State of Indiana v. Dylan S. Woolston (mem. dec.) ( 2018 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be FILED
regarded as precedent or cited before any Dec 31 2018, 6:41 am
court except for the purpose of establishing
CLERK
the defense of res judicata, collateral Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
estoppel, or the law of the case. and Tax Court
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE
Curtis T. Hill, Jr. Kristin Szczerbik
Attorney General of Indiana Deputy Public Defender
Lawrence County Public Defender
Justin F. Roebel
Agency
Supervising Deputy
Bedford, Indiana
Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
State of Indiana, December 31, 2018
Appellant-Plaintiff, Court of Appeals Case No.
18A-CR-1091
v. Appeal from the Lawrence
Superior Court
Dylan S. Woolston, The Honorable William G. Sleva,
Appellee-Defendant. Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
47D02-1709-F6-1376
Robb, Judge.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1091 | December 31, 2018 Page 1 of 21
Case Summary and Issue
[1] After Dylan Woolston was stopped for a traffic violation, Officer Clay
Blackburn conducted a warrantless search of Woolston’s vehicle and discovered
methamphetamine. The State charged Woolston with possession of
methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony, and Woolston moved to suppress the
evidence. The trial court granted the motion and the State now appeals. This
case presents one issue for our review: whether the trial court’s ruling on
Woolston’s motion is contrary to law. Concluding it is, we reverse.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] On the night of September 9, 2017, Officer Blackburn of the Mitchell Police
Department initiated a traffic stop of Woolston’s vehicle due to an
unilluminated license plate. Officer Blackburn turned on his vehicle’s light bar
to effect the stop and approached Woolston’s vehicle. Woolston provided
Officer Blackburn with his license but was not able to locate his vehicle
registration. Officer Blackburn returned to his car for several minutes to verify
Woolston’s information, then walked back to Woolston’s vehicle, returned his
license, and informed Woolston he was going to give him a warning.
[3] After issuing the warning, Officer Blackburn began to walk back to his vehicle.
Officer Blackburn only took several steps, however, before he stopped, turned
around, and re-approached Woolston’s window. Officer Blackburn asked
Woolston if he could speak with him further and Woolston agreed. Officer
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1091 | December 31, 2018 Page 2 of 21
Blackburn then asked Woolston “if there was anything inside the vehicle that
[he] needed to know about[,]” to which Woolston responded that he just got off
work. Transcript, Volume I at 6. Officer Blackburn then asked if there were
any illegal drugs in the car and Woolston responded “no” while he lit a
cigarette. Id. Officer Blackburn asked to search Woolston’s car and then
confirmed with Woolston that he could search it; Woolston stated “[n]o, go
ahead. You can.” Id. at 7. Woolston was instructed to stand with another
officer near the back of the vehicle while Officer Blackburn conducted the
search. Officer Blackburn found a green plastic container with a plastic baggie
inside containing a “crystal like substance[,]” which later tested positive for
methamphetamine. Id. at 19. Woolston was arrested and transported to jail.
[4] On September 11, the State charged Woolston with possession of
methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony. Woolston subsequently moved to
suppress “all statements made, items seized, and observations and statements
made during the illegal stop and search” of his vehicle under the Fourth and
Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, and Article 1,
section 11 of the Indiana Constitution. Appellant’s Appendix, Volume 2 at 22.
The trial court held a suppression hearing on January 9, 2018, during which
Woolston testified that he believed the stop was over and he was free to go after
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1091 | December 31, 2018 Page 3 of 21
Officer Blackburn returned his license and notified him of the warning. The
trial court granted Woolston’s Motion to Suppress and the State now appeals. 1
Discussion and Decision
I. Standard of Review
[5] Our standard of review of a trial court’s ruling on a motion to suppress is
similar to other sufficiency issues and we evaluate whether there is “substantial
evidence of probative value that supports the trial court’s decision.” State v.
