People of Michigan v. Larry Gerald Mead

908 N.W.2d 555, 320 Mich. App. 613

Opinion

O'Connell, J.

This case addressing defendant, Larry Gerald Mead's Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches returns to us on remand from the Michigan Supreme Court. Mead appeals as of right his conviction, following a jury trial, of possessing methamphetamine, MCL 333.7403(2)(b)( i ), as a fourth-offense habitual offender, MCL 769.12. The trial court sentenced him to serve 2 to 10 years' imprisonment. Defendant challenged the validity of the search in the trial court. In our prior opinion, we concluded that Mead, a passenger in a vehicle, lacked standing to challenge the search of a container in the vehicle under People v. Labelle , 478 Mich. 891 , 732 N.W.2d 114 (2007), and we affirmed Mead's conviction on that basis. 1 However, the Michigan Supreme Court vacated our judgment and remanded for us to consider:

(1) whether [the Michigan Supreme Court's] peremptory order in People v. LaBelle [Labelle] , 478 Mich. 891 [ 732 N.W.2d 114 ] (2007), is distinguishable; (2) whether the record demonstrates that the police officer reasonably believed that the driver had common authority over the backpack in order for the driver's consent to justify the search, see Illinois v. Rodriguez , 497 U.S. 177 , 181, 183-189, 110 S.Ct. 2793 , 111 L.Ed.2d 148 (1990) ; and (3) whether there are any other grounds upon which the search may be justified. ^[ 2 ^]

On remand, we address all three issues, conclude that issue one controls, and affirm.

I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

On the night of May 29, 2014, Rachel Taylor was driving a vehicle, and Mead rode in the front passenger seat. Officer Richard Burkart testified that he stopped the vehicle for an expired license plate. Officer Burkart stated that Mead had a backpack on his lap. According to Officer Burkart, Taylor consented to a search of the vehicle, Officer Burkart asked Taylor and Mead to exit the vehicle, and Mead left the backpack "on the front passenger floorboard." When Officer Burkart searched the vehicle, he opened the backpack and found methamphetamine. Mead admitted that the backpack belonged to him but moved to suppress the evidence found in the backpack. The trial court denied his motion.

II. PEOPLE v. LABELLE

We conclude that the Michigan Supreme Court's order in Labelle , 478 Mich. at 891-892 , 732 N.W.2d 114 , is not distinguishable from the present case, and therefore we are required to affirm both defendant's conviction and sentence.

The defendant in Labelle was a passenger in a motor vehicle. Id . The LaBelle vehicle's driver violated MCL 257.652(1), and the police stopped the vehicle. Id at 891, 732 N.W.2d 114 . The Michigan Supreme Court concluded that the stop was objectively lawful. Id . After the stop, the driver consented to a search of the vehicle. See id . Police then searched an unlocked backpack that the defendant left in the "passenger compartment of the vehicle." See id at 891-892, 732 N.W.2d 114 . The defendant moved to suppress evidence of the contents of the backpack. See id at 892, 732 N.W.2d 114 . However, the Supreme Court concluded that "[t]he search of the backpack was valid," explaining that "[b]ecause the stop of the vehicle was legal, the defendant, a passenger, lacked standing to challenge the subsequent search of the vehicle." Id . Further, "[a]uthority to search the entire passenger compartment of the vehicle includes any unlocked containers located therein, including the backpack in this case." Id .

We cannot distinguish the relevant facts of Mead's case from those underlying the Supreme Court's order in Labelle . Mead was a passenger in a motor vehicle driven by Taylor. Officer Burkart stopped the vehicle. Mead has not challenged the validity of the stop. After the stop, Taylor consented to a search of the vehicle. Officer Burkart then searched an unlocked backpack in the vehicle's passenger compartment. Therefore, under Labelle , Mead lacked standing to challenge the search, and Officer Burkart had authority to search the backpack. Labelle is binding on this Court. People v. Giovannini , 271 Mich.App. 409 , 414, 722 N.W.2d 237 (2006). Because Mead lacks standing to challenge the search, any challenge to the search must fail. See People v. Earl , 297 Mich.App. 104 , 107, 822 N.W.2d 271 (2012), aff'd 495 Mich. 33 , 845 N.W.2d 721 (2014).

