Baxter v. State

214 S.E.2d 578, 134 Ga. App. 286, 1975 Ga. App. LEXIS 1990

• Court: Court of Appeals of Georgia
• Decided: February 21, 1975
• Docket: 49848
• Status: Published

Opinions

Webb, Judge.

William E. Baxter, Jr. operated a commercial gambling establishment in a dwelling near Augusta which he had leased. Pursuant to a search warrant, the premises were raided by law enforcement officers on the night of April 12, 1974, during the week of the Masters *. Golf Tournament. A number of persons, including Baxter, were arrested, much commercial gambling equipment was seized, and the games were interrupted. As a result, Baxter was tried, convicted and sentenced in the State Court of Richmond County on each of two accusations charging misdemeanors in violation of Code Ann. § 26-2707, "Possession of gambling device or equipment,”¹ and Code Ann. § 26-2703, "Commercial gambling.”²

Baxter appeals to this court, charging four fouls were committed by the law enforcement officers and the trial court. The alleged errors of which he complains are:

(1) The search warrant was improperly issued on hearsay rather than proper information;

(2) An agent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (now Division of Investigation) has no authority to seek and obtain a search warrant;

(3) The search warrant was executed without reasonable notice before forcible entry of the premises.

Because of these three alleged fouls by the law enforcement officers, Baxter contends that the trial court committed error in denying his motion to suppress evidence obtained by the raid and the testimony resulting therefrom. His other alleged foul is:

(4) The conviction and sentence on each of the two accusations are multiple prosecutions and violative of Code Ann. § 26-506 (a).³

We deal with the four alleged errors seriatim.

1. Baxter contends that the affidavit upon which the warrant was based does not constitute a showing of probable cause, that the affiant, Harry G. Coursey, a special agent of the Georgia Division of Investigation, states he received some of his information from a fellow agent, E. P. Peters, who was merely repeating something that had been told him by a confidential informer, that there is no statement that Agent Peters is a reliable source of information, and that the affidavit was hearsay on hearsay.

Special Agent Coursey in his affidavit stated that he personally conducted a surveillance of the premises on April 11, 1974, the day before he appeared before the magistrate, that the premises were those indicated by information as housing a gambling operation, that during his surveillance, Baxter was observed in the vicinity of the premises, and that the confidential information re - ceived "by Senior Agent Peters from a reliable unnamed informant has been established as accurate by the independent investigations of the affiant...”

" ' "In dealing with probable cause, ... as the very name implies, we deal with probabilities. They are not technical; they are the factual and practical considerations of everyday life on which reasonable and prudent men, not legal technicians, act.” Brinegar v. United States, 338 U. S. 160, 175 (69 SC 1302, 93 LE 1879). There is also a great "difference between what is required to prove guilt in a criminal case and what is required to show probable cause for arrest or search.” Draper v. United States, 358 U. S. 307, 311-312 (79 SC 329,3 LE2d 327). As Judge Learned Hand said in United States v. Heitner, 149 F2d 105, 106 (CA 2d Cir.): "It is well settled that an arrest may be made upon hearsay evidence; and indeed, the' reasonable cause ’ necessary to support an arrest cannot demand the same strictness of proof as the accused’s guilt upon a trial, unless the powers of peace officers are to be so cut down that they cannot possibly perform their duties.” ’ [From Peters v. State, 114 Ga. App. 595, 596 (152 SE2d 647)]. We have no hesitancy in adopting and, indeed, reiterating these principles in connection with appellant’s contentions respecting the showing of probable cause in this case. The affiant here showed ample facts to authorize the issuing magistrate to conclude that there was probable cause to believe that a crime of the nature set forth in the affidavits had been committed and that evidence of that crime would be produced by a search of the premises described in the affidavits. The fact that much of the affiant’s information was derived from informants would not vitiate the warrant.” Strauss v. Stynchcombe, 224 Ga. 859, 865 (165 SE2d 302); Johnston v. State, 227 Ga. 387, 389 (181 SE2d 42); Pass v. State, 227 Ga. 730, 734 (182 SE2d 779); DePalma v. State, 228 Ga. 272, 276 (185 SE2d 53).