Quirk, 842 N.E.2d 334, 340 (Ind. 2006). On review, we do not reweigh the
evidence or judge the credibility of the witnesses. State v. Janes, 102 N.E.3d
314, 317 (Ind. Ct. App. 2018), trans. denied. When a trial court grants a motion
to suppress, the State appeals from a negative judgment and must show that the
trial court’s ruling on the motion to suppress was contrary to law. Id. This
court will reverse a negative judgment only when the evidence is “without
conflict and all reasonable inferences lead to a conclusion opposite that of the
trial court.” State v. Estep, 753 N.E.2d 22, 25 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001). The
ultimate determination on the constitutionality of a search is a legal conclusion
which we review de novo. McIlquham v. State, 10 N.E.3d 506, 511 (Ind. 2014).
The trial court did not make findings of fact in its order granting Woolston’s
1
The State appeals the trial court’s suppression of the evidence which ultimately prevents further prosecution
of Woolston. Ind. Code § 35-38-4-2(5).
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1091 | December 31, 2018 Page 4 of 21
motion, thus we presume the trial court found in Woolston’s favor on state and
federal constitutional grounds.2 State v. Washington, 898 N.E.2d 1200, 1203
(Ind. 2008). Although the Fourth Amendment and Article 1, section 11 of the
Indiana Constitution are nearly identical, we analyze alleged violations
“independently and differently.” Austin v. State, 997 N.E.2d 1027, 1034 (Ind.
2013).
II. Fourth Amendment
[6] The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects against
unreasonable searches and seizures:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses,
papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures,
shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon
probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and
particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons
or things to be seized.
[7] The protections afforded in the Fourth Amendment extend to the states through
the Fourteenth Amendment. Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U.S. 643, 649 (1961). A traffic
stop constitutes a “seizure” of a person within the meaning of the Fourth
Amendment and is reasonable when an officer has probable cause to believe a
traffic violation offense occurred. Whren v. United States, 517 U.S. 806, 809
(1996).
2
Accordingly, we discuss each argument under the state and federal constitutions formulated on appeal.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1091 | December 31, 2018 Page 5 of 21
[8] The State challenges the trial court’s grant of Woolston’s motion to suppress
and argues Woolston was not illegally detained when he answered Officer
Blackburn’s questions and consented to the search of his vehicle because an
officer is permitted to briefly ask questions about possible contraband and
request consent to search during a traffic stop as they “do not ‘measurably
extend the duration of the stop.’” Brief of Appellant at 10 (quoting Arizona v.
Johnson, 555 U.S. 323, 333 (2009)). Woolston contends he was unlawfully
detained as the underlying purpose of the stop concluded when Officer
Blackburn returned Woolston’s license and issued a warning. Because Officer
Blackburn “had already handled the matter for which the stop was made[,]”
Woolston argues that the only purpose in Officer Blackburn’s re-approaching
the vehicle and questioning Woolston was to “unnecessarily prolong
[Woolston’s] continued detention.” Brief of Appellee at 8.
[9] In Rodriguez v. United States, the Supreme Court held the “tolerable duration of
police inquiries in the traffic-stop context is determined by the seizure’s
‘mission’–to address the traffic violation that warranted the stop and attend to
related safety concerns.” 135 S.Ct. 1609, 1614 (2015) (internal citation
omitted). A seizure remains lawful so long as the officer’s unrelated questions
do not measurably extend the duration of the stop. Id. at 1615. In conducting a
traffic stop, an officer’s mission includes “ordinary inquiries incident to [the
traffic] stop[,]” such as checking the driver’s license, determining whether there
are any outstanding warrants for the driver, and verifying the vehicle
registration and proof of insurance. Id. (alterations in original). Although an
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1091 | December 31, 2018 Page 6 of 21
officer may conduct unrelated checks during a lawful traffic stop, he or she may
not do so in a manner that prolongs the stop, without “reasonable suspicion
ordinarily demanded to justify detaining an individual.” Id.[10] The State asserts that “[a]ny continuing detention must be viewed as a part of
the traffic stop because the only circumstances suggesting detainment were
components of the traffic stop[,]” namely the officers, emergency lights, and
Woolston’s location. Br. of Appellant at 10. However, an officer’s “[a]uthority
for the seizure . . . ends when tasks tied to the traffic infraction are–or
reasonably should have been–completed.” Rodriguez, 135 S.Ct. at 1615. Thus,
Officer Blackburn’s authority to detain Woolston ceased, absent reasonable
suspicion, after he addressed the underlying purpose of the stop, i.e. when he
returned Woolston’s driver’s license and issued the verbal warning.