III. REASONABLE BELIEF OF COMMON AUTHORITY

Notwithstanding the fact that existing Michigan law provides that a passenger in a motor vehicle does not have standing to contest the search of a third party's vehicle, the Supreme Court has directed us to address whether the record in the present case demonstrates that Officer Burkart reasonably believed that Taylor had common authority over the backpack in order for Burkart's consent to justify the search of the backpack. In regard to that issue, the Supreme Court has directed our attention to Rodriguez , 497 U.S. at 181, 183-189 , 110 S.Ct. 2793 .

The Rodriguez Court did not address warrantless searches, pursuant to consent, of containers in automobiles. Rather, it addressed "[w]hether a warrantless entry [to an apartment] is valid when based upon the consent of a third party whom the police, at the time of the entry, reasonably believe to possess common authority over the premises, but who in fact does not" possess common authority. Id . at 179, 110 S.Ct. 2793 . In doing so, the Court ruled that the Fourth Amendment prohibition against warrantless entry to another's home does not apply when the police obtained "voluntary consent" from either "the individual whose property is searched," "a third party who possesses common authority over the premises," or a third party whom an officer reasonably believes possesses common authority over the premises. Id . at 181-182, 186-189, 110 S.Ct. 2793 . Common authority exists among persons with " 'mutual use of the property by persons generally having joint access or control for most purposes....' " Id . at 181, 110 S.Ct. 2793 , quoting United States v. Matlock , 415 U.S. 164 , 171 n. 7, 94 S.Ct. 988 , 39 L.Ed.2d 242 (1974). An officer reasonably believes that a third party possesses common authority over a premises if "the facts available to the officer at the moment" would "warrant a man of reasonable caution in the belief that the consenting party had authority over the premises[.]" Id . at 188, 110 S.Ct. 2793 (quotations and citations omitted).

Multiple federal circuit courts and other state courts have applied Rodriguez 's common-authority framework to evaluate a third party's consent to search a container inside a vehicle. See State v. Harding , 282 P.3d 31 , 34-41, 2011 UT 78 (2011) (discussing several of those cases). Those foreign courts have determined that officers violate person's Fourth Amendment rights when searching a bag in a car when officers could not have a reasonable belief that a third party had common authority to consent to the search. Id . In citing caselaw from those courts, the Utah Supreme Court of Utah determined that courts evaluate the reasonableness of an officer's actions by analyzing several factors, such as the type of container searched, any identifying material on the outside of the container, the container's location, the number of containers, the number of passengers, and the passengers' conduct. Id . at 38-39.

If Rodriguez and its extension to searches of containers in automobiles as applied in foreign courts were the law in Michigan, an argument that Officer Burkart lacked a reasonable belief that Taylor had common authority over the backpack would have some merit. A backpack is a container used to store personal items, which suggests individual, rather than common, ownership. Harding , 282 P.3d at 38 . The relationship between Mead and Taylor suggests that Taylor would not have had authority over Mead's personal items. Mead testified that he met Taylor on the night of the search. Taylor stated on a video of the traffic stop that Mead was in her car because she was dropping Mead off on her way to another destination. Officer Burkart testified that Mead had the backpack on his lap with his arms resting on either side at the time of the stop. The video shows that Officer Burkart searched the backpack while it was placed in the passenger side of the vehicle. Officer Burkart testified that he believed that the backpack belonged to Mead.

However, in Michigan, Rodriguez 's common-authority framework does not apply to warrantless searches of containers in automobiles. Caselaw from foreign courts is not binding. Great Lakes Society v. Georgetown Charter Twp. , 281 Mich.App. 396 , 414, 761 N.W.2d 371 (2008). No Michigan Court has successfully applied Rodriguez 's common authority framework to warrantless searches, pursuant to consent, of containers in automobiles. To the contrary, this Court applied the framework to the search of the backpack in People v. Labelle , 273 Mich.App. 214 , 221-226, 729 N.W.2d 525 (2006), rev'd 478 Mich. 891 , 732 N.W.2d 114 (2007), and concluded that the deputy had no consent to search the backpack because it was not reasonable for the deputy to believe that the driver had common authority over the backpack. But the Michigan Supreme Court reversed that judgment, reasoned that "[a]uthority to search the entire passenger compartment of the vehicle includes any unlocked containers located therein," and concluded that "[t]he search of the backpack was valid." Labelle , 478 Mich. at 891-892 , 732 N.W.2d 114 .

