NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court." Although it is posted on the internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R.1:36-3.
SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY APPELLATE DIVISION DOCKET NO. A-1678-15T2
STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
EDWARD PHITTS, a/k/a EDDIE PHITTS, a/k/a EDUARDO PHITTS,
Defendant-Appellant.
_____________________________________
Submitted February 28, 2017 – Decided March 21, 2017
Before Judges Ostrer and Vernoia.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Somerset County, Indictment No. 14-05-0277.
Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney for appellant (Theresa Y. Kyles, Assistant Deputy Public Defender, of counsel and on the brief).
Michael H. Robertson, Somerset County Prosecutor, attorney for respondent (James L. McConnell, Assistant Prosecutor, of counsel and on the brief).
PER CURIAM Following the denial of defendant's motion to suppress
evidence, he pled guilty to the single charge contained in the
indictment, third degree possession of a controlled dangerous
substance, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10(a)(1), and was sentenced to five
years of special probation in drug court as an alternative to a
five-year custodial term. He appeals claiming the court erred by
denying his motion to suppress evidence. We disagree and affirm.
I.
The evidence at the suppression hearing showed that at 9:00
p.m. on March 6, 2014, defendant was the driver of a minivan in
Franklin Township. Police officers Michael Opaleski and Patrick
Clyne were in a patrol vehicle and observed the minivan stopped
in a no-parking zone and defendant speaking on a cell phone. The
officers activated their emergency lights, defendant drove the
vehicle a short distance, and the officers effectuated a stop of
defendant's vehicle.1
The officers approached the vehicle on foot and began speaking
to defendant. As Opaleski stood outside the passenger side of the
vehicle, he observed what he characterized as the "corner of a wax
fold with a lettering or a stamp on it" in a cup in the vehicle's
1 Defendant did not challenge the legality of the motor vehicle stop before the trial court and does not make any claims here related to the stop.
2 A-1678-15T2 center console. Opaleski also observed defendant was breathing
heavily, his pupils were constricted, his hand movements were
slow, and he failed to make eye contact with the officer. Based
on his observations, Opaleski believed defendant was impaired.
Defendant told the officers he did not have his driver's
license or any other form of identification, and his driving
privileges were suspended. The officers directed defendant to exit
the vehicle and he complied. Opaleski directed Clyne to conduct
a pat-down search of defendant to determine if he had any weapons.
Clyne did not discover any weapons during the pat-down.
During the initial ninety seconds following defendant's exit
from the vehicle, and during Clyne's pat-down of defendant,
Opaleski advised defendant why he was stopped. Opaleski asked if
defendant was in possession of any weapons and if he knew about a
car-jacking that occurred the previous evening. During the pat-
down defendant "rolled his head backwards, or picked his head up,"
enabling Opaleski to see a whitish-yellow powder under defendant's
right nostril.
Based on Opaleski's training and experience, he suspected the
powder to be a controlled dangerous substance, concluded defendant
used a controlled dangerous substance "very recently," and
suspected defendant was still in possession of a controlled
dangerous substance.
3 A-1678-15T2 Opaleski decided to place defendant under arrest for driving
while suspended, N.J.S.A. 39:3-40, and possession of drug
paraphernalia, N.J.S.A. 2C:36-1 and -2, based on the "totality of
circumstances," and what his "training and experience taught [him]
over the years." However, prior to formally placing defendant
under arrest, Opaleski searched defendant and seized nine packets
of heroin from his jacket pocket.
Following Opaleski's decision to arrest defendant and as he
conducted the search, he continued asking defendant questions.2 He
asked if defendant had a drug habit. Defendant stated that "every
once in a while" he snorted "dope," which Opaleski understood to
be a reference to heroin. Defendant also admitted snorting dope a
short while before the motor vehicle stop but denied having any
dope in his possession because he had used it all.
Defendant was subsequently asked if he needed anything
retrieved from the vehicle. Defendant told the officers he wanted
his reading glasses. Opaleski entered the vehicle to retrieve the
glasses and the wax fold in the console, observed a second cup
containing wax folds, and seized all of the wax folds.
2 Opaleski testified he searched defendant during the period from 21:20:01 p.m. to 21:21:03 p.m., as reflected on the officer's motor vehicle recording (MVR) that was admitted into evidence. This is the period during which he asked defendant questions concerning his drug use and possession of a controlled dangerous substance.
