State v. Veith ( 2022 )

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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO
Opinion Number: _____________
Filing Date: February 3, 2022
No. A-1-CA-39059
STATE OF NEW MEXICO,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
APRIL L. VEITH,
Defendant-Appellee.
APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF SAN JUAN COUNTY
Curtis R. Gurley, District Judge
Hector H. Balderas, Attorney General
Santa Fe, NM
John Kloss, Assistant Attorney General
Albuquerque, NM
for Appellant
Bennett J. Baur, Chief Public Defender
Caitlin C.M. Smith, Assistant Appellate Defender
Santa Fe, NM
for Appellee
OPINION
BOGARDUS, Judge.
{1} Defendant April Veith was charged by criminal complaint in magistrate court
with petty misdemeanor battery, contrary to NMSA 1978, Section 30-3-4 (1963).
The magistrate court dismissed the criminal complaint, and the State appealed to the
district court. The district court determined Defendant’s arrest was illegal and
remanded to magistrate court for imposition of the magistrate court’s dismissal
order. The State appeals the district court’s remand order and argues (1) NMSA
1978, Section 30-3-6 (1983) provided statutory authority for Defendant’s arrest; (2)
Defendant’s warrantless arrest was not a violation of the New Mexico Constitution;
and (3) the district court erred in concluding dismissal was the appropriate remedy.
We reverse.
BACKGROUND
{2} The parties stipulated that the following facts from the arresting officer’s
probable cause statement were true for purposes of resolving Defendant’s motion.
Deputy Deprez was dispatched to a middle school parking lot based on a call in
which someone reported that “April” (later identified as Defendant) was attacking
the caller’s mother outside of the school gym. Upon his arrival at the school, Deputy
Deprez observed multiple people attempting to keep Defendant and Jennifer Hebert
apart. Deputy Deprez noticed Hebert was taking deep breaths, seemed emotional,
and that Defendant had blood on her face. He made sure neither party needed
medical attention before beginning his on-the-scene investigation.
{3} Deputy Deprez spoke to Hebert, Defendant, Defendant’s husband, and two
witnesses while at the scene. Hebert told Deputy Deprez that as she was getting
ready to leave and as she was putting her children in her car, Defendant walked up
to her and told her she did not have any “beef” with her, but then got in her face and
started yelling at her. Hebert stated that Defendant was trying to get her to fight.
Hebert explained she told Defendant she did not want to fight and yelled for
Defendant’s husband to come get Defendant. Hebert told Deputy Deprez that
Defendant pushed her, grabbed her by her shirt, shoved her against a wall, and asked
if she was scared of her. Hebert went on to say that Defendant began to choke her so
she defended herself by punching Defendant in the face. She said they both fought
until Defendant’s husband and another person separated them.
{4} Deputy Deprez spoke to Defendant who said she had wanted to confront
Hebert about a guy they both previously dated, but that she did not have any “beef”
about it. Defendant stated Hebert pushed her and she had to defend herself. Later,
Defendant changed her story and stated Hebert initially pulled her hair. Deputy
Deprez could smell alcohol on Defendant’s breath and asked her if she had anything
to drink that day. Defendant answered that she had been drinking.
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{5} Deputy Deprez spoke to Defendant’s husband who explained that when he
and Defendant arrived at the school, Defendant approached Hebert. He stated he
knew the two had a previous conflict so he attempted to avoid the situation by
remaining in his car. He said he did not see who started the altercation, but saw the
two fighting so he separated his wife from the situation. Deputy Deprez also spoke
to two witnesses who explained Defendant initiated the physical altercation. After
completing his interviews of the parties and witnesses, Deputy Deprez arrested
Defendant without a warrant and took her to the detention center. Defendant was
later charged with battery.
