Search and Seizure

Colorado Court Says Alert of Drug K-9 Not Sufficient for Police Search. The Same Rule Should Apply in Florida.

Published on: July 18, 2017 | by Lasnetski Gihon Law

The War on Drugs may be the most counter-productive, fiscally wasteful policy in the history of humankind. Yet, it forges ahead, as it does little to effect any change other than to redirect taxpayer money away from beneficial programs and increase the size of government. With regard to marijuana, it is difficult to understand why any police officer would support the War on Drugs. Any encounter with a “suspect” has inherent risks to a police officer. Why would any officer want to risk his/her well-being to determine whether or not someone has a plant, or the flower from a plant?

On the other hand, marijuana cases are easy. A police officer smells the distinctive odor of cannabis, searches a person or a vehicle, finds the marijuana and makes an arrest. No thought, no investigative skills, no legwork required. And it counts as an arrest like any other for statistical purposes. It is so much easier and quicker than tracking down reluctant witnesses in a shooting or figuring out where the money went in a fraud case.

A recent case out of Colorado will make it a little more difficult for the police to make the easy, simple marijuana arrests that do nothing to benefit the public despite political claims that more arrests translate to a safer community. Many marijuana arrests are the result of a trained K-9 walking around a vehicle after a traffic stop and alerting to the odor of marijuana or some other illegal drug which then gives the police officer probable cause to search the vehicle. If the police officer finds illegal drugs in the vehicle, the officer will likely arrest one or more of the occupants in the vehicle. The entire case can be wrapped up in a matter of minutes.

Florida Resident in Rooming House Had Same Fourth Amendment Protections as Residents of Other Accommodations

Published on: June 30, 2017 | by Lasnetski Gihon Law

Pursuant to both the United States and the Florida Constitutions, people have a right to privacy in their homes. This means that the police normally cannot come into a person’s home and search for drugs or other evidence of criminal activity without a valid search warrant or consent from someone who lives there. This right to privacy protection applies to homeowners, people who rent apartments and other residents. It also applies to less traditional residences like rooming houses.

In a recent possession of cocaine case near Jacksonville, Florida, the defendant was staying at a rooming house along with many other people. The defendant had a room there and a key to the room. He kept his belongings there. The police showed up to the area while responding to an unrelated call. The defendant had a pill bottle that he placed under the rooming house when he saw the police. The police officer became suspicious, walked onto the property, reached under the house and pulled out the pill bottle. He opened it and found cocaine inside. The defendant was arrested for possession of cocaine.

The criminal defense lawyer filed a motion to suppress the evidence of the pill bottle and the cocaine. He argued that the police officer did not have a search warrant or consent to come onto the property and take a pill bottle that was under the house. The issue became whether the defendant had a reasonable expectation of privacy in a rooming house in which he was staying. If he did, a police officer cannot come onto the property and take a pill bottle from underneath it that belonged to the defendant.

General Odor of Marijuana Coming From a Group of People Does Not Give Police Probable Cause to Search in Florida

Published on: June 16, 2017 | by Lasnetski Gihon Law

In Florida, where marijuana remains illegal for now, the odor of marijuana is a fairly common basis that police use to further investigate or search a suspect. It is also a basis that is often used to conduct a DUI investigation and make DUI arrests. The odor of marijuana obviously gives police officers reason to believe that marijuana is present. Under some circumstances, the police can use that information to search items or people. However, it is not a blanket excuse to conduct a search or “pat down” in every situation.

In a possession of marijuana case near Jacksonville, Florida, the police received a tip that certain individuals were involved in drug activity at a warehouse. The police responded and saw several individuals at the warehouse. The police officer indicated he smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the group. However, the police officer did not see any marijuana and did not see anyone smoking anything. Based on the odor of marijuana, the police officer asked one of the individuals to come forward. The suspect approached the police officer. This led to a pat down of the suspect and ultimately a search during which the police officer found marijuana. The suspect was arrested for possession of marijuana.

