State v. Harding

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
STATE OF DELAWARE, :
: ID No. 1609020213
v. : In and For Kent County
:
ROBERT HARDING, :
:
Defendant. :
ORDER
Submitted: February 28, 2017
Decided: March 13, 2017
On this 13th day of March 2017, having considered Defendant Robert
Harding’s (hereinafter “Mr. Harding’s”) motion to suppress and the State’s
response, it appears that:
1. Mr. Harding challenges the sufficiency of a search warrant authorizing
the search of his residence. The facts cited herein are those found within the four
corners of the affidavit submitted in support of the challenged warrant. Mr.
Harding resides at 210 Reeves Crossing Road, Felton, Delaware (hereinafter the
“210 address”). Prior to the execution of a search warrant at that premise, Mr.
Harding was not a target of a drug investigation and the police did not suspect him
of any criminal activity. However, due to a police investigation into drug
manufacturing allegedly occurring at the nearby residence at 202 Reeves Crossing
Road, Felton, Delaware (hereinafter the “202 address”) and foot traffic between the
two, the police obtained a search warrant for the 210 address as well as the 202
address. Pursuant to the search of Mr. Harding’s 210 address, the police found
marijuana and several weapons.
2. The affidavit provides that the police conducted an investigation into
alleged drug manufacturing at the 202 address after a Delaware State Police officer
observed Daniel Dilmore (hereinafter “Mr. Dilmore”) purchase Sudafed. Through
a subsequent investigation, they learned that he had made several similar previous
purchases. As a result, the police conducted an address history check for Mr.
Dilmore and discovered that he resided at the 202 address but also had a “history”
at the 210 address. The police investigation included surveillance of the 202
address, but because there were two neighboring single wide mobile homes, the
police were able to see what was occurring at three homes, including the 202
address.1
3. The police also received a tip from a concerned citizen regarding drug
activities at the 202 address. The concerned citizen was worried about the health
and safety of Morgan Rodesky, a woman he or she identified as residing at the 202
address. According to the concerned citizen, he or she visited the 202 residence on
multiple occasions and observed a white female, he or she knew only as “D”,
actively cooking methamphetamine. The concerned citizen also purchased
Sudafed for Morgan Rodesky and took it to the 202 address.
4. The police then conducted computer inquiries related to the 210 and 202
addresses. From this, the police identified Diane Hawkins (hereinafter “Ms.
Hawkins”), a white female, as a possible suspect, but the affidavit did not identify
the reasons that she became a suspect. The police also determined that Ms.
Hawkins had an address history at both the 202 and 210 addresses.
5. During the course of the investigation, the police pulled the trash from
the property. All three units shared a single receptacle. In the trash, there were
1
The three mobile homes at issue had separate addresses (218 Reeves Crossing Road, 210
Reeves Crossing Road, and 202 Reeves Crossing Road).
2
separately sealed trash bags. In one of the bags, the police found items commonly
used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine.2 The sealed trash bag that
contained those items, however, was clearly associated with the 202 address as
evidenced by the inclusion of a receipt with Mr. Dilmore’s name, signature, and
his 202 address.
6. The police surveillance team also observed Ms. Hawkins exit the 210
address on numerous occasions. On one such occasion, Ms. Hawkins left the 210
address, went into the 202 address, and then left with another individual. The two
drove to the Wal-Mart in Milford, Delaware where the police observed the other
individual purchase Sudafed, although not while in the presence of Ms. Hawkins.
Ms. Hawkins was apart from that individual and met him outside the store after
both apparently had separately completed their business. While the two were at the
Wal-Mart, the police continued surveillance at the 202 address and observed
subjects walk to and from the 202 and 210 addresses. One of the people who left
the 210 address matched the description of Morgan Rodesky, but the police were
unable to positively identify that individual.
7. The police presented an affidavit with this information to a magistrate for
a search warrant for the 202 address and the 210 address. Mr. Harding challenges
the sufficiency of the 210 warrant. When executing the 210 address warrant, the
police found 502.76 grams of marijuana and several weapons for which the police
arrested Mr. Harding.
2
The trash contained a pharmacy receipt for the purchase of Sudafed, a second pharmacy receipt
with Mr. Dilmore’s name, signature, and his 202 address on it, one empty package of Energizer
Lithium batteries, two cut Lithium batteries with the Lithium removed, two empty Sudafed
blister packets, one empty box of Sudafed, plastic tubing with a soda cap attachment on one end,
lighter fluid, one water pack from the inside of a cold compress, and a Mountain Dew bottle with
white residue. The affiants noted in the affidavit that through their training, experience, and
knowledge, they knew these items to be key ingredients in the illegal manufacture of
methamphetamine.