{6} During proceedings in magistrate court, Defendant filed a motion to dismiss
or in the alternative to suppress evidence, arguing the arrest violated the
misdemeanor arrest rule and that the criminal complaint should be dismissed or
statements and evidence should be suppressed because they were tainted by her
unlawful arrest. The magistrate court entered an order dismissing the complaint with
prejudice. The State appealed to the district court, and in response, Defendant
renewed her motion to dismiss or in the alternative to suppress evidence. After a
hearing on the motion, the district court remanded the matter to the magistrate court
for imposition of the dismissal order.
DISCUSSION
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{7} The State pursues three related but distinct arguments: (1) Section 30-3-6
provided statutory authority for Defendant’s arrest; (2) the arrest was a reasonable
warrantless arrest under the New Mexico Constitution; and (3) even if the arrest was
illegal, dismissal was not the appropriate remedy.
{8} The question we must address is whether Defendant was lawfully arrested
without a warrant. Our state strongly prefers arrests be made pursuant to a warrant.
State v. Rivera, 2010-NMSC-046, ¶ 23, 148 N.M. 659, 241 P.3d 1099. Under the
Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution, “[t]he right of the people to
be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches
and seizures, shall not be violated[.]” U.S. Const. amend. IV. In United States v.
Watson, 423 U.S. 411 (1976), the U.S. Supreme Court applied Fourth Amendment
jurisprudence to uphold the constitutionality of a warrantless arrest supported by
probable cause and explicit statutory authority. The Fourth Amendment permits
warrantless arrests when the arrest is supported by statutory authority and probable
cause. See State v. Paananen, 2015-NMSC-031, ¶¶ 17-18, 357 P.3d 958 (holding a
warrantless arrest with probable cause, see NMSA 1978, § 30-16-23 (1965), which
permits warrantless arrests with probable cause for shoplifting, did not violate the
Fourth Amendment based on Watson). Article II, Section 10 of the New Mexico
Constitution requires that all warrantless arrests be “reasonable.” Campos v. State,
1994-NMSC-012, ¶ 5, 117 N.M. 155, 870 P.2d 117. Under our New Mexico
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Constitution, warrantless arrests based on statutory authority are presumed
constitutional, but require an exigency that precluded the arresting officer from
procuring a warrant. Id. ¶ 14.
{9} To address the State’s appeal, we must first determine if Section 30-3-6
provided statutory authority for the warrantless arrest. We then turn to the State’s
contention that the arrest was reasonable under the New Mexico Constitution.
Because the appeal is based on Defendant’s motion to suppress, we are presented
with a mixed question of law and fact. We review “factual matters with deference to
the district court’s findings if substantial evidence exists to support them, and [the
appellate courts] review[] the district court’s application of the law de novo.” State
v. Almanzar, 2014-NMSC-001, ¶ 9, 316 P.3d 183.
I. Section 30-3-6 Provided Statutory Authority for Defendant’s Arrest
{10} The State first appeals the district court’s determination that Section 30-3-6
did not apply to the facts of this case. The State argues that the plain language of the
statute provides that so long as an arresting officer has probable cause that a battery,
or one of the other crimes listed, has occurred, the officer has authority to perform a
warrantless arrest. Defendant answers that the Legislature did not intend to create
such a broad exception to the misdemeanor arrest rule, and that the statute applies
only to arrests that occur in licensed liquor establishments. We agree with the State.
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{11} Because Defendant’s appeal centers on our interpretation of Section 30-3-6,
we interpret the statute de novo. See State v. Gonzales, 2019-NMCA-036, ¶ 7, 444
P.3d 1064. “In interpreting a statute, our primary objective is to give effect to the
Legislature’s intent.” State v. Trujillo, 2009-NMSC-012, ¶ 11, 146 N.M. 14, 206
P.3d 125. “If the language of the statute is clear and unambiguous, we must give
effect to that language and refrain from further statutory interpretation.” State v.
