State Of Washington v. Brandon Dennis ( 2014 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF WASHINGTON, ; No. 70262-9-1
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Appellant, ] DIVISION ONE 1
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BRANDON WILLIAM DENNIS, ]
> UNPUBLISHED rv>
Respondent. } FILED: August 4. 2014
'
Cox, J -Warrantless searches of constitutionally protected areas are
presumptively unreasonable absent proof by the State that one of the well-
established exceptions applies.1 In this case, the State fails in its burden to
prove that the emergency aid exception authorized the protective sweep the
STATE COURT
responding deputies conducted on the top floor of Brandon Dennis's home. At
the time of the sweep, Dennis was detained on the main floor of the home but
was not under arrest. Additionally, the State does not point to articulable facts
1 Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347, 357, 88 S. Ct. 507, 19 L. Ed. 2d 576
(1967); State v. Ladson, 138 Wash. 2d 343, 349, 979 P.2d 833 (1999).
No. 70262-9-1/2
that would "'warrant a reasonably prudent officer in believing that the area to be
swept harbors an individual posing a danger'" to those on the scene.2
Accordingly, the firearm evidence the deputies seized during the protective
sweep of the top floor must be suppressed. We affirm.
The unchallenged written findings of fact from the CrR 3.6 suppression
hearing provide context and are verities on appeal.3
On September 5, 2012, someone called 911 and reported that Dennis was
at that person's residence in Issaquah, appeared to be intoxicated, and made
threats that he was going to shoot himself.
When responding officers arrived at the residence, the reporting party told
them that Dennis had left in his vehicle. They also learned that Dennis
"owns/possesses firearms" and was returning to his own residence. The officers
further learned that Dennis had recently made a post on Facebook stating
"FTW," which the officers understood to mean "F*** the World."
The officers ran Dennis's license plate numbers and obtained his home
address in Maple Valley. Three King County Sheriff deputies were dispatched to
that address.
When the deputies arrived at his home, they saw that Dennis's vehicle
was parked in the driveway and "the grill was warm to the touch." The deputies
knocked and announced themselves at the front door, but no one responded.
2 State v. Hopkins, 113 Wash. App. 954, 960, 55 P.3d 691 (2002) (quoting
Marvland v. Buie, 494 U.S. 325, 334, 110 S. Ct. 1093, 108 L. Ed. 2d 276 (1990)).
3 State v. O'Neill. 148 Wash. 2d 564, 571, 62 P.3d 489 (2003).
No. 70262-9-1/3
The deputies walked around the home and looked through windows, but they did
not see anyone. The garage door was open.
The deputies went through the garage and knocked on the interior garage
door, but no one responded.
Believing that Dennis could be home and that he might harm himself, they
entered the home while repeatedly announcing themselves.
As they continued to search the main floor of the home looking for Dennis,
one deputy saw Dennis emerge from a top floor bedroom. That deputy testified
at the hearing that Dennis was "slow moving," "calm," and "subdued." He
ordered Dennis to kneel. There was no gun on Dennis. The deputy ordered
Dennis to come down the stairs to the main level of the home. He handcuffed
Dennis, detained him on the sofa, but did not arrest him.
Once Dennis was detained on the main level of the home, the other two
deputies conducted a sweep of the top floor. Upon entering the bedroom that
Dennis had exited, the deputies saw and seized a pistol partially underneath a
blanket on the bed. They also seized an AR-15 assault rifle that was in the
corner of the bedroom behind a door.
Once the deputies found the two firearms and the other deputy confirmed
that Dennis was a convicted felon, they arrested him. The State then charged
Dennis with one count of first degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
Dennis moved to suppress the evidence of the firearms. He argued that
the deputies' contact with him was pretextual, that they did not lawfully enter his
home, and that they exceeded the scope of the emergency aid exception.