Police officers in Michigan are trained to follow Michigan law. For example, state statutes allow the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) to institute and publicize training standards for law enforcement officers. See MCL 28.621 ; MCL 28.611. To facilitate that mandate, the Michigan State Police developed a manual that addresses the issues of search and seizure law most commonly encountered by police officers in Michigan. See Michigan Department of State Police, Michigan Criminal Law & Procedure: A Manual for Michigan Police Officers, Third Edition (Dubuque: Kendall Hunt Publishing Co., 2014). The manual cites the Michigan Supreme Court's order in Labelle when discussing the scope of a warrantless search of a container pursuant to consent. Manual , p. 343. Specifically, the manual states that a search's scope "turns on whether it is objectively reasonable for the officer to believe that the scope of the consent permits the officer to open a particular closed container" and that the Labelle "court held that when police have authority to search the entire passenger compartment of a vehicle, that authority extends to any unlocked containers within the vehicle." Id .

Therefore, because Mead lacks standing to challenge the validity of the search and because current Michigan law does not apply Rodriguez 's common-authority framework to warrantless searches of containers in automobiles, we decline to apply Rodriguez 's common-authority framework to this case.

IV. OTHER GROUNDS JUSTIFYING THE SEARCH

Finally, the Michigan Supreme Court directed us to consider whether other grounds justified the search of the backpack. We conclude that, under the facts of the case presented to this panel, no other grounds justified the search.

Both the United States and Michigan Constitutions "guarantee the right of persons to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures."

People v. Hyde , 285 Mich.App. 428 , 438, 775 N.W.2d 833 (2009) (quotation marks and citations omitted). See U.S. Const., Am. IV ; Const. 1963, art. 1, § 11. "Searches and seizures conducted without a warrant are unreasonable per se, subject to several specifically established and well-delineated exceptions." People v. Brown , 279 Mich.App. 116 , 131, 755 N.W.2d 664 (2008) (quotation marks and citation omitted). A discussion of relevant exceptions follows.

A warrantless search of abandoned property does not violate the Fourth Amendment. People v. Rasmussen , 191 Mich.App. 721 , 725, 478 N.W.2d 752 (1991). Fourth Amendment protections apply only when a person has an expectation of privacy in the searched property. See id . By definition, a person lacks an expectation of privacy in abandoned property. Id . A person is considered to have abandoned property when "he voluntarily discarded, left behind, or otherwise relinquished his interest in the property so that he could no longer retain a reasonable expectation of privacy in the property at the time of the search." Id . at 726-727, 478 N.W.2d 752 . For example, a person abandons a bag when he discards it while running from the police. People v. Lewis , 199 Mich.App. 556 , 557-560, 502 N.W.2d 363 (1993).

Mead demonstrated a possessory interest in the backpack by holding it on his lap while in the vehicle. He did not abandon the backpack by leaving it inside the vehicle because leaving a bag inside the vehicle in which you are riding does not equate to discarding, leaving behind, or relinquishing ownership in the item.

A police officer may conduct a protective or Terry search of the passenger compartment of a vehicle without a warrant "if the police officer possesses a reasonable belief based on 'specific and articulable facts which, taken together with the rational inferences from those facts, reasonably warrant' the officer in believing that the suspect is dangerous and the suspect may gain immediate control of weapons," "limited to those areas in which a weapon may be placed or hidden." Michigan v. Long , 463 U.S. 1032 , 1049, 103 S.Ct. 3469 , 77 L.Ed.2d 1201 (1983), quoting Terry v. Ohio , 392 U.S. 1 , 21, 88 S.Ct. 1868 , 20 L.Ed.2d 889 (1968). When evaluating the validity of a search, the " 'issue is whether a reasonably prudent man in the circumstances would be warranted in the belief that his safety or that of others was in danger.' " Long , 463 U.S. at 1050 , 103 S.Ct. 3469 , quoting Terry , 392 U.S. at 27 , 88 S.Ct. 1868 .

The protective or Terry search exception does not apply here. At no point did Officer Burkart testify that he had a reasonable belief that Taylor or Mead could gain immediate control of a weapon inside the vehicle or testify that he believed his safety or the safety of others was in danger, and the prosecution did not cite this exception as a basis for the search.