"It is immaterial which policeman received the tip. Observations of fellow officers of government engaged in a common investigation are a reliable basis for a warrant applied for by one of their number.” v. State, 127 Ga. App. 72, 74 (2) (192 SE2d 432). "When a police officer is the informant the reliability of the informant is presumed as a matter of law.” State v. Causey, 132 Ga. App. 17, 20 (207 SE2d 225); McNeal v. State, 133 Ga. App. 225 (2) (211 SE2d 173).

Code Ann. § 27-303 allows a warrant to issue upon a showing of facts "sufficient to show probable cause that a crime is being committed, or has been committed. The test of probable cause is whether it would justify a man of reasonable caution in believing that an offense has been or is being committed, and this requires merely a probability — less than a certainty but more than a mere suspicion or possibility.” (Cits. omitted). Butler v. State, 130 Ga. App. 469, 470 (1) (203 SE2d 558); Geiger v. State, 129 Ga. App. 488, 492 (1) (199 SE2d 861).

In the case sub judice, the affidavit was not based solely upon information from an unnamed informant, but there was an independent investigation made to corrobórate the informant.

We thus hold that there was sufficient showing of probable cause in this case to justify the issuance of a search warrant, and the motion to suppress on the first ground must fail.

2. Baxter’s contention is that Agent Coursey, as a member of the Division of Investigation, had no authority to seek and obtain a search warrant, and that the warrant was void.

A search warrant may be issued upon the written complaint of any officer of the state or its political subdivisions charged with the duty of enforcing the criminal laws. Code Ann. §§ 27-303, 27-314. It shall be issued in duplicate and directed to all peace officers of the state. Code Ann. § 27-305. " 'Peace officer’ means any person who by virtue of his office or public employment is vested by law with a duty to maintain public order or to make arrests for offenses, whether that duty extends to all crimes or is limited to specific offenses.” Code Ann. § 26-401 (k).

Members of the Division of Investigation are vested with the same authority, powers and duties possessed by the uniform division of the Department of Public Safety. Code Ann. §§ 92A-302, 92A-242, and 92A-243. Also, the division has specific statutory authority to investigate and make arrests of persons violating the Georgia Drug Abuse Control Act. Code Ann. §§ 79A-208 (f) et seq., 40-3501, 40-3521 and 40-3522.

Additionally, Ga. L. 1937, p. 322, as amended (Code Ann. § 92A-242) provides that: "... the Director of Public Safety⁴ in unusual circumstances, may, and in the case of an order from the Governor of Georgia shall, direct members of the Georgia State Patrol⁵ to render assistance in any other criminal case, or in the prevention of violations of law, or in detecting and apprehending those violating any criminal laws of this, or any other State or the United States.” (Emphasis supplied.)

There exists an Executive Order promulgated by Governor Carl E. Sanders which provides in part: "Ordered: That the members of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation so assigned by the Director of the Department of Public Safety in the performance of their duties hereunder be and they are hereby authorized to make arrests in any county or municipality in this state; and it is further ordered: . . . That the Director of the Department of Public Safety be and he is hereby authorized to issue all orders and take any and all necessary action needful to carry out the provisions of this order; and it is further Ordered: That the original of this order be filed in the office of the Secretary of State instanter and shall be effective as of 12:00 noon, E.S.T., July 20, 1964, and shall remain in effect as herein provided until revoked, rescinded or modified by me.”⁶

The statutory provision hereinabove cited (Code Ann. § 92A-242) is a deliberate, explicit delegation by the legislature to the Governor of the power to determine when it is necessary for law enforcement officers of the Department of Public Safety to exercise general arrest and investigatory powers. The Executive Order issued pursuant to this statutory provision, until rescinded or superseded, is effective beyond the expiration of the term of the Governor who issued it. The executive power is one of continuing effect, never ending, and unbroken by succession, a principle ihherent and necessary to preservation of the stability and the integrity of our constitutional government. State v. Brewster, 140 W. Va. 235 (13) (84 SE2d 231); Barrett v. Duff, 114 Kan. 220, 221 (217 P 918). So issued, the order has the force and effect of law. Atkins v. Manning, 206 Ga. 219, 221 (56 SE2d 260). Cf. Georgia Public Service Comm. v. Jones Transp., Inc., 213 Ga. 514 (1) (100 SE2d 183).

We hold that an agent of the Division of Investigation is a peace officer, that such an agent in the performance of duties assigned to him by the Director of the Division has the authority, in detecting and apprehending those violating any criminal laws of this state, to seek, obtain and execute a search warrant, and that in this case special agent Coursey was so authorized under the laws of Georgia. The second alleged error on which the motion to suppress is predicated fails.