3
8. Mr. Harding argues that the search warrant was devoid of any nexus
between the 210 address and evidence of criminal activity. Therefore, Mr. Harding
argues that the warrant lacked probable cause to search the 210 address.
Furthermore, Mr. Harding argues that the three mobile homes were three separate
residences, and the 210 address clearly belonged to Mr. Harding who was not the
target of the investigation. He also argues that as this was not a circumstance of
communal living, and therefore, the sufficient probable cause to search the 202
address and Mr. Dilmore was not sufficient to justify a search of the 210 address. 3
9. In response, the State argues that the affidavit properly established a
nexus between the 210 address and criminal activity making it likely that evidence
of drug manufacturing would be found in that residence. The State maintains that
the items located during the trash pull do not clearly indicate that they came from
the 202 residence because the police found those items in a communal trash bin.
Furthermore, the State alleges that (1) the address history of both Mr. Dilmore and
Ms. Hawkins linking them at some point in the past in an unspecified way to the
210 residence; (2) the foot traffic between the two residences; and (3) that Ms.
Hawkins left 210, entered 202, and then left with another individual to Wal-Mart,
where that individual purchased Sudafed outside her presence, together sufficiently
support probable cause for the warrant.
10. As Mr. Harding challenges the issuance of a search warrant, the Court is
confined to a four-corners analysis.4 Under the Fourth Amendment of the United
States Constitution and the Delaware Constitution, a magistrate may only issue a
3
The Court does not further address the communal living issue because the State does not seek
to justify the search of the 210 address on that basis. Regardless, the 210 address is clearly
referenced in the affidavit as being a separate residence and there are no facts cited in the
affidavit permitting an inference that this case involves communal living space.
4
E.g., LeGrande v. State, 947 A.2d 1103, 1107 (Del. 2008).
4
warrant that is based on probable cause. 5 It is well settled that “[a]n affidavit in
support of a search warrant must, within the four-corners of the affidavit, set forth
facts adequate for a judicial officer to form a reasonable belief that an offense has
been committed and the property to be seized will be found in a particular place.” 6
There must be a nexus sufficiently linking the items sought to the place to be
searched. 7 The magistrate must make this probable cause determination using a
practical, common sense approach. 8 Accordingly, “a neutral and detached
magistrate may draw reasonable inferences from the factual allegations in the
affidavit.”9 Moreover, the issuing magistrate must make the probable cause
determination based on the totality of the circumstances. 10
11. Upon review of a magistrate’s decision, the reviewing court is to give
“great deference . . .” to a magistrate’s finding of probable cause, and that review
“should not, therefore, take the form of a de novo review.”11 Despite the deference
afforded a magistrate’s probable cause determination, a substantial basis review
requires the reviewing court to determine whether the magistrate’s decision
5
U.S. Const. amend. IV; Del. Const. art. I § 6.
6
E.g., Sisson v. State, 903 A.2d 288, 296 (Del. 2006).
7
State v. Friend, 2016 WL 723170, at *5 (Del. Super. Ct. Dec. 13, 2016).
8
E.g., State v. Holden, 60 A.3d 1110, 1114 (Del. 2013).
9
E.g., Sisson, 903 A.2d at 296.
10
E.g., LeGrande, 947 A.2d at 1107–08; Sisson, 903 A.2d at 296.
11
E.g., Holden, 60 A.3d 1110, 1114. The great deference given to a magistrate’s probable cause
determination stems from the United States Supreme Court’s practical approach to the Fourth
Amendment, which seeks to encourage police officers to obtain a warrant. Id. The Court
recognized that “[a] grudging or negative attitude by reviewing courts toward warrants will tend
to discourage police officers from submitting their evidence to a judicial officer before acting.”
Id. at 1114–15 (quoting United States v. Ventresca, 380 U.S. 102, 108 (1965)).
