and Seizure on Lexis.com $
Contact / About

 www.johnwesleyhall.com
 www.LawofCriminalDefense.com

Fourth Amendment cases,
citations, and links
[New]

Latest Slip Opinions:
U.S. Supreme Court
(Home)
Federal Appellate Courts
  First Circuit
  Second Circuit
  Third Circuit
  Fourth Circuit
  Fifth Circuit
  Sixth Circuit
  Seventh Circuit
  Eighth Circuit
  Ninth Circuit
  Tenth Circuit
  Eleventh Circuit
  D.C. Circuit
  Military Courts: C.A.A.F., Army, AF, N-M, CG
State courts

Google Scholar
Advanced Google Scholar
Google search tips
LexisWeb
LII State Appellate Courts
LexisONE free caselaw
Findlaw Free Opinions

Most recent SCOTUS cases:
2010-11 Term:
  None yet

2009-10 Term:
  Michigan v. Fisher, 130 S. Ct. 546, 175 L. Ed. 2d 410, decided Dec. 7 (per curiam) (ScotusWiki)
  City of Ontario v. Quon, 130 S.Ct. 2619, 177 L. Ed. 2d 216, decided June 17 (ScotusWiki)


2008-09 Term:
  Herring v. United States, 129 S. Ct. 695, 172 L.Ed.2d 496, decided Jan. 13 (ScotusWiki)
  Pearson v. Callahan, 129 S. Ct. 808, 172 L. Ed. 2d 565, decided Jan. 21 (ScotusWiki)
  Arizona v. Johnson, 129 S. Ct. 781, 172 L. Ed. 2d 694, decided Jan. 26 (ScotusWiki)
  Arizona v. Gant, 129 S. Ct. 1710, 173 L. Ed. 2d 485, decided April 21 (ScotusWiki)
  Safford Unified School District #1 v. Redding, 129 S. Ct. 2633, 174 L. Ed. 2d 354, decided June 25 (ScotusWiki)


Research Links:
  Supreme Court:
  SCOTUSBlog
  SCOTUSWiki
  S. Ct. Docket
  Solicitor General's site
  SCOTUSreport
  Briefs online (but no amicus briefs) 
  Curiae (Yale Law)
  Oyez Project (NWU)
  "On the Docket"–Medill
  S.Ct. Monitor: Law.com
  S.Ct. Com't'ry: Law.com

  General (many free):
  LexisWeb
  Google Scholar | Google
  LexisOne Legal Website Directory
  Crimelynx
  Lexis.com $
  Lexis.com (criminal law/ 4th Amd) $
  Findlaw.com
  Findlaw.com (4th Amd)
  Westlaw.com $
  F.R.Crim.P. 41
  www.fd.org

  DOJ Computer Search Manual
  USSS computer search website


  ACLU on privacy
  Privacy Foundation
  Electronic Privacy Information Center
  Criminal Appeal (post-conviction) (9th Cir.)
  Section 1983 Blog

"A system of law that not only makes certain conduct criminal, but also lays down rules for the conduct of the authorities, often becomes complex in its application to individual cases, and will from time to time produce imperfect results, especially if one's attention is confined to the particular case at bar. Some criminals do go free because of the necessity of keeping government and its servants in their place. That is one of the costs of having and enforcing a Bill of Rights. This country is built on the assumption that the cost is worth paying, and that in the long run we are all both freer and safer if the Constitution is strictly enforced."
Williams v. Nix, 700 F. 2d 1164, 1173 (8th Cir. 1983) (Richard Sheppard Arnold, J.), rev'd Nix v. Williams, 467 US. 431 (1984).

"There have been powerful hydraulic pressures throughout our history that bear heavily on the Court to water down constitutional guarantees and give the police the upper hand. That hydraulic pressure has probably never been greater than it is today."
Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 39 (1968) (Douglas, J., dissenting).

"The great end, for which men entered into society, was to secure their property."
Entick v. Carrington, 19 How.St.Tr. 1029, 1066, 95 Eng. Rep. 807 (C.P. 1765)

"It is a fair summary of history to say that the safeguards of liberty have frequently been forged in controversies involving not very nice people. And so, while we are concerned here with a shabby defrauder, we must deal with his case in the context of what are really the great themes expressed by the Fourth Amendment."
United States v. Rabinowitz, 339 U.S. 56, 69 (1950) (Frankfurter, J., dissenting)

"The course of true law pertaining to searches and seizures, as enunciated here, has not–to put it mildly–run smooth."
Chapman v. United States, 365 U.S. 610, 618 (1961) (Frankfurter, J., concurring).

"A search is a search, even if it happens to disclose nothing but the bottom of a turntable."
Arizona v. Hicks, 480 U.S. 321, 325 (1987)

"For the Fourth Amendment protects people, not places. What a person knowingly exposes to the public, even in his own home or office, is not a subject of Fourth Amendment protection. ... But what he seeks to preserve as private, even in an area accessible to the public, may be constitutionally protected."
Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347, 351 (1967)

“Experience should teach us to be most on guard to protect liberty when the Government’s purposes are beneficent. Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil-minded rulers. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding.”
United States v. Olmstead, 277 U.S. 438, 479 (1925) (Brandeis, J., dissenting)

“Liberty—the freedom from unwarranted intrusion by government—is as easily lost through insistent nibbles by government officials who seek to do their jobs too well as by those whose purpose it is to oppress; the piranha can be as deadly as the shark.”
United States v. $124,570, 873 F.2d 1240, 1246 (9th Cir. 1989)

"You can't always get what you want / But if you try sometimes / You just might find / You get what you need."
—Mick Jagger & Keith Richards

"In Germany, they first came for the communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Catholic. Then they came for me–and by that time there was nobody left to speak up."
Martin Niemöller (1945) [he served seven years in a concentration camp]

“You know, most men would get discouraged by now. Fortunately for you, I am not most men!”
Pepé LePew

"There is never enough time, unless you are serving it."
Malcolm Forbes

"The point of the Fourth Amendment, which often is not grasped by zealous officers, is not that it denies law enforcement the support of the usual inferences which reasonable men draw from evidence. Its protection consists in requiring that those inferences be drawn by a neutral and detached magistrate instead of being judged by the officer engaged in the often competitive enterprise of ferreting out crime."
Johnson v. United States, 333 U.S. 10, 13-14 (1948)

XML Feeds

What is RSS?

Who's Online?

  • Guest Users: 30

powered by
b2evolution