4 A-1678-15T2 Following the suppression hearing, the judge issued a written
decision denying defendant's motion. The judge found Opaleski, the
only witness who testified at the hearing, to be credible. She
also found there was probable cause for defendant's arrest
supporting Opaleski's search of defendant incident to the arrest.
The judge further found the wax folds in the vehicle were properly
seized because they were in plain view.
On appeal, defendant makes the following arguments:
POINT I
ALL EVIDENCE SEIZED IN THIS MATTER SHOULD HAVE BEEN SUPPRESSED BECAUSE THE OFFICER'S SIGHTING OF A "WAX FOLD" IN THE MINIVAN WAS NOT SHOWN TO HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH CRIME AND, THEREFORE, WAS NOT A PLAIN VIEW OBSERVATION; THE PAT-DOWN OF [DEFENDANT] VIOLATED HIS FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS; AND [DEFENDANT'S] ADMISSION THAT HE USED DRUGS WAS ACQUIRED BY WAY OF INTERROGATION THAT VIOLATED HIS FIFTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
A. Introduction[.]
B. The sighting of the corner of a "wax fold" was not shown to have been a "plain view" observation[.]
C. The pat-down performed in this matter lacked justification, and any evidence acquired as a result of that pat-down should have been suppressed.
D. The admission of recent use of drugs was made during an unconstitutional interrogation, and any evidence found as a result of that interrogation should have been suppressed.
5 A-1678-15T2 [E.] The seizure of the "wax folds" from the minivan was the result of a pretextual search, the fruits of which should have been suppressed. II.
Our review of the denial of a suppression motion is limited.
See State v. Handy, 206 N.J. 39, 44 (2011). "We must uphold a
trial court's factual findings at a motion-to-suppress hearing
when they are supported by sufficient credible evidence in the
record," State v. Hathaway, 222 N.J. 453, 467 (2015), and will
"not disturb the trial court's findings merely because '[we] might
have reached a different conclusion' . . . or because 'the trial
court decided all evidence or inference conflicts in favor of one
side' in a close case," State v. Elders, 192 N.J. 224, 244 (2007)
(quoting State v. Johnson, 42 N.J. 146, 162 (1964)). It is only
where we are "thoroughly satisfied that the finding is clearly a
mistaken one and so plainly unwarranted that the interests of
justice demand intervention and correction [that we will] appraise
the record as if [we] were deciding the matter at inception and
make [our] own findings and conclusions." Johnson, supra, 42 N.J.
at 162.
We do not owe deference to a trial court's "interpretation
of the law," and such issues are reviewed de novo. Hathaway, supra,
222 N.J. at 467. "A trial court's interpretation of the law . . .
6 A-1678-15T2 and the consequences that flow from established facts are not
entitled to any special deference." State v. Lamb, 218 N.J. 300,
313 (2014).
Here, we consider the court's determination that the
warrantless searches of defendant and his vehicle were lawful. The
United States and New Jersey Constitutions guarantee the right "of
the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and
effects against unreasonable searches and seizures[.]" U.S. Const.
amend. IV; N.J. Const. art. I, ¶ 7. The Fourth Amendment and
Article 1, paragraph 7 of the New Jersey Constitution both
"require[] the approval of an impartial judicial officer based on
probable cause before most searches may be undertaken." State v.
Patino, 83 N.J. 1, 7 (1980).
Warrantless searches are presumed invalid. State v. Gamble,
218 N.J. 412, 425 (2014). "Any warrantless search is prima facie
invalid, and the invalidity may be overcome only if the search
falls within one of the specific exceptions created by the United
States Supreme Court." State v. Hill, 115 N.J. 169, 173 (1989).
The State has the burden of proving the existence of an exception
by a preponderance of the evidence. State v. Amelio, 197 N.J. 207,
211 (2008), cert. denied, 556 U.S. 1237, 129 S. Ct. 2402, 173 L.
Ed. 2d 1297 (2009).