[11] The fact that Officer Blackburn stepped away from Woolston’s vehicle—even
momentarily—supports the conclusion that the stop was over. Officer
Blackburn conceded at trial that Woolston was “free to leave after the business
of the stop” concluded and Woolston could have driven away if he wanted to.
Tr., Vol. I at 17. Officer Blackburn stated that it was “[a]fter the stop was over”
that he asked Woolston if he could continue to speak with him, id. at 6, and
admitted the traffic stop was over when he re-engaged with Woolston, see id. at
22. Therefore, once the seizure ended, Officer Blackburn needed reasonable
suspicion to re-engage Woolston. Rather than arguing Officer Blackburn had
reasonable suspicion to detain Woolston, however, the State argues that if this
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1091 | December 31, 2018 Page 7 of 21
court were to find the stop had concluded, the subsequent conversation between
Officer Blackburn and Woolston was consensual.
[12] “A consensual encounter that does not implicate the Fourth Amendment
occurs when an officer approaches an individual to make a casual and brief
inquiry and the individual remains free to leave.” Woodson v. State, 960 N.E.2d
224, 227 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012). To determine whether a consensual encounter
occurred, we ask whether a reasonable person would have believed he or she
could disregard the police and “go about his or her business.” Rutledge v. State,
28 N.E.3d 281, 288 (Ind. Ct. App. 2015). This is an objective test, “not
whether the particular citizen actually felt free to leave, but ‘whether the
officer’s words and actions would have conveyed that to a reasonable person.’”
Id. (citation omitted). A reasonable person may believe he or she is no longer
free to leave due to the threatening presence of multiple officers, display of a
weapon by an officer, physical touching of the person, use of language or tone
of voice indicating compliance may be compelled, Clark v. State, 994 N.E.2d
252, 261-62 (Ind. 2013), or an accusation of criminal activity, Baxter v. State, 103
N.E.3d 1180, 1188 (Ind. Ct. App. 2018). And “[w]hat constitutes a restraint on
liberty prompting a person to conclude that he is not free to ‘leave’ will vary
depending upon the particular police conduct at issue and the setting in which
the conduct occurs.” Rutledge, 28 N.E.3d at 289.
[13] In its brief to the trial court, the State claimed the facts of this case to be
analogous to the facts in McLain v. State, 963 N.E.2d 662 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012),
trans. denied. See Appellant’s App., Vol. 2 at 41. On appeal, the State cites this
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1091 | December 31, 2018 Page 8 of 21
decision to support its argument that a consensual encounter occurred, arguing
“this Court found a consensual encounter and voluntary consent to search
occurred following a traffic stop because the Defendant was aware that he was
free to go.” Reply Brief of Appellant at 7.
[14] In McLain, an officer pulled the defendant over for a traffic violation, issued a
warning ticket, returned the defendant’s license and registration, and asked if he
had any questions. After advising the defendant he was free to leave, the officer
asked if the defendant had anything illegal in his car. The defendant replied he
did not and the officer stated he was curious given defendant’s prior charges for
possession of marijuana. The officer then asked for consent to search the
defendant’s vehicle, to which the defendant responded, “I guess if you want
to.” Id. at 665. This court held that the Fourth Amendment was not implicated
after the officer returned the license, registration, issued the ticket, and informed
the defendant he was free to leave. We stated “[a]t that point, [the defendant]
was in fact free to leave, and he was not required to answer the officer’s
questions.” Id. at 667. We concluded:
There is no dispute that [the officer] unequivocally told [the
defendant] that he was free to leave and returned [his] license and
registration. After that point, there is no evidence that [the
officer] displayed a weapon or restricted [the defendant’s]
movements, or that the language and tone of [the officer’s]
questions conveyed to [the defendant] that his compliance would
be compelled. Under these circumstances, we conclude that a
reasonable person would feel free to leave. In short, the
interaction between [the defendant] and [the officer] after the
termination of the traffic stop was merely a consensual
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1091 | December 31, 2018 Page 9 of 21
encounter, in which no Fourth Amendment interest is
implicated. State v. Calmes, 894 N.E.2d 199, 202 (Ind. Ct. App.