No. 70262-9-1/4
The trial court concluded that the deputies validly entered Dennis's home
under the emergency aid exception. But it ruled that they exceeded the scope of
the exception when they conducted a search of the top floor and seized the
firearms located there. Because there was no other evidence to support the
charge, the trial court granted Dennis's motion to suppress the evidence of the
firearms and terminated the case.
The State appeals.
EMERGENCY AID EXCEPTION
The State argues that the trial court erred when it concluded that the
deputies' search of the home's top floor was unlawful. Specifically, it contends
that the deputies' warrantless search was part the community caretaking or
emergency aid exception and was a lawful protective sweep. We disagree.
This court reviews a trial court's decision on a motion to suppress to
determine whether the findings are supported by substantial evidence and
whether those findings, in turn, support the conclusions of law.4 This court
reviews conclusions of law de novo.5
The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution and article I,
section 7 of the Washington State Constitution prohibit unreasonable searches
and seizures.6 Under the Washington State Constitution, "[T]he home is a 'highly
4 State v. Schultz, 170 Wash. 2d 746, 753, 248 P.3d 484 (2011).
6 State v. Williams, 102 Wash. 2d 733, 736, 689 P.2d 1065 (1984).
No. 70262-9-1/5
private place' and 'receives heightened constitutional protection.'"7 Subject to
"'jealously and carefully drawn'" exceptions, a warrantless search is
unreasonable.8
The emergency aid exception to the warrant requirement "'allows for the
limited invasion of constitutionally protected privacy rights when it is necessary
for police officers to render aid or assistance.'"9 "This exception emerges from
the police's 'community caretaking function' "10 It is "divorced" from a
criminal investigation.11
The State bears the burden of establishing an exception to the warrant
requirement.12 For the emergency aid exception, the State must show that:
"(1) the police officer subjectively believed that someone likely
needed assistance for health or safety concerns; (2) a reasonable
person in the same situation would similarly believe that there was
need for assistance; and (3) there was a reasonable basis to
associate the need for assistance with the place being searched.". .
. (4) there is an imminent threat of substantial injury to persons or
property; (5) state agents must believe a specific person or persons
or property is in need of immediate help for health or safety
7 State v. Johnson. 104 Wash. App. 409, 415, 16 P.3d 680 (2001) (quoting
State v. Young, 123 Wash. 2d 173, 185, 867 P.2d 593 (1994)).
8 State v. Hendrickson, 129 Wash. 2d 61, 72, 917 P.2d 563 (1996) (quoting
State v. Bradley, 105 Wash. 2d 898, 902, 719 P.2d 546 (1986)).
9 Schultz, 170 Wash. 2d at 754 (quoting State v. Thompson, 151 Wash. 2d 793,
802, 92 P.3d 228 (2004)).
10 Id, (quoting Thompson, 151 Wash. 2d at 802).
11 Thompson, 151 Wash. 2d at 802.
12 Schultz, 170Wn.2dat754.
No. 70262-9-1/6
reasons; and (6) the claimed emergency is not a mere pretext for
an evidentiary search.'131
"Further, two competing policies come into play when the emergency aid
exception is invoked: '(1) allowing police to help people who are injured or in
danger, and (2) protecting citizens against unreasonable searches.'"14 This court
must "balance these policies in light of the facts and circumstances of each
case."15
Here, the trial court concluded that the "deputies validly entered the
defendant's residence under the community caretaking exception, specifically
under emergency aid." We agree, and the parties do not dispute this part of the
court's conclusions of law.
Rather, the issue is whether the deputies exceeded the scope of the
emergency aid exception when two ofthe deputies went upstairs, after Dennis
was detained downstairs, and observed the firearms while conducting a sweep.
In State v. Schroeder, Division Two considered whether officers exceeded
the scope ofthe emergency aid exception.16 It explained:
"Once the [community caretaking function] exception does apply,
police may conduct a noncriminal investigation so long as it is
necessary and strictly relevant to performance ofthe community
13 ]± (quoting Thompson, 151 Wash. 2d at 802) (citing State v. Leffler, 142
Wash. App. 175, 181, 183, 178 P.3d 1042 (2007); Ladson, 138 Wash. 2d at 349).