Defendant first challenges the search of his person, arguing
7 A-1678-15T2 Opaleski's initial observation of the wax fold in the console was
insufficient to permit its seizure under the plain view exception
to the warrant requirement. Under the plain view exception, an
officer may seize evidence without a warrant "if the officer is
'lawfully . . . in the viewing area' when he [or she] discovers
the evidence, and it is immediately apparent the object viewed is
'evidence of a crime, contraband, or otherwise subject to
seizure.'" State v. Keaton, 222 N.J. 438, 448 (2015) (quoting
State v. Johnson, 171 N.J. 192, 206-07 (2003)). "The officer must
discover the evidence 'inadvertently,' 'meaning that [the officer]
did not know in advance where evidence was located nor intend
beforehand to seize it.'"3 Johnson, supra, 171 N.J. at 206 (quoting
State v. Bruzzese, 94 N.J. 210, 236 (1983), certif. denied, 465
U.S. 1030, 104 S. Ct. 1295, 79 L. Ed. 2d 695 (1984)).
Defendant argues Opaleski's observation was insufficient to
support a plain view seizure of the wax fold because there was
nothing about the wax fold making it immediately apparent that it
constituted evidence of a crime. Defendant also reasons that
Opaleski could not properly rely on his observation of the wax
3 In State v. Gonzales, 227 N.J. 77, 101 (2016), the Court announced a "new rule of law" eliminating the requirement that the State prove evidence was discovered inadvertently to support a warrantless search under the plain view exception to the warrant requirement. The Court's decision applies prospectively and therefore the new standard is not applicable here. Ibid.
8 A-1678-15T2 fold to support his arrest and search of defendant because it was
unlawful for Opaleski to seize the wax fold under the plain view
exception.
We reject defendant's argument because even assuming
Opaleski's observation of the wax fold in the console was
insufficient to permit a seizure under the plain view exception,
there was no seizure of the wax fold prior to Opaleski's search
of defendant. Thus, the search was not based on an illegal seizure
of any evidence and there was no basis to suppress the heroin
found in his pocket as the fruit of the poisonous tree. See Wong
Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471, 484-85, 83 S. Ct. 407, 415-
16, 9 L. Ed. 2d 441, 453-54 (1963).
Moreover, it was immediately apparent the wax fold evidenced
the commission of an offense. Opaleski was an experienced police
officer who received training concerning controlled dangerous
substances and participated in over two hundred cases involving
the use and sale of heroin. He explained that heroin is commonly
packaged in bundles, consisting of ten "deck[s]," "bag[s]," or
"fold[s]," which are "individually packaged items . . . of heroin."
Thus, his observation of the wax fold in the center of defendant's
console made it readily apparent that it was evidence of a crime.
Defendant argues Opaleski lacked probable cause to conclude
the wax fold was evidence of an offense because it "appear[ed]
9 A-1678-15T2 intrinsically innocent." State v. Demeter, 124 N.J. 374, 383
(1991). Defendant asserts that Opaleski's "subjective beliefs"
that the wax fold was drug paraphernalia were "not dispostive."
Id. at 384.
The circumstances here are unlike those presented in Demeter
where the Court determined that an officer's observation of a
thirty-five-millimeter film canister in a vehicle, which he
suspected contained a controlled dangerous substance, did not
support a finding of probable cause. Ibid. The Court found the
canister "was intrinsically innocent" and there were no other
"objective factors that would lead any officer with similar
training and experience reasonably to conclude that drugs were in
the canister." Id. at 383.
In Texas v. Brown, 460 U.S. 730, 739, 103 S. Ct. 1535, 1542,
75 L. Ed. 2d 502, 512 (1983), the Supreme Court sustained the
seizure of a balloon from a motor vehicle under the plain view
doctrine. The Court found it was immediately apparent to the
officer that the balloon constituted evidence of crime because he
knew from his training and experience "that narcotics frequently
were packaged in [similar] balloons" and because there were other
circumstances supporting the officer's conclusion. Id. at 734, 103
S. Ct. at 1539, 75 L. Ed. 2d at 508; see also Johnson, supra, 171
N.J. at 219 (holding that criminal nature of container is
10 A-1678-15T2 immediately apparent where "outward appearance of the clear
plastic bag gave the officer a degree of certainty that was
functionally equivalent to the plain view of crack-cocaine
itself").
