State v. Murphy

471 P.2d 863 (1970)

STATE of Oregon, Respondent,
v.
Patrick Henry MURPHY, Appellant.

Court of Appeals of Oregon, Department 1.

Argued and Submitted June 19, 1970. Decided July 9, 1970.

Benhardt E. Schmidt, Portland, argued the cause and filed the brief for appellant.

Jacob B. Tanzer, Sol. Gen., Salem, argued the cause for respondent. With him on the brief were Lee Johnson, Atty. Gen., and J. Bradford Shiley, Asst. Atty. Gen., Salem.

Before SCHWAB, C.J., and FOLEY and BRANCHFIELD, JJ.

SCHWAB, Chief Judge.

Defendant was convicted upon trial by jury of illegal possession of narcotics (marihuana). He appeals, contending that his motion to suppress the marihuana seized from his person and introduced at the time of trial over his objection was improperly denied.

The essential facts are these: On March 6, 1968, the state's female witness called the defendant and asked him to help her move some of her personal effects (she and her husband were going through a divorce). During the telephone conversation she asked the defendant if he could "get hold of some grass" (marihuana) and defendant indicated that he could. For one reason or another the woman subsequently decided that she hadn't made a wise move and called a member of the police force, told him of her telephone conversation with defendant, that defendant was coming over with marihuana and that she didn't want him to come.

Two policemen came to her apartment prior to the arrival of defendant. When the defendant entered the police searched him against his will, found the marihauna in question and then released him. He was not arrested until some 10 days later.

As near as we can tell from the defendant's brief he contends that the motion to suppress should have been allowed because there was no probable cause to search him; that if there was probable cause to search, a search warrant should have been obtained; or, failing that, that he should not have been searched without first being arrested.

"Reasonable ground for suspicion, supported by circumstances sufficiently strong in themselves to warrant a cautious man in the belief" constitutes probable cause to search. State v. Keith, Or. App., 90 Adv.Sh. 531, 539, 465 P.2d 724 (1970). There was ample cause here.

A search based on probable cause and without arrest is permissible where delay in obtaining a search warrant will likely result in the loss of evidence sought. State v. Murphy, Or. App., 90 Adv.Sh. 679, 465 P.2d 900 (1970). Such was the case here.

"If the police have probable cause to search the defendant and probable cause to believe it was necessary that they search him without taking the time to first obtain a search warrant, their right to search him immediately was not defeated by their failure to exercise their right to arrest him." State v. Murphy, supra, at 685, 465 P.2d at 904.

Affirmed.