14 State v. Schroeder, 109 Wash. App. 30, 38, 32 P.3d 1022 (2001) (quoting
Johnson, 104 Wash. App. at 418).
15 Id,
16 109 Wash. App. 30, 43-46, 32 P.3d 1022 (2001).
No. 70262-9-1/7
caretaking function. The noncriminal investigation must end when
reasons for initiating an encounter have been fully dispelled."[17]
Stated differently, "'a warrantless search must be strictly circumscribed by the
exigencies which justify its initiation.'"18 "Thus, officers conducting a search
under the emergency exception may not exceed 'the scope of a reasonable
search to effectuate the purpose of the entry.'"19
Here, the purpose of the deputies' entry into the home was to check on
Dennis's welfare. This was based on the 911 report that he had made threats to
shoot himself. Consequently, the deputies' warrantless search was "'strictly
circumscribed'" to assisting Dennis and not anyone else.20
Once the deputies detained Dennis on the main floor of his home, the
emergency was over. The reason for initiating the encounter—checking on
Oennis—had been "'fully dispelled.'"21 The deputies did not have any other
information that would have led them to believe that anyone else was in the
home and needed assistance. Thus, they did not have authority under the
17 Id, at 43 (alteration in original) (quoting State v. Kinzv, 141 Wash. 2d 373,
395, 5 P.3d 668 (2000)).
18 State v. Gibson, 104 Wash. App. 792, 797, 17 P.3d 635 (2001) (internal
quotation marks omitted) (quoting Mincev v. Arizona, 437 U.S. 385, 393, 98 S.
Ct. 2408, 57 L. Ed. 2d 290 (1978)).
19 Id, (quoting State v. Bakke, 44 Wash. App. 830, 841, 723 P.2d 534
(1986)).
20 id, at 797 (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Mincev, 437 U.S.
at 393).
21 Schroeder, 109 Wash. App. at 43 (quoting Kinzv, 141 Wash. 2d at 395).
No. 70262-9-1/8
emergency aid exception to go upstairs to conduct a sweep. In short, the
deputies exceeded the proper scope of the emergency aid exception by their
actions.
The State argues that the deputies were within the scope of the exception
because they had no idea if other people or firearms were in the home. It
contends that the deputies needed to ensure that no one else needed
assistance. These arguments are not persuasive because the scope of a
warrantless search under the exception must be "'strictly circumscribed'" by the
emergency that justified its initiation.22 The deputies did not have any information
that anyone other than Dennis was in need of assistance when they conducted a
sweep of the top floor of the home.
The State also contends that the deputies were allowed to conduct a
cursory protective sweep to ensure their safety. This argument goes well beyond
the bounds of when a protective sweep is authorized.
In Marvland v. Buie, the United States Supreme Court held that the Fourth
Amendment permits protective sweeps.23 'While making a lawful arrest,
officers may conduct a reasonable 'protective sweep' of the premises for security
purposes."24 The scope of such a sweep is limited to a "cursory visual inspection
22 Gibson, 104 Wash. App. at 797 (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting
Mincev, 437 U.S. at 393).
23 494 U.S. 325, 327, 110 S. Ct. 1093, 108 L. Ed. 2d 276 (1990).
24 Hopkins, 113 Wash. App. at 959 (emphasis added) (citing Buie, 494 U.S.
at 334-35).
8
No. 70262-9-1/9
of places where a person may be hiding."25 "If the area immediately adjoins the
place of arrest, the police need not justify their actions by establishing a concern
for their safety."26 But when a sweep extends beyond the immediate area, "'there
must be articulable facts which, taken together with the rational inferences from
those facts, would warrant a reasonably prudent officer in believing that the area
to be swept harbors an individual posing a danger to those on the arrest
scene. "27 The protective sweep may last "no longer than is necessary to dispel
the reasonable suspicion of danger."28
Here, the deputies did not arrest Dennis before the protective sweep.
