State of Tennessee v. Marcus Richards

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
Assigned on Briefs September 19, 2007
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. MARCUS RICHARDS
Direct Appeal from the Circuit Court for Williamson County
No. II-CR101400A&B Timothy L. Easter, Judge
No. M2006-02179-CCA-R3-CD - Filed February 6, 2008
Defendant pled guilty to misdemeanor possession of cocaine. Prior to his plea, Defendant filed and
the trial court heard a suppression motion. The trial court, after the hearing and submission of briefs
by the parties, denied the motion. Defendant properly preserved a certified question of law. After
a thorough review of the record, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and dismiss the charge
against Defendant.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right;
Judgment of the Circuit Court Reversed; Indictment Dismissed
THOMAS T. WOODALL, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which DAVID G. HAYES and JERRY
L. SMITH , JJ., joined.
Venus Niner, Franklin, Tennessee, for the Appellant, Marcus Richards.
Robert E. Cooper, Attorney General and Reporter; Benjamin A. Ball, Assistant Attorney General;
Ronald L. Davis, District Attorney General; and Sean B. Duddy, Assistant District Attorney General,
for the Appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
I. Background
The arrest of Defendant arose out of a tip from a citizen informant. The identity of the citizen
informant was not revealed at the suppression hearing, although the officer who took the call,
Sergeant Chris Clausi, testified at the hearing. Sergeant Clausi testified that the citizen informant
called him and stated that he (“he” is being used as a gender-neutral pronoun, because the gender of
the citizen informant was not revealed) had seen a drug transaction at the picnic table behind 144
Ninth Avenue in Franklin. The citizen informant told Sergeant Clausi that Trent Covington (who
resided at 144 Ninth Avenue with his mother) was involved and so was the driver of a maroon SUV.
Sergeant Clausi testified that he knew Maurice Head drove a maroon SUV and believed that was
who the citizen informant was referring to. The citizen informant also identified a woman sitting
at the table as being a person who was in Drug Court. Defendant was not named by the citizen
informant and Sergeant Clausi testified that only three people were mentioned by the citizen
informant.
Sergeant Clausi testified that the citizen informant had called him before and given accurate
information about drug transactions and those involved in the transactions in this neighborhood. He
further testified that this person was not a paid informant or someone who was “working off
charges.” As far as Sergeant Clausi knew the citizen informant had not been convicted of any
crimes, although he did testify that he had not performed a criminal history check on the person.
When Sergeant Clausi arrived at 144 Ninth Avenue, he found the group of people the citizen
informant described sitting at the picnic table behind the home.
After receiving the phone call, Sergeant Clausi contacted the officers who usually patrol that
area, Officers Rose and Davis. He told them that he had received a phone call from a citizen
informant about possible drug activity “behind Trent’s house at the picnic table with the girl from
Drug Court.” Officers Rose and Davis arrived first on the scene and were conducting the
investigation when Sergeant Clausi arrived.
Officer Rose testified that, upon receiving Sergeant Clausi’s information, Officer Davis and
he advised Sergeant Clausi that they would park on Ninth Avenue and Natchez Street and approach
the home from the left side. Officer Rose testified that it was a tactical decision to not approach the
home from the front. Because of the knowledge that narcotics can easily be destroyed, he did not
want the people seated at the table to see him approach until he was close. Officer Rose testified that
he was dressed in plain clothes. Officer Rose stated that one of the subjects (Maurice Head) noticed
the officers as they approached. Mr. Head dropped something between his legs. Officer Rose also
observed Mr. Head sweep the table off with his hand. Officer Rose testified that he said “don’t
move, police, nobody move.” Mr. Head then moved as if to get up and was told again not to move.
Officer Rose testified that he could not determine what was dropped by Mr. Head until he arrived
at the picnic table and saw a “corner baggie” on the ground. Also at the picnic table, he observed
a white powder substance “dusting” the ground and sprinkled on the table.
Officer Davis, who was in uniform during the incident, stated that when Mr. Head noticed
the officers, he placed something on the ground and that at that point Officer Davis could not
determine what the “something” was. He testified that Officer Rose then said something like “hey
stop what you’re doing, just keep your hands up where we can see them.” Officer Davis stated on
cross-examination that this was said in a manner that was not conversational. Officer Davis testified
that none of the white substance found on the table, on the ground, or near the corner baggie was sent
to be tested at the crime laboratory. Officer Davis stated that he searched Defendant twice. The first
time was without consent because he “had immediate access to the cocaine” and to ensure that
Defendant did not have any “weapons or anything obvious.” After patting him down, Officer Davis
told Defendant to sit back down.