2008); see also State v. Carlson, 762 N.E.2d 121, 125 (Ind. Ct. App.
2002) (“‘Police questioning, by itself, is unlikely to result in a
Fourth Amendment violation. While most citizens will respond
to a police request, the fact that people do so, and do so without
being told they are free not to respond, hardly eliminates the
consensual nature of the response.’”) (quoting INS v. Delgado, 466
U.S. 210, 216, 104 S.Ct. 1758, 80 L.Ed.2d 247 (1984)).
Id. at 667.
[15] The State asserts the following facts support a consensual encounter: Officer
Blackburn gave Woolston his license back and issued a warning; he stepped
away from the car before re-approaching; nothing physically restrained or
impeded Woolston’s car from leaving; Officer Blackburn sought permission to
continue speaking with Woolston; Officer Blackburn spoke in a normal tone of
voice, did not draw his weapon, and did not touch or restrain Woolston; two
officers were present but no evidence suggests the second officer approached
Woolston’s car; and Woolston remained in his car and lit a cigarette during the
conversation.
[16] These facts distinguish this case from cases in which this court has found a non-
consensual encounter implicating the Fourth Amendment, which have involved
use of authority to control, order, or restrain the defendant’s freedom. See Clark
v. State, 994 N.E.2d 252, 263 (Ind. 2013) (no consensual encounter once an
officer “employed his authority to control and restrict [three men’s] freedom to
depart” by ordering them to sit on the ground and identify themselves); State v.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1091 | December 31, 2018 Page 10 of 21
Scott, 966 N.E.2d 85, 90 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012) (holding an initially consensual
encounter lost its consensual nature when an officer retained the defendant’s
license and continued to question him), trans. denied; Woodson v. State, 960
N.E.3d 224, 227-28 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012) (no consensual encounter when an
officer handcuffed the defendant for being “loud” and “belligerent” absent any
threat and prior to obtaining information about the defendant); Crabtree v. State,
762 N.E.2d 241, 245-46 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002) (a reasonable person would not
feel free to leave when an officer shines a flashlight on that person and orders
him to “get your hands up”). Officer Blackburn did not exercise his authority
to control, order, or restrain Woolston’s freedom. We therefore agree with the
State and conclude this was a consensual stop and the Fourth Amendment was
not implicated.3
3
At this point, we pause briefly to express our concern with the facts presented. Officer Blackburn testified
that several indicators raised his suspicion “that there was something inside the vehicle [Woolston] didn’t
want [him] to know about”: Woolston lit a cigarette and his hand was shaking when he provided his license,
indicators of nervousness. Tr., Vol. I at 16. Although Woolston was free to decline Officer Blackburn’s
request, we note that had Woolston done so, this likely would have only further raised Officer Blackburn’s
suspicion that Woolston was, in fact, hiding something in his vehicle, potentially forming the basis for Officer
Blackburn’s continued questioning anyway. We therefore take this opportunity to remind both officers and
the public alike that the exercise of one’s right to refuse to answer police questioning or the right to refuse a
search cannot form the sole basis for reasonable suspicion or probable cause. See, e.g., Illinois v. Wardlow, 528
U.S. 119, 125 (2000) (“refusal to cooperate, without more, does not furnish the minimal level of objective
justification needed for a detention or seizure”).
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1091 | December 31, 2018 Page 11 of 21
III. Article 1, Section 11
A. Was Woolston Unlawfully Detained?
[17] The State asserts that Officer Blackburn’s questioning and request for consent to
search did not violate Article 1, section 11 of the Indiana Constitution. It
states:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses,
papers, and effects, against unreasonable search or seizure, shall
not be violated; and no warrant shall issue, but upon probable
cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly
describing the place to be searched, and the person or thing to be
seized.
[18] An analysis under this provision requires that we focus on whether the officer’s
conduct was reasonable in light of the totality of the circumstances. Powell v.
