Jackson v. State

158 S.W.3d 715, 86 Ark. App. 39, 2004 Ark. App. LEXIS 289
CourtCourt of Appeals of Arkansas
DecidedApril 14, 2004
DocketCA CR 03-730
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 158 S.W.3d 715 (Jackson v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Arkansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Jackson v. State, 158 S.W.3d 715, 86 Ark. App. 39, 2004 Ark. App. LEXIS 289 (Ark. Ct. App. 2004).

Opinion

Andree Layton Roaf, Judge.

Appellant Anarian Chad Jackson entered a conditional guilty plea to a charge of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver following the denial of his motion to suppress. For reversal, Jackson raises three points on appeal. He argues that: (1) his initial detention was an unconstitutional seizure; (2) his consent to search his bag was ineffective; and (3) the method by which he was Mirandized rendered the warnings ineffective such that his subsequent statements were illegally obtained. Because we agree with Jackson that his initial detention was illegal and that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress, we reverse the trial court’s denial of the motion to suppress and remand for further proceedings. It is, therefore, unnecessary for us to address the other points raised by Jackson on appeal.

Detectives Kyle King and Mark Treece, members of the special narcotics operations unit, were working at the Little Rock Greyhound Bus Station, with the purpose of curtailing the flow of narcotics through the bus station. On June 21, 2001, at approximately 5:00 a.m., they, along with a drug canine, Rexie, were at the station. Treece and Rexie were positioned approximately five feet from the bus on which Jackson was a passenger. According to King, when Jackson exited the bus and noticed Treece and Rexie, he “hesitated” and moved the bag that he was carrying at his right side to the left side, “put[ting] the bag up real high as to keep the dog from smelling it.” King clarified that Jackson did not place the bag on his shoulder, but rather than carrying it with the shoulder strap; he carried the bag “up high.” He opined that this “took [the bag] out of reach of the canine.” Treece also testified that as Jackson got off the bus, he picked his bag “up high.” Jackson then walked to the bus station, but turned once to look back at Treece before-entering the station.

King and Treece, along with Rexie, approached Jackson, identified themselves as detectives with the Little Rock Police Department, displayed badges and ID cards, and asked to speak with him. Jackson cooperated and produced identification. The ID Jackson produced was for “Brady McCoy,” an alias that King recognized as one used by Jackson. King stated that, although he did not recognize Jackson before stopping him, he knew Jackson was a person the department had been “hunting” and knew that he was dangerous. King also knew that Jackson had outstanding felony warrants for murder, aggravated robbery, and battery. King then asked Jackson if he was carrying any firearms or drugs, and Jackson denied that he was. King asked if he could search Jackson’s bag. Jackson agreed, but then proceeded to open the bag himself. King testified that he then stated, “I didn’t ask for you to search [the bag], I want myself to search it.” Jackson set the bag on the floor and stepped back. According to the officers, King then told Jackson to lie face down on the ground, tackled Jackson to the floor, and placed him under arrest for obstructing government operations by producing false identification. While King placed Jackson under arrest, Treece searched his bag after Rexie alerted on the bag, signaling the presence of drugs. Treece found two pounds of marijuana in the bag.

Jackson was transported to the Little Rock Police Department. While waiting to be interviewed by Detective J.C. White, Jackson commented to officers that he was an “OG.” White then Mirandized Jackson, using the Little Rock Police Department’s Miranda form, and took two taped statements regarding the battery, aggravated robbery, and murder charges. Jackson waived his rights three times during this interview.

Following that interview, Jackson was taken across the hall to be interviewed by Agents Cook and Sullivan. During the interview there were four officers present —J.C. White, Stuart Sullivan, DEA Special Agent Joe Cook, and ATF Special Agent Glen Cook. Cook informed Jackson that he wanted to speak with him about the drugs he was arrested with and reminded him that his Miranda rights were still in effect. Jackson again waived his rights. Sullivan took a handwritten statement in which Jackson discussed purchasing and trafficking cocaine and marijuana. The statement was read to him and Jackson acknowledged the veracity of the statement, making corrections and initialing them.

Jackson moved to suppress his statements and the evidence obtained after his arrest. At a hearing on his motion to suppress, Jackson argued that the facts did not establish reasonable suspicion sufficient to detain him. He also argued that Ark. R. Crim. P. 2.2 was not applicable in this case because the officers were not investigating a specific crime. The trial court ruled that the fact that the officers were “tipped off,” coupled with Jackson’s behavior, was sufficient to require cooperation under Rule 2.2. He also ruled that the production of false ID was sufficient to arrest and denied the motion to suppress.

On review from a denial of a motion to suppress evidence, the appellate court’s review is de novo, making an independent determination based on the totality of the circumstances, giving due deference to the trial court’s ability to assess the credibility of witnesses. Davis v. State, 351 Ark. 406, 94 S.W.3d 892 (2003).

Jackson first argues that his initial detention was an unconstitutional seizure because it was made without reasonable suspicion. Arkansas Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.1 authorizes a police officer to stop and detain an individual who he reasonably suspects is committing, has committed, or is about to commit a felony, or a misdemeanor involving forcible injury to persons or property damage. Reasonable suspicion is defined as:

A suspicion based on facts or circumstances which of themselves do not give rise to the probable cause requisite to justify a lawful arrest, but which give rise to more than a bare suspicion; that is, a suspicion that is reasonable as opposed to an imaginary or purely conjectural suspicion.

Davis, supra. The justification for the investigative stop depends on whether, under the totality of the circumstances, the police officer has specific, particularized, and articulable reasons indicating that the person may be involved in criminal activity. Further, only actions observed before the stop can be used as justification for the stop. Stewart v. State, 332 Ark. 138, 964 S.W.2d 793 (1998).

In Meadows v. State, 269 Ark. 380, 602 S.W.2d 636 (1980), the supreme court held that an officer violated Ark. R. Crim. P. 3.1 and 2.2 when he questioned two passengers merely because they looked back at the officer and quickened their pace. The court reversed the conviction, holding that the trial court should have suppressed the evidence that was seized. In that case, three plain-clothes officers were waiting at the Little Rock airport hoping to spot several persons suspected of transporting heroin. Meadows and another individual got off the plane and walked past the officers. They looked back at the officers, and the officers became suspicious. The two men looked back several times and the officers followed. One of the officers approached, identified himself, and asked for Meadows’s identification.

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Related

Jackson v. State
197 S.W.3d 468 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 2004)

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Bluebook (online)
158 S.W.3d 715, 86 Ark. App. 39, 2004 Ark. App. LEXIS 289, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/jackson-v-state-arkctapp-2004.