McWhorter, 2005-NMCA-133, ¶ 5, 138 N.M. 580, 124 P.3d 215. However, we will
not give effect to the plain meaning of the statute if “this leads to an absurd or
unreasonable result.” State v. Marshall, 2004-NMCA-104, ¶ 7, 136 N.M. 240, 96
P.3d 801. If it will, we construe the statute “according to its obvious spirit or
reason[.]” State ex rel. Helman v. Gallegos, 1994-NMSC-023, ¶ 3, 117 N.M. 346,
871 P.2d 1352 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).
{12} “[W]e additionally consider the context surrounding a particular statute, such
as its history, its apparent object, and other related statutes.” State v. Becenti, 2021-
NMCA-060, ¶ 5, 498 P.3d 282 (alteration, internal quotation marks, and citation
omitted). We are required to “read the entire statute as a whole so that each provision
may be considered in relation to every other part[.]” State v. Bernard, 2015-NMCA-
089, ¶ 11, 355 P.3d 831 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). In reading
the statute as a whole, we are also to consider “its purposes and consequences.” State
v. Martinez, 2020-NMCA-043, ¶ 34, 472 P.3d 1241.
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{13} We start by considering the misdemeanor arrest rule, which provides context
for our discussion of the statute in this case. “The misdemeanor arrest rule provides
that generally, in New Mexico, an officer may execute a warrantless misdemeanor
arrest only if the offense was committed in the officer’s presence.” Milliron v. Cnty.
of San Juan, 2016-NMCA-096, ¶ 28, 384 P.3d 1089 (alteration, internal quotation
marks, and citation omitted). “The misdemeanor arrest rule is a holdover from the
common law distinction between warrantless arrests for felonies and for
misdemeanors.” State v. Ochoa, 2008-NMSC-023, ¶ 11, 143 N.M. 749, 182 P.3d
130. However, New Mexico has several exceptions to this rule. Id. ¶ 12
(“[P]ermitting officers in specific circumstances to make warrantless arrest if the
arresting officer has ‘reasonable grounds, based on personal investigation which
may include information from eyewitnesses’[.]” (quoting NMSA 1978, § 66-8-
125(B) (1978)); see also NMSA 1978, § 31-1-7(A) (1995) (permitting warrantless
arrests for domestic disturbances); State v. Lyon, 1985-NMCA-082, ¶ 18, 103 N.M.
305, 706 P.2d 516 (allowing for a police-team exception to the “in the presence”
requirement of the misdemeanor arrest rule); § 30-16-23 (permitting warrantless
arrests for shoplifting). The Legislature has the authority to enact an exception to the
misdemeanor arrest rule, insofar as it does not violate the New Mexico Constitution,
see Carrillo v. My Way Holdings, LLC, 2017-NMCA-024, ¶ 22, 389 P.3d 1087(explaining the Legislature may overturn the common law with “clear and
7
unambiguous language” (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)), and
Section 30-3-6 is one such legislatively enacted exception.
{14} We next turn to examination of the statute. Section 30-3-6, entitled
“Reasonable detention; assault, battery, public affray or criminal damage to
property[,]”states:
A. As used in this section:
(1) “licensed premises” means all public and private rooms,
facilities and areas in which alcoholic beverages are sold or served in
the customary operating procedures of establishments licensed to sell
or serve alcoholic liquors;
(2) “proprietor” means the owner of the licensed premises or
his manager or his designated representative; and
(3) “operator” means the owner or the manager of any
establishment or premises open to the public.
B. Any law enforcement officer may arrest without warrant any
persons he has probable cause for believing have committed the crime
of assault or battery as defined in [NMSA 1978,] Sections 30-3-1
through 30-3-5 [(1963, as amended through 1977)] . . . or public affray
or criminal damage to property. Any proprietor or operator who causes
such an arrest shall not be criminally or civilly liable if he has actual
knowledge, communicated truthfully and in good faith to the law
enforcement officer, that the persons so arrested have committed the
crime of assault or battery as defined in Sections 30-3-1 through 30-3-
5 . . . or public affray or criminal damage to property.
The statute has two subsections. The first, a definition section, defines “licensed
premises,” “proprietor,” and “operator.” Section 30-3-6(A)(1)-(3). “[L]icensed
premises” pertains to those premises we traditionally refer to as restaurants and bars.