3. The third contention is that the search warrant was executed without reasonable notice before forcible entry of the premises.

Baxter contends that the premises raided under the search warrant were his residence. Most probably it was for that purpose for which the structure was originally built, but the record is replete with testimony and evidence that it was otherwise — five telephones, two telephone lines with distribution blocks that could handle up to twelve telephone lines; a service station bell system to ring a bell in the foyer when a car drove over it; a parking attendant as guard; a buzzer that caused an iron grill gate to open; crap and blackjack tables with poker chips, a beverage bar and a bartender; a waitress who served drinks and steaks; gambling in a big room; some 60 people present each evening; the necessity of ringing the bell for reentry; heavy steel mesh-type wire over the windows, like that used in a law enforcement car to separate the front and back'seats; "the front door itself, as you go up to the entrance, had a steel or wrought-iron cage built some 4 to 10 feet across the front door, with an electric lock on it.”

Baxter contends that the execution of the search warrant was illegally accomplished because the officers were not in uniform, gave no notice of their intended entry, and forcibly entered the premises by breaking in the doors. Agent Garner, of the Division of Investigation, testified at the hearing on Baxter’s motion to suppress:"... I came from the side of the house to the front door and grabbed the iron door and hollered, 'State Police, open the door, State Police.’ The door was obviously locked. I hollered, 'State Police, we’ve got warrants, open the door,’ and nobody responded, and agent — by this time, agent Monahan was ringing the buzzer, still no reactions. I had a — the agent with me, agent Tim Jones’ job was to carry a sledge hammer or any tool we used to get in with, and he was carrying a sledge hammer. I told agent Jones to take the lock off this iron door, which he did — he went through the iron work. All right, then I beat on the entrance to the house and hollered 'State Police, open the door’ — no reaction, and then there was no reaction, I kicked the door, and when I kicked the door it was obviously heavily locked or something, and I told agent Jones to take the door down. You know, he went to work on it with a sledge hammer, hit the lock — he hit the lock several times, but it was a good door and it was locked. We finally got the door off the locks and went into the house. It opens up into a foyer, we went straight through the house back straight through the eating area where all the people were congregated, and into the playing room where the dice tables and card tables were. Q. Can you or can you not give us the time that you first rattled that iron door to the time you finally entered the premises through the second door? A. I’d say approximately two minutes, because we didn’t have a lot of trouble with the front door, the iron door, but the main entrance to the house, it took a good while to get that door down — it was a good door.”

On the use of force in execution of a search warrant, Code Ann. § 27-308 (Ga. L. 1966, pp. 567, 570) provides: "All necessary and reasonable force may be used to effect an entry into any building or property or part thereof to execute a search warrant, if after verbal notice, or an attempt in good faith to give verbal notice by the officer directed to execute the same of his authority and purpose, (a) he is refused admittance, or (b) the person or persons within said building or property or part thereof refused to acknowledge and answer said verbal notice, and the presence of such person or persons therein is unknown to such officer, or (c) the building or property or part thereof is not then occupied by any person.”

We know of no requirement that a law enforcement officer shall wear a uniform when executing a search warrant.

Requirements for lawful entry under a search warrant were held by this court to be met where "The officers knocked at the door, identified themselves, and after receiving no response, permitted a reasonably sufficient interval of time to elapse before exercising physical force to enter the premises.” Jackson v. State, 129 Ga. App. 901, 905 (e) (201 SE2d 816).

"On motion to suppress evidence, the trial judge sits as the trior of the facts, hears the evidence, and his findings based upon conflicting evidence are analogous to the verdict of a jury and should not be disturbed by a reviewing court if there is any evidence to support it,” and .. where there is a conflict in the evidence on the motion to suppress, the ruling of the trial court will be upheld where there is any evidence to authorize a finding in support of his order.” (Emphasis supplied.) State v. Swift, 232 Ga. 535, 536 (207 SE2d 459), and citations.

We hold that there is no merit in the third alleged error that the search warrant was wrongfully executed by failure to give notice, and the trial judge did not err in overruling the motion to suppress evidence seized and testimony given as a consequence of the search warrant.