5
reflected a proper “analysis of the totality of the circumstances,”12 and “whether
the magistrate had a substantial basis for concluding that probable cause existed.” 13
In making this determination, the reviewing court must not take “a hyper-technical
approach to reviewing a search warrant affidavit.”14 Instead, in order for a warrant
to be upheld, “[t]he affidavit must set forth facts permitting an impartial judicial
officer to reasonably conclude that the items sought would be found at the
location.”15
12. Here, the State relies on the fact that there is clear evidence of drug
manufacturing occurring at the 202 residence, the fact that there is foot traffic
between the two addresses, both by a resident at 202 and by other unidentified
people, and the fact that the suspects under investigation for methamphetamine
manufacturing have an address history at the 210 address. These circumstances
combined, however, were not enough for a magistrate to find a fair probability that
evidence of methamphetamine manufacturing would be found at the separate 210
address even when viewing the decision deferentially and in light of the totality of
the circumstances.
13. Namely, the affidavit in support of the warrant lacks evidence linking
criminal activity and evidence of drug manufacturing to the 210 address. While
the State argues that the items clearly associated with methamphetamine
manufacturing found during a trash pull cannot definitively be linked to any of the
three residences because it was found in a communal trash can, the only drug
related evidence was in a separate bag that was clearly linked to the 202 address.
12
E.g., LeGrande, 947 A.2d at 1108.
13
E.g., Sisson, 903 A.2d at 296.
14
LeGrande, 947 A.2d at 1108.
15
Id.
6
This bag, in a shared trash bin that serviced three separate residences, contained an
empty package of Energizer Lithium batteries, two cut Lithium batteries with the
lithium removed, two empty Sudafed blister packets, one empty box of Sudafed, a
plastic tubing with a soda cap attachment on one end, lighter fluid, a water pack
from the inside of a cold compress, and a Mountain Dew bottle with white residue.
These materials, in conjunction with the officer affiants’ cited expertise, provide
clear probable cause of drug manufacturing. However, these items were found
within one bag that also contained a pharmacy receipt with Mr. Dilmore’s name,
signature, and the 202 address on it. This receipt is sufficient to link the trash’s
contents to the 202 address.16 However, despite the State’s argument, this is not
evidence of criminal activity that could reasonably be linked to the 210 address.
14. The State also argues that Mr. Dilmore and Ms. Hawkins’ address
history at the 210 address and foot traffic between the two residences are sufficient
to link criminal activity to the 210 address. The State argues that a reasonable
person could expect to find evidence at that separate residence based on this
information.
15. The Court disagrees. An address history at the 210 address and foot
traffic are innocent activities. While many jurisdictions are willing to find
probable cause on a showing of innocent activity, 17 the Delaware courts have
16
See State v. Dickerson, 92 P.3d 613, 2004 WL 1489048, at *3 (Kan. Ct. App. July 2, 2004)
(Table) (finding that evidence of drugs found during a trash pull was clearly linked to the
defendant after the police found a bag of trash containing evidence of drugs and a prescription
sack with the defendant’s name on it despite the defendant’s argument that the bag could have
been used by any of the other residents).
17
See, e.g., United States v. Humphries, 372 F.3d 653, 657 (4th Cir. 2004) (noting that “even
seemingly innocent activity when placed in the context of surrounding circumstances” can give
rise to probable cause); People v. Garcia, 808 N.Y.S.2d 34, 35 (N.Y. App. Div. 2005) (holding
that “[p]robable cause was established through a very lengthy chain of incriminating
circumstances” even though “each piece of information, viewed singly, might have had an
innocent explanation”).
7
viewed wholly innocent activity skeptically when examining justification for
searches.18 The Delaware Supreme Court has said “[t]he possibility that there may
be a hypothetical innocent explanation for each of several facts revealed during the
course of an investigation does not preclude a determination that probable cause
exists . . . .”19 Nevertheless, it more recently explained how a Delaware court is to
treat wholly innocent activity such as in the case at hand.20 Namely, in Lopez-
Vazquez v. State, the Delaware Supreme Court explained that
it is possible for factors, although insufficient individually, to add up
to reasonable suspicion—that is the nature of a totality of the
circumstances test. But we think it impossible for a combination of
wholly innocent factors to combine into a suspicious conglomeration
unless there are concrete reasons for such an interpretation. 21
In Lopez-Vazquez, the Delaware Supreme Court examined this issue in the context
of reasonable articulable suspicion. It is no less applicable when evaluating the
sufficiency of probable cause. In either level of analysis, innocent activity should
be evaluated under the totality of the circumstances. On the other hand, under
Delaware law, though wholly innocent activity does not establish probable cause
unless there are concrete reasons for such an interpretation.