8
Section 30-3-6(A)(1). The second subsection addresses warrantless arrests for
enumerated crimes and includes a provision addressing criminal and civil liability
arising from reporting such crimes. Section 30-3-6(B). Because we find no cases in
New Mexico that have interpreted Section 30-3-6, its scope is an issue of first
impression to this Court.1
{15} Defendant refers to Section 30-3-6 as the “barroom brawl statute that has
traditionally been understood to authorize misdemeanor arrests at bars, restaurants,
and liquor stores.” Defendant argues that the misdemeanor arrest rule is limited to
three judicially and statutorily created exceptions for crimes against businesses,
crimes related to domestic violence, and crimes arising from driving vehicles, and
contends that Section 30-3-6 falls under the exception to the misdemeanor arrest rule
for crimes against businesses. Defendant highlights two other statutes that allow for
warrantless arrests, NMSA 1978, § 30-16-16(B) (2006) (permitting warrantless
arrests for falsely obtaining services or accommodations) and § 30-16-23 (permitting
warrantless arrests for shoplifting), and suggests that these three statutes read
1
Defendant cites a nonprecedential federal case, Montes v. Gallegos, 812 F.
Supp. 1159, 1165 n.7 (D.N.M. 1992), which references Section 30-3-6. In a footnote,
Montes refers to the defendant’s argument regarding “the New Mexico ‘barroom
fight’ statute” and cites to Section 30-3-6, focusing on the statute’s probable cause
requirement. However, neither the defendant’s nor the federal district court’s
characterization of the statute in Montes, is relevant to our analysis. Clearly, Section
30-3-6 permits arrests based upon the occurrence of barroom batteries. At issue here,
is whether the statute is limited to that, and only that, context.
9
together protect specific businesses from low-level crimes, i.e. shoplifting from
stores, fighting or damaging property at bars or restaurants, and getting service
without paying at restaurants, hotels, and other service-oriented businesses.
Defendant contends, therefore, that a common-sense reading of Section 30-3-6
indicates that it only applies when the arrest occurs on licensed premises, that is, an
establishment that sells liquor.
{16} We disagree with Defendant’s conclusion. Not one of the three statutes cited
by Defendant limits warrantless arrests to those taking place at specific locations.
Instead, each statute addresses warrantless arrests for specifically described crimes.
See §§ 30-16-16(B), -23; § 30-3-6. Although Section 30-3-6 includes civil and
criminal liability protection for owners—and their managers and designated
representatives—of establishments licensed to sell or serve alcohol, that protection
also extends to owners or managers “of any establishment or premises open to the
public.” Section 30-3-6(A)(3), (B). The liability protection for “licensed premises”
is not a sufficient indication—particularly in light of the fact that the statute includes
the same protection for owners or managers of any establishment or premises open
to the public, see id.—that it limits statutory authority for warrantless arrests with
probable cause for assault, battery, public affray, or criminal damage to property to
be executed at only locations licensed to sell liquor. And the statute’s mere inclusion
of protection from civil liability for owners and operators of liquor establishments
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or other business locations open to the public does not bear upon the statute’s
otherwise broadly stated exception to the misdemeanor arrest rule.
{17} A plain reading of Section 30-3-6 permits a law enforcement officer to arrest
people for the enumerated crimes stated therein, including battery, without a warrant
when the officer has probable cause. See State v. Farish, 2018-NMCA-003, ¶ 6, 410
P.3d 239 (“We begin the search for legislative intent by looking first to the words
chosen by the Legislature and the plain meaning of the Legislature’s language.”
(internal quotation marks and citation omitted)), rev’d on other grounds and
remanded, 2021-NMSC-030, 499 P.3d 622. The plain language does not limit the
arrests based on the location of the alleged crime. The only limitation is that the law
enforcement officer have probable cause that one of the listed crimes occurred.