Thus, the threshold requirement of a protective sweep is not met under the
circumstances of this case. Rather, the deputies conducted the sweep before
the arrest, and the firearms discovered during the sweep led to Dennis's arrest.
The State fails to cite any authority to support its assertion that a
protective sweep is allowed in this particular circumstance—where a sweep is
conducted without first making an arrest. And the State fails to point to anything
in this record to show any valid concerns either for officer safety or the safety of
others that might have authorized a protective sweep of the top floor.
25 jd,
26 JU
27 JU (emphasis added) (quoting Buie, 494 U.S. at 334).
28 Byje, 494 U.S. at 335-36 (emphasis added).
No. 70262-9-1/10
We acknowledge that a review of federal cases shows that some courts
have applied Buie to allow protective sweeps in non-arrest situations.29 In these
situations, the inquiry is whether officers had articulable facts to support their
belief that the area to be swept harbors an individual posing a danger to those on
the scene.30 "A general desire to make sure that there are no other individuals
present is not sufficient to justify an extended protective sweep."31
Here, as we previously stated, the State fails to show that the deputies
had a reasonable belief that the top floor of the home harbored anyone posing a
danger to them. In fact, the State acknowledges that the "deputies testified that
they had no idea if other persons lived at the residence or were present."32
Thus, the State fails to show that the deputies' warrantless search of the top floor
was a lawful protective sweep.
The State also contends that a cursory protective sweep should be
permitted when officers engage in community caretaking, so that officers and
29 See, e.g., United States v. Spotted Elk, 548 F.3d 641, 651 (8th Cir.
2008); United States v. Martins, 413 F.3d 139, 149-50 (1st Cir. 2005); see also
79 C.J.S. Searches § 120 (2014) ("Although it has been held that arrest is not per
se an indispensable element of in-home protective sweep, it has also been held
under the Fourth Amendment that there can be no protective sweep without an
arrest preceding the sweep.").
30 See, e.g., Spotted Elk, 548 F.3d at 651; Martin, 413 F.3d at 149-50;
United States v. Gould, 364 F.3d 578, 584 (5th Cir. 2004); United States v.
Taylor, 248 F.3d 506, 513-14 (6th Cir. 2001); United States v. Garcia, 997 F.2d
1273, 1282 (9th Cir. 1993); United States v. Patrick, 959 F.2d 991, 996-97 (D.C.
Cir. 1992); United States v. Daoust. 916 F.2d 757, 758-59 (1st Cir. 1990).
31 State v. Sadler, 147 Wash. App. 97, 126, 193 P.3d 1108 (2008).
32 Brief of Appellant at 18 (emphasis added).
10
No. 70262-9-1/11
anyone in the immediate area are safe. But the State fails to cite any authority to
support an expansion of the emergency aid or community caretaking exception
to allow a protective sweep. Rather, as previously discussed, the scope of the
emergency aid exception is "'strictly circumscribed by the exigencies which justify
its initiation.'"33
The State primarily relies on State v. Sadler to support its assertion that
the deputies were conducting a lawful protective sweep.34 But that case is
distinguishable because there was an arrest before the sweep.
There, officers entered Stanley Sadler's home without a warrant.35 This
initial entry was based on the emergency aid exception.36 The officers
subjectively and reasonably believed that a 14-year-old girl, K.T., was in this
home and engaged in sadomasochistic sex with Sadler, a significantly older
man.37
The officers located K.T. in bed and observed the following:
Once upstairs, Officer Norling saw K.T. laying on a bed in the fetal
position. K.T.'s skirt was pulled up to just below her waist. She did
not have on any underwear and her buttocks were exposed.
Officer Norling also observed chains on the bed frame, leather cuffs
on the nightstand, and a vibrator nearby. K.T. appeared to be
33 Gibson, 104 Wash. App. at 797 (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting
Mincev, 437 U.S. at 393).