State, 912 N.E.2d 853, 863 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009). In conducting this
determination, we balance: (1) the degree of concern, suspicion, or knowledge
that a violation has occurred; (2) the degree of intrusion the method of the
search or seizure imposes on the citizen’s ordinary activities; and (3) the extent
of law enforcement needs. Id.[19] The State argues that Officer Blackburn’s brief questioning and request for
consent is proper based on our supreme court’s clarification of State v. Quirk,
842 N.E.2d 334 (Ind. 2006), in State v. Washington, 898 N.E.2d 1200 (Ind.
2008). In Quirk, the supreme court affirmed the trial court’s judgment granting
a defendant’s motion to suppress under the Indiana constitution. There, an
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1091 | December 31, 2018 Page 12 of 21
officer stopped Quirk for a traffic violation, issued a warning ticket, and
informed him he was free to go. The officer then approached his patrol car and
another officer on the scene informed him of Quirk’s criminal history, which
included multiple entries for possible drug trafficking. The officer called to
Quirk and stated he wanted to ask a few more questions. Quirk complied and
got into the officer’s vehicle where the officer asked questions related to
whether Quirk was carrying any illegal substances. He then asked to search the
trailer portion of the Quirk’s truck. Quirk consented. Although the search did
not reveal any illegal substances, the officer asked Quirk for consent to search
the cabin of the trailer. Quirk declined and was permitted to leave. Quirk then
drove to a rest area and went inside the facility. When Quirk exited the facility,
officers notified him he was free to leave but his truck would have to remain.
Twenty minutes later, officers with a canine unit arrived and a dog alerted the
officers to the presence of a controlled substance upon circling the truck. A
subsequent search revealed cocaine in the cabin and Quirk was arrested.
[20] Finding Quirk’s detention to be prolonged beyond the time necessary to issue
the warning and therefore unreasonable, the court affirmed the trial court’s
decision to suppress the evidence and later clarified in Washington that the issue
was “the reasonableness of the temporary seizure of the truck, not that of any
police question put to the driver.” Washington, 898 N.E.2d at 1207. The State
asserts that “Washington’s clarification shows that the brief questioning at the
end of the traffic stop in Quirk – which was very similar to the questioning here
– was not a basis for suppression.” Reply Br. of Appellant at 6.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1091 | December 31, 2018 Page 13 of 21
[21] Moreover, our supreme court held in Washington that an officer’s questioning
and request for consent to search after a terminated traffic stop is generally not
prohibited by Article 1, section 11 of the Indiana Constitution. 898 N.E.2d at
1207. Although the questioning is not prohibited by our state constitution, we
evaluate whether Officer Blackburn’s conduct was reasonable under the totality
of the circumstances by balancing three factors. Powell, 912 N.E.2d at 863. In
conducting this determination, we balance: (1) the degree of concern, suspicion,
or knowledge that a violation has occurred; (2) the degree of intrusion the
method of the search or seizure imposes on the citizen’s ordinary activities; and
(3) the extent of law enforcement needs. Id. We construe the constitutional
provision liberally so as to guarantee the rights of people against unreasonable
searches and seizures. Mundy v. State, 21 N.E.3d 114, 118 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014).
[22] There is no dispute as to the validity of the initial traffic stop. This court upheld
an officer’s questioning and request for consent to search the defendant’s
vehicle after the officer advised him he was free to go. McLain, 963 N.E.2d at
670. In McLain, the court relied on Callahan v. State,4 a case in which we
rejected the defendant’s argument “that the state constitution required a police
officer to have reasonable suspicion of illegal activity before asking permission
to search after the termination of a valid traffic stop.” McLain, 963 N.E.2d at
669. Regardless, the degree of concern, suspicion, or knowledge Officer
4
719 N.E.2d 430 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999).
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1091 | December 31, 2018 Page 14 of 21
Blackburn had was extremely low. Officer Blackburn testified that Woolston
exhibited signs of nervousness, which led him to believe Woolston was hiding
something. “Because it is not at all unusual that a citizen may become nervous
when confronted by law enforcement officials, other evidence that a person
may be engaged in criminal activity must accompany nervousness before the
nervousness will evoke suspicion necessary to support detention.” Quirk, 842
N.E.2d at 341. Because this is the only evidence presented at trial pertaining to
Officer Blackburn’s degree of concern, suspicion or knowledge, this factor
favors Woolston.