{18} Reading the entire statute as a whole, we understand the statute is about two
central subjects: warrantless arrests and protection from civil and criminal liability
relating to those warrantless arrests. While the definition of licensed premises—
restaurants and bars—is relevant to the civil and criminal liability portion of the
statute, it does not limit the provision regarding warrantless arrest requirements. We
must presume the Legislature chose to omit a requirement that the warrantless arrest
occur on licensed premises. See State v. Jade G., 2007-NMSC-010, ¶ 16, 141 N.M.
284, 154 P.3d 659 (“We are not permitted to read into a statute language which is
not there, particularly if it makes sense as written.” (internal quotation marks and
11
citation omitted)). We also note, as discussed above, the liability protection is not
limited by the reference to licensed premises, but also extends to operators of
premises open to the public. Section 30-3-6(B). Defendant’s contention that the
statute only applies when the arrest occurs on licensed premises ignores the term
“operator” in the statute. Such an interpretation would render a portion of the statute
superfluous, which we decline to do. See Am. Fed’n of State, Cnty. & Mun. Emps. v.
City of Albuquerque, 2013-NMCA-063, ¶ 5, 304 P.3d 443 (“Statutes must also be
construed so that no part of the statute is rendered surplusage or superfluous[.]”
(internal quotation marks and citation omitted)).
{19} We next look at the history of Section 30-3-6. It was originally enacted in
1981 and amended once in 1983. The 1983 amendment changed the title from
“Reasonable detention on licensed premises; assault, battery or public affray” to
“Reasonable detention; assault, battery, public affray or criminal damage to
property[,]” which is still current today. Compare § 30-3-6 (1981) (emphasis added),
with § 30-3-6. This deletion provides further support to our view that the Legislature
intended that the warrantless arrest need not be based on actions that occurred at
particular locations and supports our conclusion that Section 30-3-6 requires only
that the arresting officer have probable cause for one of the crimes listed in the statute
to execute a warrantless arrest.
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{20} The 1983 amendment also added “criminal damage to property” to the list of
offenses and added “operator” to the class of people protected from criminal or civil
liability arising from such arrests.2 Compare § 30-3-6, with § 30-3-6 (1981). These
two additions significantly expanded the scope of the statute by increasing both the
number and types of situations in which law enforcement is permitted to make
warrantless arrests and to extend civil and criminal liability protections to more
people. And by defining “operator” as “owner or the manager of any establishment
or premises open to the public[,]” compare § 30-3-6(A)(3), with § 30-3-6(A) (1981),
the statute broadened “licensed premises” beyond licensed liquor establishments to
include the entirety of premises open to the public. The amendments made to the
statute support our conclusion that the statute’s scope is not limited to events that
occur in a barroom or restaurant, but its scope is broad enough to include the events
that occurred in this case, in a parking lot adjacent to a school.
{21} We conclude that Section 30-3-6 provides statutory authority for law
enforcement to arrest someone without a warrant if they have probable cause that
that person committed a battery pursuant to Section 30-3-4. “An officer has probable
cause to arrest when the facts and circumstances within the officer’s knowledge are
2
The 1983 amendment to Section 30-3-6 also added the requirement that
eligible parties must communicate “truthfully and in good faith to the law
enforcement officer” to qualify for liability protection. Compare § 30-3-6(B), with
§ 30-3-6(B) (1981).
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sufficient to warrant the officer to believe that an offense has been or is being
committed.” State v. Granillo-Macias, 2008-NMCA-021, ¶ 9, 143 N.M. 455, 176
P.3d 1187. Defendant was charged with committing petty misdemeanor battery,
which is “the unlawful, intentional touching or application of force to the person of
another, when done in a rude, insolent or angry manner.” Section 30-3-4.
{22} Deputy Deprez was called to the scene where people were actively keeping
Defendant and Hebert apart. Both were visibly injured such that Deputy Deprez
asked if they needed medical intervention. He interviewed multiple witnesses who
stated Defendant initiated the physical altercation. Defendant was the only person
who claimed Hebert hit her first. Defendant also admitted to drinking alcohol and
gave differing accounts of how Hebert started the fight. These facts together
sufficiently established probable cause that Defendant committed a battery against
Hebert.