Opaleski had training and experience in heroin
investigations, and explained that folds are commonly used to
package small quantities of heroin. There was no evidence the wax
fold Opaleski first observed had a use for any purpose other than
the packaging of a controlled dangerous substance. Moreover,
unlike in Demeter, "where there were no surrounding circumstances
to support probable cause that the canister contained drugs,"
Johnson, supra, 171 N.J. at 218 (distinguishing Demeter, supra,
124 N.J. at 383), Opaleski was trained in the symptomology of drug
usage, and concluded defendant was impaired based on his
observations of defendant's eyes and physical movements. His
observations and conclusion supported his determination that the
wax fold, which was in the center console next to the driver's
seat of the vehicle, was drug paraphernalia. Based on his
experience and "the facts that were known to" Opaleski, the
"[t]otality of the circumstances" provided "probable cause to
associate the [wax fold] with criminal activity," Brown, supra,
460 U.S. at 741-42, 103 S. Ct. at 1543, 75 L. Ed. 2d 513 (quoting
11 A-1678-15T2 Payton v. New York, 445 U.S. 573, 587, 100 S. Ct. 1371, 1380, 63
L. Ed. 2d 639, 651 (1980)).
Defendant was arrested and searched in part because Opaleski
believed defendant committed the offense of possession of drug
paraphernalia. A person commits the offense when they "use, or []
possess with intent to use, drug paraphernalia to . . .
pack . . . store, contain, [or] conceal . . . a controlled
dangerous substance." N.J.S.A. 2C:36-2. Drug paraphernalia
includes materials "used or intended for use in packaging . . .
controlled dangerous substances," including "envelopes and other
containers." N.J.S.A. 2C:36-1(i). We are satisfied Opaleski's
observations of the wax fold, defendant's eyes and physical
movements, and the location of the wax fold next to an apparently
impaired defendant, provided probable cause to believe that
defendant committed an offense under N.J.S.A. 2C:36-2.
Opaleski did not immediately seize the wax fold. Opaleski
ordered defendant out of the car, subsequently searched him, and
found heroin in his jacket pocket. The State asserts, and the
court found, that the search of defendant was incidental to his
lawful arrest. We agree.
An officer may properly search an individual who has been
lawfully placed under arrest. Chimel v. California, 395 U.S. 752,
762-63, 89 S. Ct. 2034, 2040, 23 L. Ed. 2d 685, 694 (1969); State
12 A-1678-15T2 v. Minitee, 210 N.J. 307, 318 (2012); State v. Eckel, 185 N.J.
523, 528 (2006); State v. Pierce, 136 N.J. 184, 213-14 (1994).
Probable cause for an arrest "exists where the facts and
circumstances within . . . [the officers'] knowledge and of which
they had reasonably trustworthy information [are] sufficient in
themselves to warrant a [person] of reasonable caution in the
belief that an offense has been or is being committed." State v.
O'Neal, 190 N.J. 601, 612 (2007) (alterations in original) (quoting
State v. Moore, 181 N.J. 40, 45-46 (2004)). We consider the
"totality of the circumstances" in determining if an officer had
probable cause to make an arrest. Ibid.
We are convinced the evidence amply supports the court's
determination there was probable cause to arrest defendant for
driving while suspended,4 N.J.S.A. 39:3-40, and possession of drug
paraphernalia, N.J.S.A. 2C:36-2, prior to Opaleski's search of
defendant. Defendant admitted his license was suspended and, as
noted, Opaleski's observations of the defendant and the wax fold
4 A search incident to a lawful arrest generally cannot be based on a charge of driving without a license because "driving without a license, without more, would not constitute sufficient grounds for a custodial arrest." State v. Lark, 163 N.J. 294, 296 (2000). Here, we need not consider whether defendant's arrest for driving while suspended alone would provide a sufficient basis for an arrest permitting a search incident to the arrest because Opaleski had probable cause to arrest defendant for the commission of an offense under N.J.S.A. 2C:36-2.
13 A-1678-15T2 provided probable cause for defendant's arrest for possession of
drug paraphernalia.