34 Brief of Appellant at 13-15 (citing Sadler, 147 Wash. App. 97).
35 Sadler, 147 Wash. App. at 118-19.
36 id, at 124-25.
37 Id.
11
No. 70262-9-1/12
sleeping or unconscious, and she was slow to respond when
Officer Norling called her name.[381
After these observations, the officers arrested Sadler.39 While the court did not
use the word "arrest," the court explained that an officer detained, handcuffed,
patted down, and took Sadler into custody.40 Then, the officers proceeded to
search the areas that immediately adjoined the place of arrest.41 In one of the
rooms, officers discovered a room with numerous sexual devices and recording
equipment.42
Under Buie, the court concluded that the officers were lawfully conducting
a protective sweep because the officers "searched the adjoining rooms and did a
cursory search of the floor below, where he detained Sadler for a short time."43
Because there was an arrest, the officers did not need to justify their actions by
establishing a concern for their safety when they searched the areas immediately
adjoining the place of arrest.44
Here, unlike Sadler, there was no arrest before the protective sweep.
Thus, the deputies were not permitted to conduct a warrantless search unless
38 Id, at 119-20.
39 Id, at 120, 126.
40 Id, at 120.
41JU at 120, 126.
42 JU at 120.
43 Id, at 126.
44 Id, at 125; see also Hopkins, 113 Wash. App. at 959-60.
12
No. 70262-9-1/13
they could point to articulable facts that the "area involved in the protective
sweep may harbor an individual who poses a danger to those on the scene."45
As previously discussed, the State fails to point to such facts.
The State poses hypothetical situations to support its assertion that the
deputies should be able to search the top floor bedroom. It states,
What if the deputies could not determine if the defendant was
suicidal and they had to release him—with a handgun and assault
rifle still in the bedroom. What if the deputies had departed the
residence with the defendant and there had been children in the
home—with a fully loaded handgun sitting on the bed and an
assault rifle behind the door.[46]
But we need not address hypothetical situations unsupported by any evidence in
this record. The law is clear that exceptions to the warrant requirement are
"'jealously and carefully drawn.'"47 The State fails to persuade us that we should
disregard this admonishment under the facts of this case.
Finally, the State compares the search that occurred in this case to that
which occurs when officers take "a mentally unstable person into civil custody
pursuant to RCW 71.05.150." It cites a couple of cases regarding warrantless
searches associated with civil commitments.48 Again, there is no support in this
45 Sadler, 147 Wash. App. at 125-26.
46 Brief of Appellant at 18.
47 State v. Houser, 95 Wash. 2d 143, 149, 622 P.2d 1218 (1980) (quoting
Arkansas v. Sanders, 442 U.S. 753, 759, 99 S. Ct. 2586, 61 L. Ed. 2d 235
(1979)).
48 Briefof Appellant at 16 (citing State v. Dempsev. 88 Wash. App. 918, 922,
947 P.2d 265 (1997); State v. Lowrimore, 67 Wash. App. 949, 957, 841 P.2d 779
(1992)).
13
No. 70262-9-1/14
record for applying the law related to civil commitments here. One of the
responding deputies characterized Dennis as acting "calm" and "subdued" when
he first observed Dennis emerging from a top floor bedroom, and the deputies
did not treat this as a civil commitment. For these reasons, reliance on civil
commitment cases is misplaced.
Because the deputies did not lawfully enter the bedroom, the State's
argument that the deputies lawfully seized the firearms that were in plain view
fails.49 Thus, the trial court correctly concluded that the deputies exceeded the
scope of the emergency aid exception when they searched the top floor. The
evidence seized must be suppressed.
There does not appear to be any dispute that there was no other evidence
to support the charge in this case. Accordingly, termination of the case was
proper.
We affirm the order suppressing the evidence and terminating the case.
fex,J .
WE CONCUR:
tY^uo^ ^
49 id, at 21-22.
14