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The officers then searched Mr. Covington and found a white substance in his wheelchair.
Officer Davis testified that Sergeant Clausi then told him to “go ahead and do a full search on
[Defendant].” Officer Davis complied with Sergeant Clausi’s request and found a baggie in
Defendant’s pant pocket. The baggie contained what was believed to be cocaine and marijuana (later
confirmed by lab tests). Defendant was placed under arrest. Defendant pled guilty to misdemeanor
possession of cocaine and properly preserved as a certified question of law the following issue:
Whether the evidence seized from the defendant should have been suppressed
because the continued seizure and search of the person of the defendant by the police
was not supported by probable cause or reasonable suspicion in violation of the
Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 7 of the
Tennessee Constitution.
II. Analysis
A. Standard of Review
The findings of fact made by the trial court at the hearing on a motion to suppress are binding
upon this court unless the evidence contained in the record preponderates against them. State v.
Ross, 49 S.W.3d 833, 839 (Tenn. 2001). The trial court, as the trier of fact, is able to assess the
credibility of the witnesses, determine the weight and value to be afforded the evidence and resolve
any conflicts in the evidence. State v. Odom, 928 S.W.2d 18, 23 (Tenn. 1996). The prevailing party
is entitled to the strongest legitimate view of the evidence and all reasonable inferences drawn from
that evidence. State v. Hicks, 55 S.W.3d 515, 521 (Tenn. 2001). However, this court is not bound
by the trial court’s conclusions of law. State v. Simpson, 968 S.W.2d 776, 779 (Tenn. 1998). The
application of the law to the facts found by the trial court are questions of law that this court reviews
de novo. State v. Daniel, 12 S.W.3d 420, 423 (Tenn. 2000). The defendant has the burden of
establishing that the evidence contained in the record preponderates against the findings of fact made
by the trial court. Braziel v. State, 529 S.W.2d 501, 506 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1975).
The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, made applicable to the States by
the Fourteenth Amendment, provides:
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 person or things to be seized.
Article I, section 7 of the Tennessee Constitution provides that:
People shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers and possessions, from
unreasonable searches and seizures; and that general warrants, whereby an officer
may be commanded to search suspected places, without evidence of the fact
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committed, or to seize any person or persons not named, whose offences are not
particularly described and supported by evidence, are dangerous to liberty and ought
not to be granted.
Both of these constitutional provisions are intended to “safeguard the privacy and security of
individuals against arbitrary invasions of government officials.” Camara v. Municipal Court, 387
U.S. 523, 528, 87 S. Ct. 1727, 1730, 18 L. Ed. 2d 930 (1967); see also State v. Keith, 978 S.W.2d
861, 865 (Tenn.1998).
Under both the federal and state constitutions, warrantless seizures are presumed
unreasonable and evidence obtained from such seizures should be suppressed unless the State
demonstrates by a preponderance of the evidence that the search or seizure was conducted pursuant
to an exception to the warrant requirement. See Coolidge v. New Hampshire, 403 U.S. 443, 454-455,
91 S. Ct. 2022, 2032, 29 L. Ed. 2d 564 (1971); State v. Watkins, 827 S.W.2d 293, 295 (Tenn.1992).
Our Supreme Court has outlined these exceptions as searches incident to arrest, plain view, stop and
frisk based on reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, exigent circumstances based on probable
cause, hot pursuit, and consent. State v. Bartram, 925 S.W.2d 227, 230 n.2 (Tenn. 1996).
B. The Reliability of the Citizen Informant
When an informant is a member of the “criminal milieu” the reliability of his information
is determined under the Aquilar-Spinelli standard. See Spinelli v. United States, 393 U.S. 410(1969); Aquilar v. Texas, 378 U.S. 108 (1964). This test must be used to ensure the basis of the
informant’s knowledge and the credibility or the reliability of the information. State v. Jacumin, 778
S.W.2d 430, 432 (Tenn. 1989).
When information is gathered from a citizen with no ties to the criminal community, the
reliability of the information is presumed. An affidavit for a search warrant does not have to
establish the credibility prong of Aquilar-Spinelli. State v. Melson, 638 S.W.2d 342, 355 (Tenn.