{23} Having concluded that Section 30-3-6 provided Deputy Deprez with statutory
authority to arrest Defendant without a warrant, we next determine whether the
warrantless arrest was legal under the New Mexico Constitution.
II. Defendant’s Warrantless Arrest Was Valid Under the New Mexico
Constitution
{24} The State argues that the district court erred in its determination that no
exigent circumstances existed to excuse Deputy Deprez’s failure to obtain a warrant.
14
As explained above, all warrantless arrests must comply with the “reasonableness”
component of Article II, Section 10 of the New Mexico Constitution. Campos, 1994-
NMSC-012, ¶ 5. “Warrantless arrests made under the authority of [a] statute may be
presumed reasonable but that presumption may be rebutted under our interpretation
of what is constitutional.” Id. ¶ 7. “[A] warrantless arrest supported by probable
cause is reasonable if some exigency existed that precluded the officer from securing
a warrant.” Paananen, 2015-NMSC-031, ¶ 27 (internal quotation marks and citation
omitted). Exigent circumstances exist in “an emergency situation requiring swift
action to prevent imminent danger to life or serious damage to property, or to
forestall the imminent escape of a suspect or destruction of evidence.” Campos,
1994-NMSC-012, ¶ 11 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). However,
this is not an exhaustive list, and there “are other situations in which an exigency not
necessarily amounting to an imminent threat of danger, escape, or lost evidence will
be sufficient to render reasonable a warrantless public arrest supported by probable
cause under the totality of the circumstances.” Paananen, 2015-NMSC-031, ¶ 26.
“An on-the-scene arrest supported by probable cause will usually supply the
requisite exigency.” Id.{25} In Paananen, our Supreme Court determined that a warrantless arrest for
shoplifting met New Mexico’s constitutional standard when the responding officer
developed probable cause to arrest the defendant at the scene based on the review of
15
evidence. Id. ¶¶ 24-28. The officers did not have the “information or time to act on
it prior to arriving on scene, and thus could not have gotten an arrest warrant before
responding to the call.” Id. ¶ 24. Similarly, in this case, Deputy Deprez was
dispatched based on a call that Defendant was attacking Hebert. He arrived at the
scene, interviewed witnesses, and determined based on his investigation that he had
probable cause to arrest Defendant for battery. Deputy Deprez did not have
information to act on before he arrived at the scene and investigated, and he did not
have time to secure a warrant before responding. He developed probable cause to
arrest based on his review of the evidence at the scene.
{26} Further, just as in Paananen, given it was not reasonable to obtain an arrest
warrant before responding, Deputy Deprez faced three alternatives: to arrest
Defendant on the scene; detain Defendant while going to the court to obtain a
warrant, which would lead to a de facto warrantless arrest based on the time
necessary to procure the warrant; or release Defendant and secure a warrant. See id.
¶ 25. Our Supreme Court concluded in Paananen that a warrantless arrest was “the
only reasonable approach” in this situation. Id. It determined that to secure a warrant
would lead to an expenditure of resources “seemingly disproportionate to the crime
of shoplifting and a risk our Legislature has declared unacceptable” and cited to the
statute that authorized warrantless arrests for shoplifting. Id. In this case, securing a
warrant would have led to a similar disproportionate expenditure of resources for a
16
crime that the Legislature has also declared unacceptable. See § 30-3-6; Paananen,
2015-NMSC-031, ¶ 25. In our view, Deputy Deprez chose a reasonable approach
under the circumstances.
{27} Having concluded Defendant’s warrantless arrest was reasonable, we need not
address the State’s final argument that dismissal was an inappropriate remedy under
the circumstances.
CONCLUSION
{28} For the foregoing reasons, we reverse and remand for further proceedings
consistent with this opinion.
{29} IT IS SO ORDERED.
____________________________
KRISTINA BOGARDUS, Judge
WE CONCUR:
________________________________
J. MILES HANISEE, Chief Judge
________________________________
JACQUELINE R. MEDINA, Judge
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