It is of no moment that the search occurred prior to
defendant's formal arrest. "As long as the right to arrest pre-
existed the search, . . . the search will not be invalidated
'simply because in precise point of time the arrest does not
precede the search.'" O'Neal, supra, 190 N.J. at 614-15 (quoting
State v. Doyle, 42 N.J. 334, 343 (1964)). The record shows Opaleski
had the right to arrest defendant for possession of drug
paraphernalia before defendant exited the vehicle. The fact that
Opaleski did not immediately arrest defendant, or obtained
additional information prior to the arrest, did not affect the
validity of the search. It is the "right to arrest," rather than
the actual arrest that "must pre-exist the search." Ibid. (quoting
Doyle, supra, 42 N.J. at 342). Opaleski had probable cause to
arrest defendant for possession of drug paraphernalia prior to the
search and, as a result, his search of defendant was incident to
a lawful arrest. See State v. Dangerfield, 171 N.J. 446, 460 (2002)
(finding the police have authority to arrest for disorderly persons
offenses committed in their presence).
Defendant contends Opaleski's observation of the powder under
defendant's nose was the result of an improper pat-down. See,
e.g., State v. Casimono, 250 N.J. Super. 173, 178-80 (App. Div.
14 A-1678-15T2 1991) (finding a pat-down search was not justified where defendant
was charged with motor vehicle offenses and there was no reasonable
suspicion he was armed), certif. denied, 127 N.J. 558 (1992).
Defendant claims Opaleski relied on the observation in deciding
to arrest defendant, and his reliance on the observation rendered
the arrest and subsequent search unlawful. We are not persuaded
by defendant's claim because even assuming Opaleski saw the powder
as a result of an unlawful pat-down and relied upon it in part to
arrest and search defendant, there was independent evidence prior
to the pat-down sufficient to arrest defendant for possession of
a drug paraphernalia. See O'Neal, supra, 190 N.J. at 618 (finding
harmless error in court's denial of motion to suppress statements
made in violation of Miranda rights because there was probable
cause for a search independent of the statements).
We also reject defendant's argument that the arrest and search
were unlawful because they were based on defendant's statements,
which were made in the absence of any Miranda5 warnings and in
response to Opaleski's questions. The evidence shows Opaleski
could not have considered any statements made by defendant in his
decision to make an arrest and conduct the search. Opaleski began
5 Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966)
15 A-1678-15T2 the search before asking defendant any questions about drug use
and prior to any of defendant's admissions concerning his drug use
that evening.6 In addition, even if Opaleski had considered any
statements made by defendant in the absence of required Miranda
warnings, there was probable cause for the arrest and search before
defendant left the vehicle. Thus, the validity of defendant's
arrest and search were not dependent upon any statements he made
about drug use in response to Opaleski's questions.7 Ibid.
Defendant last argues the court erred in denying the motion
to suppress the wax folds Opaleski seized from the vehicle
following defendant's arrest. Defendant claims there was no reason
to impound the vehicle and therefore Opaleski's entry into the
vehicle to retrieve defendant's glasses was improper. We find no
merit in defendant's contention.
6 Opaleski testified he began to search defendant at 21:20:01 p.m., as shown on the MVR. Prior to that time, Opaleski had not asked defendant any questions about drug use. Opaleski asked the first question about drug use at 21:20:01 p.m., after he decided to arrest defendant and as he commenced the search. 7 There is no support in the record for the court's finding that "it was not until after [d]efendant admitting to having 'dope' in his possession, that the officers searched his person for the controlled dangerous substance." There was no discussion of drugs with defendant until the search began and defendant did not acknowledge he possessed any drugs until after the search revealed the nine folds of heroin found in his pocket.
16 A-1678-15T2 Although Opaleski entered the vehicle in part to obtain
defendant's glasses at defendant's request, he did so in order to
seize the wax fold he had observed in plain view. He was entitled
to enter the vehicle for that purpose. See Brown, supra, 460 U.S.
at 739, 103 S. Ct. at 1542, 75 L. Ed. 2d at 512 (finding that an
officer is entitled to immediately seize evidence of an offense
in plain view); State v. Mann, 203 N.J. 328, 341 (2010) (holding
seizure of a controlled dangerous substance from an automobile was
proper where plain view exception to the warrant requirement
applied). While Opaleski was lawfully in the vehicle to seize the
wax fold he first observed, he saw for the first time additional
folds, which he recognized as drug paraphernalia. The evidence
therefore supports the court's conclusion that all of the folds
were properly seized under the plain view exception to the warrant
requirement.
Affirmed.
17 A-1678-15T2