1982). While the instant case does not involve a search warrant, the standard for reliability of the
informant’s information remains the same. See State v. Dennis W. Menzies, No. W1998-00608-
CCA-R3-CD, 2000 WL 424277 at *5-7 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Jackson, April 20, 2000), perm. app.
denied (Tenn. Aug. 10, 2000). In order to be presumed reliable, there must be information about
the citizen informant’s status or his relationship to the events or persons involved. Melson, 638
S.W.2d at 354-56. Simple claims that the informant was a concerned citizen, was not paid for the
information, was not “working off charges,” and was acting out of a civic duty are insufficient to
establish that the individual qualifies as a citizen informant. See State v. Stevens, 989 S.W.2d 290,
294 (Tenn. 1999). In order to determine if someone is a citizen informant the affidavit must contain
particularized information as to how he obtained the information. Stevens, 989 S.W.2d at 294. This
is especially relevant when the information provided is something like the location of drugs which
would more likely be known by someone of the criminal milieu. Id. (quoting 2 Wayne R. LaFave,
Search and Seizure § 3.4(a) (3d ed. 1996)). In order to determine if a citizen informant, whose
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identity is unknown, is reliable, we must look to the totality of the circumstances surrounding the
affidavit. Melson, 638 S.W.2d at 356.
In the instant case, the citizen informant was known to Sergeant Clausi as having provided
reliable information in the past. The citizen informant stated that he had seen a “drug deal”
involving Trent (who resided at the home the transaction occurred), a man driving a maroon SUV,
and a woman, who the citizen informant identified as being a member of drug court. The citizen
informant told Sergeant Clausi that he had observed the drug transaction. “The fact that information
given by the informant is based upon his personal observation is a reliable basis for [the] conclusion
that his statements are true.” Id. at 355 (citing United States v. Rollins, 522 F.2d 160 (2nd Cir.
1975)). Because Sergeant Clausi had information from this citizen that had proved reliable in the
past and because the citizen informant gave accurate information as to who was present at the
incident and because the information was from a personal observation by the citizen informant, the
citizen informant is presumed to be reliable based on the totality of the circumstances.
C. The Seizure of Defendant
When Officers Rose and Davis approached Defendant and others seated at the picnic table
they testified that they saw one of the individuals drop something. Officer Rose testified he yelled,
“don’t move, police, nobody move.” In Florida v. Bostick, 501 U.S. 429, 111 S. Ct. 2382, 115 L.
Ed. 2d 389 (1991) the Supreme Court held, “in order to determine whether a particular encounter
constitutes a seizure, a court must consider all the circumstances surrounding the encounter to
determine whether police conduct would have communicated to a reasonable person that the person
was not free to decline the officer’s request or otherwise terminate the encounter.” Bostick, 501 U.S.
at 440, 111 S. Ct. at 2389. The Tennessee Supreme Court has held that courts should consider, as
part of the totality of the circumstances test, the following:
the time, place and purpose of the encounter; the words used by the officer; the
officer’s tone of voice; the officer’s statements to others who were present during the
encounter; the threatening presence of several officers; the display of a weapon by
an officer; and the physical touching of the person of the citizen. State v. Daniel, 12
S.W.3d 420 (Tenn. 2000).
In the instant case, the Defendant was seized when Officer Rose said “don’t move, police,
nobody move.” When a person at the table tried to get up, they (those seated at the table) were told
again not to move. Officer Rose agreed that he yelled this statement, and Officer Davis testified that
Officer Rose was not using a “conversational tone” when he made the statement. There were two
officers present when the statement was made, but very soon after at least two more officers arrived.
No reasonable person in that situation would have believed he was free to leave.
D. The Initial Search of Defendant
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Officer Davis testified that he searched Defendant at first for two different reasons. He first
stated that he searched Defendant because he was in the immediate area of the white powder on the
picnic table. Officer Davis then testified that he patted down Defendant to look for weapons. The
trial court, in its findings of fact, determined that the first search was conducted in order to ensure
the officers’ safety. As such, it falls within an exception to the warrant requirement under the “stop
and frisk” exception. See Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 88 S. Ct. 1868, 20 L. Ed. 2d 889 (1968).
In order to “stop and frisk” a person, reasonable suspicion is required. Reasonable suspicion
is suspicion based upon specific and articulable facts that a criminal offense has been, is being, or
is about to be committed. Terry, 392 U.S. at 21, 88 S. Ct. at 1880. In determining whether a police
officer has a reasonable suspicion, a court must consider the totality of the circumstances including,
but not limited to, the officer's personal objective observations, information obtained from other
officers, information obtained from citizens, and the pattern of operation of certain criminals. See
United States v. Cortez, 449 U.S. 411, 417, 101 S. Ct.690, 695, 66 L. Ed. 2d 621; State v. Watkins,
827 S.W.2d 293, 294 (Tenn. 1992). The police officer “must be able to articulate something more
than an inchoate and unparticularized suspicion or hunch.” United States v. Sokolow, 490 U.S. 1,
7-8, 109 S. Ct. 1581, 1585, 104 L. Ed. 2d 1 (1989).
