Commonwealth v. Barbati

11 Pa. D. & C.5th 392
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Lawrence County
DecidedMarch 5, 2010
Docketno. 748 of 2009
StatusPublished

This text of 11 Pa. D. & C.5th 392 (Commonwealth v. Barbati) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Lawrence County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Commonwealth v. Barbati, 11 Pa. D. & C.5th 392 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2010).

Opinion

COX, J.,

Before the court for disposition is the omnibus pretrial motion filed on behalf of [394]*394the defendant Eric T. Barbati, which sets forth the following arguments:

(I) The evidence discovered in the defendant’s vehicle during the search by Officers Richard Ryhal and James Hoyland should be suppressed because the search was the product of invalid consent provided during an investigatory detention that was not supported by reasonable suspicion;

(II) The defendant’s written statement should be suppressed because it was obtained through the use of illegally obtained items seized from the defendant’s vehicle and the defendant was not provided with Miranda warnings prior to issuing his statement; and

(III) The Commonwealth failed to provide sufficient evidence that the defendant committed theft from a motor vehicle, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.

On June 25,2009 at 3:15 a.m., Officers Richard Ryhal and James Hoyland of the New Castle Police Department were patrolling East Washington Street, New Castle, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania near A-Plus convenient store and gas station. Officer Ryhal observed the defendant operating a gold Toyota Camry, even though he had a suspended driver’s license and the registration plate was expired. Shortly thereafter, the officers effectuated a traffic stop on Superior Street. It must be noted that while conducting the initial stop the officers noticed that the Pennsylvania State Police had placed a “Be On Look Out” or “BOLO” for the vehicle. It appears that the officers did not know the reason for the BOLO when they stopped the vehicle. Shortly thereafter, two Pennsylvania State Police troopers arrived and spoke with the defen[395]*395dant. The testimony is unclear as to whether the police officers knew why the troopers wanted to speak with the defendant. It appears that the troopers wanted to question the defendant regarding several thefts involving automobiles. Subsequently, Officers Ryhal and Hoyland approached the vehicle and noticed that there were a large number of items inside of it. Officer Ryhal issued citations to the defendant, seized the defendant’s license and informed him that he was free to leave. However, the defendant could not operate the vehicle because he was cited for driving with a suspended license. Further, the vehicle could not be driven as the registration had expired. Immediately after issuing the citations, Officer Ryhal requested permission to search the vehicle, which was granted by the defendant.

Officers Ryhal and Hoyland searched the vehicle and discovered a digital camera, GPS units, several pocket knives, lighters and sunglasses. Officer Ryhal recognized the sunglasses and a green pocket knife because those items were stolen from his blue pickup truck. He informed Officer Hoyland that the items belonged to him and Officer Hoyland conducted the remainder of the investigation. The defendant was taken into custody at that time. Subsequently, Officer Hoyland provided the defendant with a form stating his Miranda rights. The officer read the defendant his rights verbatim from the form. The defendant signed and dated the Miranda rights form provided to him by Officer Hoyland. Afterwards, the defendant supplied Officer Hoyland with a written statement explaining that he had stolen a knife and a pair of sunglasses from a blue pickup truck on the North Hill.1 The defendant signed his written statement.

[396]*396The defendant pleaded guilty to the summary offenses for driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked2 and registration and certificate of title required.3 However, the defendant has also been charged with two counts of theft from a motor vehicle,4 receiving stolen property,5 theft by unlawful taking — movable property6 and loitering and prowling at nighttime.7 The defendant has filed this omnibus pretrial motion seeking suppression of the evidence discovered as a result of the search conducted by the officers, with the defendant’s consent, because it was the product of an investigatory detention that was not justified by reasonable suspicion that a crime was afoot. Additionally, the defendant contends that his statement should be suppressed as it was coerced by the discovery of items illegally obtained from the defendant’s vehicle and the defendant was not provided with his Miranda warnings. The defendant’s final argument is the Commonwealth failed to produce the necessary evidence to establish a prima facie case that the defendant committed theft from a motor vehicle, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.

First, the court must address the defendant’s contention that the search of the defendant’s vehicle was the result of an investigatory detention which was not supported by reasonable suspicion. Police officers may stop a motor vehicle for a violation of the Motor Vehicle Code and [397]*397request license and registration, but must allow the driver to leave once the citation is issued unless the officer has reasonable suspicion to suspect an illegal drug transaction or another serious crime. Commonwealth v. Pless, 451 Pa. Super. 209, 212, 679 A.2d 232, 234 (1996) (citing Commonwealth v. DeWitt, 530 Pa. 299, 304, 608 A.2d 1030, 1032 (1992); Commonwealth v. Talley, 430 Pa. Super. 351, 356, 634 A.2d 640, 643 (1993); Commonwealth v. Lopez, 415 Pa. Super. 252, 262, 609 A.2d 177, 182 (1992)). Once a traffic stop concludes, the interaction between a police officer and the defendant can occur in three ways:

“The first of these is a ‘mere encounter’ (or request for information) which need not be supported by any level of suspicion, but carries no official compulsion to stop or respond. The second, an ‘investigatory detention’ must be supported by reasonable suspicion; it subjects a suspect to a stop and period of detention, but does not involve such coercive conditions as to constitute the functional equivalent of arrest. Finally, an arrest or ‘custodial detention’ must be supported by probable cause.” Commonwealth v. Phinn, 761 A.2d 176, 181 (Pa. Super. 2000) (citing Commonwealth v. Ellis, 541 Pa. 285, 293-94, 662 A.2d 1043, 1047 (1995)).

The test for determining whether the interaction between a defendant and a police officer following a valid traffic stop is amere encounter or investigatory detention is determined on several factors, which includes:

“(1) the presence or absence of police excesses; (2) whether there was physical contact; (3) whether police directed the citizen’s movements; (4) police demeanor and manner of expression; (5) the location and time of [398]

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Bluebook (online)
11 Pa. D. & C.5th 392, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/commonwealth-v-barbati-pactcompllawren-2010.