4. Baxter’s fourth alleged error is that the conviction and sentence on each of the two accusations are multiple prosecutions and violative of Code Ann. § 26-506 (a). He was charged, tried, convicted and sentenced for possession of gambling devices and equipment, and for the offense of commercial gambling by operating a gambling place.

Although arising from the same transaction, the offenses of possession of gambling devices and equipment, and commercial gambling by operating a gambling place, are separate and distinct. "The offenses of burglary and possessing burglary tools are separate and distinct, and an accused may be convicted of both offenses, even though they are committed in the same transaction. Shelly v. State, 107 Ga. App. 736 (1) (131 SE2d 135). Where the offenses of burglary and possessing burglary tools are committed in the same transaction, an indictment is not illegal because it contains a count charging burglary and a count charging the possession of burglary tools.” Smith v. Ault, 230 Ga. 433 (1, 2) (197 SE2d 348).

The illegal possession of cocaine and the illegal sale of cocaine are separate crimes as a matter of law, but since the possession and sale was one transaction it was held both convictions could not stand. State v. Estevez, 232 Ga. 316, 320 (206 SE2d 475). In Roberts v. State, 228 Ga. 298 (185 SE2d 385), it was held that conviction for armed robbery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon were authorized although both crimes arose out of the same conduct.

There are different elements present in the two crimes of possession of gambling devices or equipment, and operating a gambling place — commercial gambling as defined by Code Aim. § 26-2703. Proof of the possession of gambling devices or equipment would not prove that the accused was engaged in commercial gambling, and counsel for Baxter concede that he was in possession of gambling devices and equipment. Proof of the offense of commercial gambling would not of necessity prove that he was in possession of gambling devices and equipment. Although three of those present on the night of the raid invoked the Fifth Amendment, two of Baxter’s employees, the bartender and a waitress, each testified that, based on remarks of the patrons and what they knew, there was gambling in the place. This testimony, together with the facts adduced as to the entrance, doors, windows, telephones, and attendants, would support a jury verdict of the offense of operating a gambling place irrespective of the possession of gambling equipment. Neither of the offenses is a necessary element in, and constitutes an essential part of, the other offense. Neither is included in any other crime for which he was convicted nor is either crime defined to prohibit conduct generally where the other prohibits a specific instance of such conduct. Rowe v. State, 232 Ga. 700 (208 SE2d 500);Harvey v. State, 233 Ga. 41 (209 SE2d 587). They are in law separate and distinct offenses, and may be punished as separate crimes. There is no merit in this assignment of error.

The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Bell, C. J., Quillian, Clark and Marshall, JJ., concur. Pannell, P. J., dissents separately as to Division 4. Deen, P. J., Evans and Stolz, JJ., dissent as to Division 4. Argued November 5, 1974 Decided February 21, 1975 Rehearing denied March 14, 1975 Harris, Chance & McCracken, Kenneth R. Chance, for appellant. J. Edward Slaton, Solicitor, Herbert E. Kernaghan, Jr., Assistant Solicitor, for appellee.

1 "A person who knowingly owns, manufactures, transfers commercially, or possesses any device which he knows is designed for gambling purposes or anything which he knows is designed as a subassembly or essential part of such device is guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.”

2 "A person commits commercial gambling when he intentionally does any of the following acts: (a) Operates or participates in the earnings of a gambling place; or (b) Receives, records, or forwards a bet or offer to bét;'. . . a-person convicted of commercial gambling shall be punished as for a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.”

3 "When the same conduct of an accused may establish the commission of more than one crime, the accused may be prosecuted for each crime. He may not, however, be convicted of more than one crime if (1) one crime is included in the other, or (2) the crimes differ only in that one is defined to prohibit a designated kind of conduct generally and the other to prohibit a specific instance of such conduct.”

4 This function was transferred to the Commissioner of Public Safety and is, in the case of agents of the Division of Investigation, to be exercised through the Director of the Division of Investigation. Ga. L. 1972, pp. 1015, 1060 (Code Ann. §§ 40-35164, 40-35170, 40-35171).

5 Members of the Division of Investigation (formerly Georgia Bureau of Investigation) occupy the same status in this respect as members of the State Patrol. Ga. L. 1937, p. 322 (Code Ann. § 92A-302).

6 Executive Minute Book for Gov. Carl E. Sanders 1964, p. 203; Smith v. State, 131 Ga. App. 722 (206 SE2d 711); Opinions of Atty. Gen., No. 70-66 (1970) p. 93.