The criminal defense lawyer filed a motion to suppress the evidence of the marijuana arguing that the police officer illegally searched the defendant. The appellate court agreed. A general odor of marijuana coming from a group of people was not sufficient evidence to pat down one of the individuals or search him. The police officer could have investigated with questions or requests for consent to search but was not yet legally authorized to pat down or search anyone without more specific evidence as to who was actually smoking the marijuana or had marijuana in his possession, if anyone. Because the police officer went straight to a pat down and then a search without trying to get more specific evidence to identify the source of the odor, the marijuana evidence was suppressed and the possession of marijuana charge was later dismissed.

Florida Drug Possession Arrest Results from Traffic Stop of a Bicycle

Published on: May 19, 2017 | by Lasnetski Gihon Law

In Florida, many criminal cases involving drugs and guns result from traffic stops. A police officer will conduct a traffic stop and become suspicious or allegedly discover evidence of illegal activity and search the vehicle. A search of the vehicle can be based on consent, which the driver or occupant never has to give. Or, sometimes the police officer will call a drug K-9 to the scene that alerts to the odor of narcotics. These searches can be questionable if the police officer keeps the vehicle and driver at the traffic stop for an unreasonable period of time while waiting for the drug dog. There are other methods the police use to search vehicles after a traffic stop, but requesting consent is a common one.

Not every traffic stop involves a vehicle. People in Florida need to be aware that the traffic laws apply to people on bicycles as well. The police can stop a bicycle for running a stop sign or a red light just like a vehicle. However, the initial stop of the vehicle, or bicycle, must be legally valid in order for any search or arrest thereafter to be valid.

In a recent possession of crack cocaine case south of Jacksonville, Florida, the suspect was riding his bike against traffic. Florida law says a bike must ride with traffic, just like a car must. Of course, people ride their bikes against traffic all of the time and the police ignore it, but in this case, they stopped the rider. While issuing the rider a citation, the police officer asked him if he had any drugs or guns in his possession. The rider admitted to having crack cocaine. The police officer searched him, found the cocaine and arrested him for possession of crack cocaine.

A Second Example of When a Police Encounter in Florida Requires Evidence of Criminal Activity

Published on: April 7, 2017 | by Lasnetski Gihon Law

The prior post discussed the difference between a consensual encounter with the police in Florida and something more involved. The police in Florida are free to engage people in consensual encounters to ask questions or make observations, and people are free to refuse to answer questions or otherwise cooperate. Once an encounter becomes more like a seizure, i.e. a situation where the person does not feel like he/she can freely leave, the police must be able to point to specific facts indicating there is evidence of criminal activity to continue.

A recent firearms case near Jacksonville, Florida provides another good example of what the law allows regarding searches and seizures in Florida. In this case, the police approached an apartment responding to a noise complaint. They knocked on the door, the suspect opened it and then quickly closed it. It is important for people to understand that they have the right to do this. No one has to answer the door if the police are knocking without a warrant. If a person opens the door and decides he/she does not want to speak with the police or does not want to speak with police any longer, that person can end the conversation. As long as there is no evidence of a crime or a warrant, the police cannot enter the home. Of course, in reality, the police may not be satisfied with that response, but at least on paper, it is permitted.

In this case, the police claimed they could smell an odor of marijuana coming from the apartment when the occupant briefly opened the door. While the police were deciding what to do next, the occupant left the apartment and drove away in a vehicle. The police officers followed him and ultimately conducted a traffic stop to ask him why he slammed the door and to see if he had any marijuana in his vehicle. As they were talking to the driver, the police officers saw a handgun partially concealed in the vehicle. They arrested the driver for carrying a concealed firearm.

When Does an Encounter With Police Become a Seizure Under the Law in Florida?

Published on: April 4, 2017 | by Lasnetski Gihon Law

The Fourth Amendment and the Florida constitution provide that people have a right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures conducted by the state. There are thousands of court cases that interpret what exactly this means in the context of the different police encounters. As a general rule, the police in Florida are allowed to go up to anyone and ask questions, even if the police suspect that person committed a crime and are trying to acquire incriminating information. Of course, that person is free to refuse to answer those questions. The police can walk up to a person’s front door (as long as access is not protected by a gate or other privacy barrier) or knock on a driver’s window to ask questions. If the subject chooses to engage the police and answer, the constitutional search and seizure provisions do not apply.