16. While the affidavit recites an address history check and that both Mr.
Dilmore and Ms. Hawkins have a history at the 210 address, the affidavit does not
set forth what that history entails. There is nothing explaining or providing any
18
Lopez-Vazquez v. State, 956 A.2d 1280, 1288 (Del. 2008).
19
State v. Maxwell, 624 A.2d 926, 930 (Del. 1993) (finding probable cause existed for an arrest).
20
Lopez-Vazquez, 956 A.2d at 1288.
21
Id. at 1287–88. While this case analyzed reasonable suspicion to conduct a Terry stop, the
Court’s finding is applicable to the case at hand because both probable cause and reasonable
suspicion require a totality of the circumstances test. Moreover, a probable cause determination
requires a heightened finding compared to a reasonable suspicion, making it more likely that the
same standard would apply in the context of probable cause.
8
context regarding this history. An issuing magistrate could not reasonably
determine that the two individuals had current links to the 210 address. Without
more information, the fact that Mr. Dilmore and Ms. Hawkins had a history at the
210 address does not provide evidence for a reasonable person to believe there
would be a fair probability that police would find evidence at that location.
17. The foot traffic, by both Ms. Hawkins and other unidentified individuals,
is the strongest link between the 202 address and the 210 address. However, this
link is insufficient to show criminal activity, even when considering the other
circumstances of this case. There is no indication in the affidavit that through the
affiants’ training, experience, or knowledge they know heavy foot traffic is often
associated with any criminal activity. Furthermore, there is no indication in the
affidavit that this is a high crime area, which could better support an inference that
heavy foot traffic was evidence of criminal activity. Without such additional
information, next door neighbors walking back and forth between their homes is
wholly innocent activity. Similarly, the foot traffic by other unidentified
individuals without more information is also wholly innocent activity. This
conduct does not give rise to probable cause to search a neighbor’s home, absent
further context which the affidavit in this case lacks.22
18. Likewise, the State incorrectly argues that there was probable cause to
search the 210 address because of clear probable cause for the 202 address and that
Ms. Hawkins was seen coming and going from her neighbor’s 210 address on
numerous occasions. This does not reasonably justify a finding of a fair
22
See, e.g., Bailey v. Superior Court, 15 Cal. Rptr. 2d 17, 20 (Cal. Ct. App. 1992) (finding that
the search warrant was not supported by probable cause because the only evidence of criminal
activity was heavy foot traffic and “heavy foot traffic may just as likely reflect that the suspect is
engaged in innocent activity, such as selling soap or cosmetics”); State v. Gentile, 646 S.E.2d
171, 175 (S.C. Ct. App. 2007) (finding that a warrant was not supported by probable cause
because the only evidence of narcotic activity was heavy foot traffic).
9
probability that the police would discover evidence of a crime at her neighbor’s
residence. The United States Supreme Court recognized that “a person’s mere
propinquity to others independently suspected of criminal activity does not,
without more, give rise to probable cause . . . .”23 Instead, the police must base a
search on particularized probable cause. 24 Accordingly, the fact that there was
probable cause to search the 202 address does not establish probable cause to
search the 210 address even though Ms. Hawkins was seen coming and going from
the 210 address.25 In order to support probable cause based on one’s company or
environment, “there must be other factors . . . which aid in formulating probable
cause.”26 Here, there are insufficient facts cited to support a finding of probable
cause given what otherwise is wholly innocent activity.
19. Two factually similar Delaware cases to the case at hand were State v.
Ada27 and State v. Cannon.28 Both cases involved suppression of separate
residence searches with stronger evidence of criminal activity regarding the
residences than in the case at hand. First, in Ada, the Delaware Superior Court
granted defendant’s motion to suppress a search of a different home linked to the
23
Ybarra v. Illinois, 444 U.S. 85, 86 (1979).
24
Id. While the Ybarra case was in the context of a search of an individual, it also applies in the
context of a search of one’s home as the home is afforded the utmost protection.
25
See United States v. Hiruko, 320 F. Supp. 2d 26, 33 (E.D.N.Y. 2004) (stating that “[p]roximity
to criminal conduct is generally insufficient to establish probable cause; rather, a search or
seizure of a person must be supported by probable cause particularized with respect to that
person”); Martin v. City of N. Coll. Hill, 2008 WL 4070275, at *5 (S.D. Ohio Aug. 27, 2008)
(stating that “a search or seizure must be supported by individualized probable cause which
cannot be established by the fact that there coincidentally exists probable cause to arrest another
or to search or seize the premises”).