[23] The degree of intrusion of Officer Blackburn’s conduct on Woolston’s ordinary
activities was minor and weighs in favor of the State. The degree of intrusion is
assessed from the defendant’s point of view. Mundy, 21 N.E.3d at 118. In
Washington, our supreme court held an officer’s question at the end of a traffic
stop as to whether the defendant had any drugs or weapons on his person
reasonable under the state constitution. 898 N.E.2d at 1206-07. There, the
court determined the intrusion was “slight” as the officer “merely asked the
defendant a brief question, one that not only asked if he had drugs, but also if
he had weapons or other items that may harm the officer.” Id. at 1206. Here,
Officer Blackburn returned to Woolston’s car and asked permission to continue
to speak with him and Woolston agreed.
[24] As to the extent of law enforcement needs, we consider of the nature and
immediacy of the governmental concern. Masterson v. State, 843 N.E.2d 1001,
1007 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006), trans. denied. In Washington, the court held the
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1091 | December 31, 2018 Page 15 of 21
officer’s question “consistent with the officer’s concern for his own safety and
law enforcement’s responsibilities to deter crime, to intercept criminal activity,
and to apprehend its perpetrators.” 898 N.E.2d at 1206. Balancing all of the
factors, we cannot conclude Officer Blackburn’s conduct was unreasonable
under the totality of the circumstances.
B. Was Woolston Entitled to a Pirtle Warning?
[25] In his brief to the trial court, Woolston claimed Officer Blackburn did not
obtain valid consent to search his vehicle because Officer Blackburn failed to
give him Pirtle warnings, a conclusion we presume the trial court agreed with.
See Washington, 898 N.E.2d at 1203. The State contends Woolston was not in
custody when he consented to the search and therefore, was not entitled to a
Pirtle warning. Our supreme court has held that a person in police custody
asked to give consent to a search is entitled to the presence and advice of
counsel prior to making the decision whether to provide consent. Pirtle v. State,
263 Ind. 16, 29, 323 N.E.2d 634, 640 (1975). In determining whether a person
is in custody, the “ultimate inquiry is whether there was a formal arrest or a
restraint on freedom of movement of the degree associated with a formal
arrest.” Janes, 102 N.E.3d at 318. Courts consider a variety of factors to
determine whether an encounter is custodial, including whether a reasonable
person would feel free to leave, id., and we examine the circumstances for
“objectively overpowering, coercive, or restraining police behavior” that suggest
a formal arrest, Meredith v. State, 906 N.E.2d 867, 873 (Ind. 2009). Although a
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1091 | December 31, 2018 Page 16 of 21
person is seized and temporarily not free to leave during an investigatory stop,
he or she is not ordinarily considered to be in custody. Id.A non-exhaustive list of relevant factors our cases have identified
includes: whether the defendant was read his Miranda rights,
handcuffed, restrained in any way, or told that he was a suspect
in a crime; how vigorous was the law enforcement interrogation;
whether police suggested the defendant should cooperate,
implied adverse consequences for noncooperation, or suggested
that the defendant was not free to go about his business; and the
length of the detention.
Id. at 874 (internal citations omitted).
[26] The State argues “nothing about the circumstances suggest that [Woolston] was
in custody” as he remained in his vehicle before consenting and Officer
Blackburn spoke in a normal tone of voice, did not draw his weapon, or
physically restrain Woolston. Br. of Appellant at 12. On the other hand,
Woolston maintains that “[a] reasonable person, pulled over by two officers
while one is standing at the driver’s door, and police lights are engaged, would
not have any expectation that they could just leave the scene freely without
consequence, including criminal charges for fleeing law enforcement.” Br. of
Appellee at 11.