However, if the encounter develops into what is considered a seizure, the police need to establish reasonable suspicion of criminal activity or probable cause or possibly have a search warrant depending on the circumstances. For instance, consider an example where a police officer sees a car stopped somewhere suspicious with the driver inside the vehicle. The officer might suspect something improper or just wonder if the driver is having trouble of some kind. Often, the police officer will suspect that the driver is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI). That police officer can approach the vehicle, look into the window and investigate further. The police officer can ask the driver to roll down the window so they can talk. If the driver agrees or voluntarily exits the vehicle, this is considered a lawful and consensual encounter.

What often takes this scenario to the next level is if the driver does not respond for whatever reason or refuses to answer the police officer. Normally, the police officer will then order the driver to turn off the vehicle or roll down the window or step out of the vehicle. The police officer might park his/her vehicle behind the other vehicle preventing it from leaving. The key to whether an encounter escalates into something requiring evidence of criminal activity is whether the subject reasonably feels like he/she is free to disregard the officer and leave. In reality, when a police officer asks or tells anyone to do anything and that person refuses or ignores the officer, the officer is almost never going to let it go. However, under the law, there are certain situations which qualify and certain that do not. The examples I listed earlier in this paragraph are generally examples of commands that change the encounter to a seizure and require at least reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. If the police officer looks into the vehicle, asks questions and the driver ignores the police officer, the officer cannot command the driver to exit the vehicle without a legal basis. At this stage, the police officer must be able to point to some facts suggesting a crime is being committed, which would be difficult to do in the DUI context if the window is up.

Police in Florida Cannot Download Black Box Data in Your Vehicle Without a Search Warrant

Published on: March 31, 2017 | by Lasnetski Gihon Law

Most people have heard of the “black box” or “event data recorder” after airplane crashes. It is a device that records information about the plane that helps investigators determine how and why a crash occurred. What many people may not know is that cars often have black box recorders as well. Most cars manufactured in the last few years come equipped with the black box recorder. The data on these devices can be used to determine the speed of a vehicle, steering and braking information and other data that can also help determine why a motor vehicle crash occurred.

The black box data could be useful to police in investigating certain crimes. For instance, that data could help the police investigate a DUI manslaughter case, a fleeing and eluding case or an aggravated battery with a motor vehicle case. However, the police cannot just go into a person’s vehicle and collect that data. The police might be able to seize a person’s vehicle if it is evidence of a crime. Alternatively, the police might take custody of a vehicle rather than leave it on the side of the road after arresting the driver. In these situations, the police are normally permitted to search the vehicle as part of a legal inventory search- a search of the vehicle to make sure nothing dangerous is in the vehicle and make sure the suspect’s property is inventoried and kept safe to return to the suspect when the case is finished.

The black box data are different. Collecting that data is more complicated than searching the vehicle and removing personal items for safekeeping. The key to whether the search warrant requirement is triggered is whether the suspect has a reasonable expectation of privacy in the area or thing to be searched. Florida courts have held that people have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their vehicles and the interior of their vehicles. Florida courts have also ruled that people have a reasonable expectation of privacy in electronic storage devices such as cell phones, Ipads and computers. A black box recorder falls into both of these categories. As a result, if the police want to obtain the data in these black box recorders that are relevant to a crash that involves criminal activity, the police will either need to get a search warrant for the data or get consent from the owner of the vehicle. Failure to do so will likely result in all of the evidence from the recorder being inadmissible in court.

Police in Florida Generally Need a Search Warrant for a Blood Draw in DUI Cases But There Are Exceptions

Published on: February 10, 2017 | by Lasnetski Gihon Law

In alleged DUI cases that involve serious accidents, the police are often not able to perform their usual DUI investigations which include field sobriety tests and a breathalyzer test, if the suspect consents to them. If the suspect is in no condition to perform those tests due to injuries from the crash or is taken to the hospital, the police cannot perform the normal DUI investigation. If the police are able to develop probable cause that the suspect was driving while impaired from alcohol or drugs, there are ways for the police to continue investigating a DUI after a crash.