In the instant case, Officer Davis had information from Sergeant Clausi that a possible drug
transaction had taken place involving “Trent and the girl from Drug Court” behind Trent’s house.
Upon arriving Officer Davis saw Trent, a woman, and two men sitting at a picnic table behind
Trent’s house. Officer Davis testified that he saw Mr. Head drop something to the ground. He also
testified that all those at the table had a look like “oh, here’s the police. I’m doing something I
shouldn’t be doing.” He stated that his knowledge of this type of look came from his experience as
a police officer. When the officers approached the table, they observed a white powder scattered on
the table and on the ground beneath the table. Mr. Head also had his fist clenched and, when he
complied with a request to open his hand by Officer Rose, the officers saw a rolled up dollar bill
with a white residue on it. The officers testified that this was, in their experience, used to snort
cocaine. Officer Davis testified that he then patted down Defendant for “weapons or anything
obvious.” The pat down revealed nothing, and the officers told Defendant to sit back down. Officer
Davis neither asked for consent nor received consent to search Defendant.
E. The Second Search of Defendant
It is well settled law that a “seizure that is lawful at its inception can violate the Fourth
Amendment if its manner of execution unreasonably infringes interests protected by the
Constitution.” Illinois v. Caballes, 543 U.S. 405, 407, 125 S. Ct. 834, 837, 160 L. Ed. 2d 842 (2005)
(citing United States v. Jacobsen, 46 U.S. 109, 124, 104 S. Ct. 1652, 1663, 80 L. Ed. 2d 85 (1984)).
In the instant case, the officers had no articulable reasons for the second search of Defendant. The
initial pat down revealed nothing that would have given them probable cause or even reasonable
suspicion to conduct a second search. The only circumstance that changed was cocaine found in Mr.
Covington’s wheelchair.
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The facts of State v. Keith A. Otey resemble those in the instant case. In Otey, the defendant
was stopped after leaving the home of a recently arrested drug dealer. The officer in charge of the
investigation obtained a warrant to search the home and ordered another officer to stop anyone
leaving the residence. State v. Keith A. Otey, No. M2000-01809-CCA-R3-CD, 2002 WL 560960,
at *1 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Nashville, April 16, 2002) perm. app. denied (Tenn. June 28, 2002). The
defendant was stopped after passing the officer on his way to execute the search warrant. Otey, 2002
WL 560960 at *3. Neither the officer who ordered the defendant to be stopped nor the officer who
actually stopped the defendant had observed him engage in illegal or suspicious activity. Id. This
Court held that mere presence at [the arrested drug dealer’s] residence, without more, does not
establish reasonable suspicion to justify a stop . . . ” Id. at *5. This Court based its holding on
Ybarra v. Illinois, 444 U.S. 85, 91, 100 S. Ct. 338, 342, 62 L. Ed. 2d 238 (1979), wherein the
Supreme Court held, “a person’s mere propinquity to others independently suspected of criminal
activity does not without more, give rise to probable cause to search that person.” All the officers
testified that they did not see Defendant engage in any illegal activity. Sergeant Clausi testified that
Defendant was not among those identified by the citizen informant as present at the drug transaction.
Because the only circumstance that changed between the first and second searches of Defendant was
that a white powder was found in Mr. Covington’s wheelchair, the officers did not have “probable
cause particularized with respect to [Defendant].” Ybarra, 444 U.S. at 91, 100 S. Ct. at 342.
The fact that the officers lacked probable cause to search Defendant a second time disposes
of the State’s argument that the exigent circumstance exception apply. Our Supreme Court held that
exigent circumstances is an exception to the warrant requirement only when the circumstances are
“supported by probable cause.” Bartram, 925 S.W.2d at 230 n.2. The officers lacked probable cause
as to Defendant and therefore this exception does not apply.
CONCLUSION
The initial seizure and search of Defendant was not a violation of his constitutional rights.
The officers had reasonable suspicion based on a totality of the circumstances from the informant’s
information and their own observations to seize Defendant. The officers, pursuant to Terry v. Ohio,
were authorized to “pat-down” Defendant in order to ensure their safety. However, when the seizure
continued past this and the officers told Defendant to sit back down, the seizure became
unconstitutional because it went beyond what was necessary for a Terry search. The subsequent
search of Defendant leading to the discovery of the narcotics was thereby unconstitutional as well.
There was no individualized probable cause as to Defendant and therefore no constitutional basis
for the search.
For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the trial court is reversed and the indictment is
dismissed.
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THOMAS T. WOODALL, JUDGE
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