Commonwealth v. Alvarez

35 Pa. D. & C.5th 49
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Berks County
DecidedDecember 4, 2013
DocketNo. 0945-2013
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 35 Pa. D. & C.5th 49 (Commonwealth v. Alvarez) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Berks County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Commonwealth v. Alvarez, 35 Pa. D. & C.5th 49 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2013).

Opinion

BOCCABELLA, J,

1. On January 27, 2013 at approximately 1:19 A.M. The defendant was traveling on the 400 block of N. 9th St. Reading, Pa. Berks County

2. Officer Dennis Miller was stationary at the 500 block [51]*51of N. 9th St.

3. While standing outside assisting other officers in a prior dispatch, Officer Miller observed a silver Hyundai Elantra approaching with his high beams activated. While the vehicle was passing, Officer Miller signaled the defendant to stop.

4. When the defendant pulled over, Officer Miller noticed the high beam indicator was illuminated and asked the defendant to deactivate his high beams. The defendant fumbled around to turn off the high beams. During this time Officer Miller noticed the defendant’s eyes looked “tired and squinted.”

5. Officer Miller saw, in plain view, inside the driver side area, what seemed to be a partially smoked “blunt” in the door handle of the vehicle. He also saw a clear sandwich bag containing what Officer Miller suspected to be rock cocaine.

6. Officer Miller asked the defendant to step out of the vehicle. He searched the area and located one (1) cherry and one (1) grape packets of suspected synthetic marijuana with $240.00 dollars sitting in the center console.

7. Officer Miller asked the defendant to perform a series of SFST’s. The defendant consented and failed all tests given to him.

8. Officer Miller placed him under arrest for suspicion of DUI and he was transported to the St. Joseph’s Hospital to have his blood drawn.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

[52]*521. “Where a defendant files a motion to suppress, the burdens of production and persuasion are on the Commonwealth to prove the challenged evidence was not obtained in violation of the defendant’s rights.” Commonwealth v. West, 834 A.2d 625 at 629 (Pa. Super. 2003), citing Commonwealth v. Wilmington, 729 A.2d 1160 (Pa. Super. 1999); See also Pa.R.Crim.P. 581(H).

2. Section 6308(b) of the Vehicle Code provides:

Whenever a police officer is engaged in a systematic program of checking vehicles or drivers or has reasonable suspicion that a violation of this title is occurring or has occurred, he may stop a vehicle upon request or signal, for the purpose of checking the vehicle’s registration, proof of financial responsibility, vehicle identification number or engine number or the driver’s license, or to secure such other information as the officer may reasonably believe to be necessary to enforce the provisions of this title.

75 Pa.C.S.A. §6308(b) (Emphasis added).

3. “Thus, when an officer has reasonable suspicion a violation of the Vehicle Code is occurring or has occurred, he may interrupt the privileged operation of a vehicle on the public highways and stop the vehicle for the investigative purposes stated therein.” Commonwealth v. Chase, 960 A.2d 108, 112 (Pa. 2008) citing 75 Pa. C.S.A. §6308(b).

4. “To establish grounds for ‘reasonable suspicion’... the officer must articulate specific observations which, in conjunction with reasonable inferences derived from these observations, led him reasonably to conclude, in light of his experience, that criminal activity was afoot [53]*53and the person he stopped was involved in that activity.” Commonwealth v. Little, 903 A.2d 1269, 1272 (Pa. Super. 2006) citing Commonwealth v. Bennet, 827 A.2d 469, 477 (Pa. Super. 2003) (citing Commonwealth v. Cook, 558 Pa.50, 735 A.2d 673, 676 (1999)).

5. “In order to determine whether the police had a reasonable suspicion, the totality of the circumstances-the whole picture-must be considered.” In the Interest of D.M., 781 A.2d 1161, 1163 (Pa.2001) citing United States v. Cortez, 449 U.S. 411, 417 (1981).

6. In making this determination, we must give “due weight...to the specific reasonable inferences [the police officer] is entitled to draw from the facts in light of his experience.” Commonwealth v. Cook, 735 A.2d 673, 676 (Pa. 1999) quoting Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 27 (1968).

7. Also, the totality of the circumstances test does not limit our inquiry to an examination of only those facts that clearly indicate criminal conduct. Rather, “[e]ven a combination of innocent facts, when taken together, may warrant further investigation by the police officer.” Commonwealth v. Cook, 735 A.2d 673, 676 (Pa.1999) quoting Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 22 (1968).

8. “Reasonable suspicion sufficient to stop a motorist must be viewed from the standpoint of an objectively reasonable police officer.” Commonwealth v. Chase, 960 A.2d 108, 120 (Pa. 2008) citing Ornelas v. United States, 517 U.S. 690, 696 (1996).

9. “While it is argued the lesser standard [reasonable suspicion] will allow a vehicle stop to be made based on pretextual motives, the United States Supreme Court [54]*54made clear that case law ‘foreclose^] any argument that the constitutional reasonableness of traffic stops depends on the actual motivations of the individual officers involved.’” Commonwealth v. Chase, 960 A.2d 108, 120 (Pa. 2008) citing Whren v. United States, 517 U.S. 806, 813 (1996); See also Commonwealth v. Foglia, 979 A.2d 357, 361-62 (Pa. Super. 2009) (Stating that observations made after the officer intends to stop the defendant can be used to support their actions).

10. Section 4306(a) of the Vehicle Code provides:

§4306. Use of multiple-beam road lighting equipment.

(a) Approaching an oncoming vehicle. — Whenever the driver of a vehicle approaches an oncoming vehicle within 500 feet, the driver shall use the low beam of light.

11. “[I]t is the sole province of the suppression court to weigh the credibility of the witnesses. Further, the suppression court judge is entitled to believe all, part or none of the evidence presented.” Commonwealth v. Santiago, 980 A.2d 659, 664 (Pa. Super. 2009); See also Commonwealth v. Costa-Hernandez,

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Bluebook (online)
35 Pa. D. & C.5th 49, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/commonwealth-v-alvarez-pactcomplberks-2013.