The police officer can go to the hospital and request that the driver submit to a blood draw. After the blood is taken from the DUI suspect, the police send it to the crime lab where it is tested for drug and alcohol content.

However, as a result of a United States Supreme Court case that was decided in 2013, the police cannot take a DUI suspect’s blood without consent from the suspect or a search warrant. The state used to be able to argue that they did not need a search warrant due to exigent circumstances inherent in a DUI case- that alcohol is constantly metabolizing in the blood and as time passes, getting an accurate blood alcohol reading becomes more difficult. The recent Supreme Court case rejected that argument. The general rule is that a blood draw is considered a search under the Constitution so the police need consent or a search warrant to obtain someone’s blood.

When Does the Hot Pursuit Doctrine Apply in Florida?

Published on: February 5, 2017 | by Lasnetski Gihon Law

In most cases, if the police want to search your residence for drugs, guns or other evidence of criminal activity, they need consent from the owner or someone with authorization or a search warrant. However, there are some exceptions. One such exception is the hot pursuit doctrine. The hot pursuit doctrine involves cases that fall into a subset of exigent circumstances cases. Exigent circumstances generally include emergency situations where the police have a right to conduct a search or seizure and do not have time to get consent or a search warrant. For example, if the police were patrolling an area and heard gunshots and screaming inside a house, they would likely have the right to enter the home immediately without having to take the time to try to get consent or a search warrant.

The hot pursuit doctrine involves a situation where the police are chasing a suspect who they have reason to believe committed a crime and the suspect runs into an area that the police would normally need consent or a search warrant to enter. However, due to the exigency of the chase, the police are allowed to enter the property to continue chasing the suspect.

While this does allow the police to enter properties without the usual need for consent or a search warrant in some situations, its applicability is limited. The greatest protection people have under the Fourth Amendment is in their homes. As a result, the law does not allow police to disregard the search warrant requirement in every case where they are chasing a suspect. The hot pursuit doctrine is normally reserved for situations where the police are chasing someone who presumably committed a felony crime. If the police are going to be allowed to just run onto or into someone’s property, they need to be chasing someone who allegedly committed a more serious crime. The less serious the crime the suspect is presumed to have committed, the less likely the police will be allowed to circumvent the search warrant requirement.

Florida Police Executing Arrest Warrant Do Not Have a Right to Search Surrounding Property

Published on: January 20, 2017 | by Lasnetski Gihon Law

Police-Officer-with-Arrest-Warrant-illustration-300x261 In Florida, the general rule is that the police cannot search a person’s property without a search warrant or specific consent from the owner of that property. There are exceptions, of course, but a police search without a search warrant or consent is generally going to be illegal. When the police arrest someone, they can always search that person because the police have a right to determine if the suspect has any weapons or evidence that can be destroyed on him/her. However, that search is generally limited to the person and only after a valid arrest. The police cannot go searching a person’s vehicle or home just because of an arrest.

In a recent drug case near Jacksonville, Florida, the police had an outstanding warrant for the defendant and received a tip that he was at a particular residence. They located the suspect and arrested him in the front yard. The police then walked around to the back of the residence and looked through a window where they saw guns and illegal drugs inside the house. They used this information to obtain a search warrant to search the house and seize the guns and marijuana.

The criminal defense lawyer filed a motion to suppress the evidence of the guns and marijuana arguing that the police did not have a legal basis to walk to the back of the defendant’s property to look through the window. Police cannot walk into a person’s home to search without a search warrant or consent, and this also applies to what is called the curtilage of a home, which is the area of land surrounding a residence including any closed structures. In this case, the area next to and behind the house was considered the curtilage. It is often considered the area adjacent to the home where the public is not normally expected to go. For instance, a member of the public might walk up a person’s driveway to knock on the front door, but he/she is not likely to walk around a house and look through windows on the side or back of the house.