26
Martin, 2008 WL 4070275, at *5.
27
2001 WL 660227 (Del. Super. Ct. June 8, 2001).
28
2007 WL 660227 (Del. Super. Ct. June 8, 2001).
10
defendant.29 A concerned citizen contacted the police department to inform them
that the defendant was selling illegal drugs from an apartment in the West Court
Apartments. 30 The police then set up a surveillance team to observe the defendant.
Upon observing him leave a West 4th Street residence, the police expanded the
surveillance to include that location.31 During this surveillance, police “witnessed
[d]efendant coming and going from the [West 4th Street] residence and observed
the [d]efendant use a key to lock and unlock the front door. Defendant was once
observed leaving the residence with a gym bag and was followed to the area of the
[West Court Apartment].”32 The police applied for a search warrant for both the
defendant’s West Court Apartment and the West 4th Street residence based on the
information they collected while monitoring the defendant. In the affidavit, the
affiants stated that they were “very familiar with drug dealers who often keep their
main supply location separate from their sales location. This is commonly done to
prtect [sic] the dealers [sic] larger quantity of drugs in case the police execute a
search warrant at the sales location.” 33 Based on this information, a magistrate
issued a search warrant for both locations. 34
20. In Ada, however, despite this information (1) linking the defendant with
drugs, and (2) separately linking the defendant to the West 4th Street residence, the
court determined that there was an insufficient probable cause to search the West
29
Ada, 2001 WL 660227, at *5.
30
Id. at *1.
31
Id.
32
Id. at *5.
33
Id.
34
Id. at *2.
11
4th Street location.35 The court noted that the facts failed to establish a nexus
linking the evidence the police sought to the West 4th Street residence “given that
police observed no illegal or suspicious activity occurring at the residence.” 36
21. As the evidence in Ada was insufficient to support a finding of probable
cause because the police did not observe any illegal or suspicious activity
occurring at the West 4th Street residence, here too, the Court must find that the
warrant lacked probable cause. Similar to the issuing judge in Ada, the issuing
magistrate here did not have a substantial basis to conclude that probable cause
existed for the 210 address on the basis of foot traffic between the 202 and 210
addresses by a suspect (despite her address history at the 210 address) and other
unidentified individuals.
22. Second, in State v. Cannon, the court reviewed a search warrant for the
defendant’s home, vehicle, and person, and granted defendant’s motion to suppress
evidence found in his residence.37 In Cannon, a concerned citizen contacted the
police to advise them that the defendant was selling drugs at two locations in
Wilmington, which a crime stop tip later corroborated.38 The police obtained
information regarding defendant’s residence and the car he drove. 39 The police
then conducted surveillance on the defendant and observed him drive to specific
areas around Wilmington, speak with three individuals, and then drive to another
location at which the three individuals entered defendant’s car and then exited it a
35
Id. at *5.
36
Id.
37
Cannon, 2007 WL 1849022, at *1.
38
Id.
39
Id.
12
few minutes later.40 The police then observed defendant enter a different vehicle,
which he soon exited.41 When the police stopped the vehicle the defendant had
just exited, they found cocaine, which the driver admitted he received from the
defendant.42 The police applied for, and obtained, a search warrant for defendant’s
residence, vehicle, and person, based on the above facts and statements, and based
upon the affiant’s training, experience, and participation in other drug
investigations.43
23. The Superior Court found that the warrant for defendant’s residence
lacked probable cause, because it did not establish a sufficient nexus to the home. 44
The Court determined that because the criminal activity took place outside
defendant’s home, in order to establish probable cause to search the residence, the
warrant needed to set forth factual information adequate to support probable cause
for the home; there, the affidavit could not merely rely on the affiant’s training,
experience, and knowledge. 45 As there were no facts linking criminal activity to
the residence, the court determined that the warrant lacked probable cause. 46
Similarly here, the affidavit lacked factual information linking the 210 address to
any criminal activity. Pursuant to the totality of the circumstances test, the facts
cited in the 202 address affidavit did not establish probable cause for the magistrate
to issue this warrant.
40
Id.
41
Id. at 2.
42
Id.
43
Id.
44
Id. at 1.
45
Id. at 4.
46
Id. at 5.
13
WHEREFORE, for the reasons set forth herein, the Court GRANTS Mr.
Harding’s motion to suppress.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
____________________
Judge
JJC:jb
oc: Prothonotary
c: Gregory Babowal, DAG
Alex Funk, Esq.
File
14