[27] Viewed most favorably to the trial court’s decision, the record reveals that
Woolston was pulled over at night, the patrol vehicle was positioned directly
behind Woolston’s vehicle with its lights flashing, and two uniformed officers
were on the scene. Officer Blackburn stood at the driver’s window while the
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1091 | December 31, 2018 Page 17 of 21
other officer stood behind him or nearby as he asked Woolston about
contraband and requested consent to search his car. Woolston testified that
when Officer Blackburn walked back up to his window he did not feel free to
drive away because the “[l]ights were on and [Officer Blackburn] was standing
there.” Tr., Vol. 1 at 28. At that point, Woolston did not feel free to refuse to
speak with Officer Blackburn and answer his questions. However, there is no
evidence in the record of any of the above listed factors suggesting Woolston
was in custody. To the extent the trial court granted the motion to suppress due
to a Pirtle violation, we cannot say there is substantial evidence of “objectively
overpowering, coercive, or restraining police behavior” suggesting Woolston
was under formal arrest requiring Pirtle warnings. Meredith, 906 N.E.2d at 873.
IV. Voluntary Consent
[28] Finally, the State argues Woolston’s consent to search was voluntary. Under
the Fourth Amendment and the Indiana Constitution, the State bears the
burden of proving consent was “voluntarily given, and not the result of duress
or coercion, express or implied.” McIlquham, 10 N.E.3d at 511. Voluntariness
is a question of fact to be determined from the totality of the circumstances and
consent is valid unless “procured by fraud, duress, fear, or intimidation or
where it is merely a submission to the supremacy of the law.” Id.
[29] In its brief to the trial court, the State outlined eight factors considered in
determining whether a defendant’s consent is voluntary under the totality of the
circumstances:
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1091 | December 31, 2018 Page 18 of 21
whether the defendant was advised of Miranda rights prior to
the search, the defendant’s degree of education and
intelligence, whether the defendant was advised of his right to
refuse consent, whether the defendant has previous
encounters with law enforcement, whether the officer made
any express or implied claims of authority to search without
consent, whether the officer was engaged in any illegal action
prior to the request, whether the defendant was cooperative
previously and whether the officer was deceptive as to his
true identity or the purpose of the search.
Appellant’s App., Vol. 2 at 46 (citing Navarro v. State, 855 N.E.2d 671, 677 (Ind.
Ct. App. 2006)).
[30] Arguing only two factors favored Woolston, that he was not given Miranda
warnings or told he had the right to refuse, the State maintained that the
remaining factors were in its favor except that there was no evidence as to
whether Woolston had any prior encounters with law enforcement. See
Appellant’s App., Vol. 2 at 46. Under the totality of the circumstances, there is
no substantial evidence of probative value demonstrating Woolston’s consent to
search was obtained by fraud, duress, fear, or intimidation, or a submission to
the law. We agree with the State.
Conclusion
[31] For the foregoing reasons above, we reverse the trial court’s judgment and
remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
[32] Reversed and remanded.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1091 | December 31, 2018 Page 19 of 21
May, J., concurs.
Baker, J., dissents with opinion.
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
State of Indiana, Court of Appeals Case No.
18A-CR-1091
Appellant-Plaintiff,
v.
Dylan S. Woolston,
Appellee-Defendant.
Baker, Judge, dissenting.
[33] I respectfully dissent because I do not believe that a reasonable person in
Woolston’s shoes would have believed he or she could disregard the police
presence and go about his or her business. Officer Blackburn issued the
warning and, after taking a few steps toward his police vehicle, turned around
and prolonged their encounter. The officer did not tell Woolston he was free to
leave after issuing the warning. And Officer Blackburn did not return to his
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1091 | December 31, 2018 Page 20 of 21
marked vehicle—which held a second officer and continued to flash its police
lights—after issuing the warning but instead turned around to continue the
conversation with Woolston. I simply do not believe it credible that an average
citizen, under these circumstances, would feel free to leave. 5 Consequently, I
believe that the trial court properly granted Woolston’s motion to suppress
because the search of the vehicle violated the Fourth Amendment to the United
States Constitution.
5
I also share the majority’s concern that if Woolston had refused Officer Blackburn’s request to search his
vehicle, the officer would have believed he had reasonable suspicion to continue the encounter.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-CR-1091 | December 31, 2018 Page 21 of 21