An officer may conduct a search incident to arrest without a warrant "whenever there is probable cause to arrest." People v. Nguyen , 305 Mich.App. 740 , 756, 854 N.W.2d 223 (2014). To have probable cause for an arrest, the investigating officers "must possess information demonstrating" " 'a probability or substantial chance' " "that an offense has occurred and that the defendant has committed it." Id . at 751, 752, 854 N.W.2d 223 , quoting People v. Lyon , 227 Mich.App. 599 , 611, 577 N.W.2d 124 (1998). An officer " 'may search a vehicle incident to a recent occupant's arrest only if the arrestee is within reaching distance of the passenger compartment at the time of the search or it is reasonable to believe the vehicle contains evidence of the offense of arrest.' " People v. Tavernier , 295 Mich.App. 582 , 584, 815 N.W.2d 154 (2012), quoting Arizona v. Gant , 556 U.S. 332 , 351, 129 S.Ct. 1710 , 173 L.Ed.2d 485 (2009). "[T]here is no reason to believe that evidence relevant to the crime of arrest would be found in the vehicle" when police are addressing "civil infractions" or a person "driving without a valid license." Tavernier , 295 Mich.App. at 586 , 815 N.W.2d 154 . "[J]ustifying the arrest by the search and at the same time the search by the arrest, just will not do." Smith v. Ohio , 494 U.S. 541 , 543, 110 S.Ct. 1288 , 108 L.Ed.2d 464 (1990) (quotation marks, alterations, and citation omitted). For example, a "search of a container cannot be justified as being incident to an arrest if probable cause for the contemporaneous arrest was provided by the fruits of that search." People v. Champion , 452 Mich. 92 , 116-117, 549 N.W.2d 849 (1996). In this case, Officer Burkart did not search the backpack incident to the arrest of Mead or Taylor. Officer Burkart stopped the vehicle because of an expired license plate. It is unclear how the vehicle could contain evidence of an expired license plate. Officer Burkart repeatedly testified that he had no intent to arrest Taylor for the infraction. Additionally, Officer Burkart testified that Mead and Taylor admitted using narcotics. But he did not testify that drug use was the basis for the stop of the vehicle, that either admitted possessing drugs that night, that either admitted using drugs that night, or that either exhibited signs of being under the influence of narcotics. Upon viewing the video of the traffic stop, it does not appear that Taylor or Mead are within reaching distance of the backpack or passenger compartment of the vehicle at the time of the search. Therefore, Officer Burkart lacked probable cause for a lawful arrest as is required to permit a search incident to arrest. Police may also search a vehicle or a container within a vehicle without a warrant if they have probable cause that the vehicle or container " 'contains articles that the officers are entitled to seize.' " People v. Garvin , 235 Mich.App. 90 , 101, 597 N.W.2d 194 (1999), quoting People v. Armendarez , 188 Mich.App. 61 , 71-72, 468 N.W.2d 893 (1991). See also People v. Bullock , 440 Mich. 15 , 24, 485 N.W.2d 866 (1992). Probable cause exists if the totality of the circumstances demonstrates "a substantial basis for concluding that a search would uncover evidence of wrongdoing" and "a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in a particular place." Garvin , 235 Mich.App. at 102 , 597 N.W.2d 194 (quotation marks, citations, brackets and ellipses omitted).

The record in Mead's case does not contain evidence that Officer Burkart had probable cause to search the backpack in the automobile. Again, Officer Burkart testified that Mead and Taylor admitted to using narcotics. But he did not testify that drug use was the basis for the stop of the vehicle, that either admitted possessing or using drugs that night, that he believed the backpack would contain narcotics, or that either exhibited signs of being under the influence of narcotics. And again, the prosecution did not cite this exception as a basis for the search.

An inventory search is a "well-defined exception to the warrant requirement of the Fourth Amendment." Colorado v. Bertine , 479 U.S. 367 , 371, 107 S.Ct. 738 , 93 L.Ed.2d 739 (1987). " [A]n inventory search must not be a ruse for a general rummaging in order to discover incriminating evidence." Florida v. Wells , 495 U.S. 1 , 4, 110 S.Ct. 1632 , 109 L.Ed.2d 1 (1990). See also People v. Poole , 199 Mich.App. 261 , 266, 501 N.W.2d 265 (1993). Rather, the search "protect[s] an owner's property while it is in the custody of the police, to insure against claims of lost, stolen, or vandalized property" and "guard[s] the police from danger." Bertine , 479 U.S. at 372 , 107 S.Ct. 738 . The search must be conducted reasonably, id . at 374, 107 S.Ct. 738 , in good faith, id ., and pursuant to standardized police procedures "designed to produce an inventory," including procedures that "regulate the opening of containers found during inventory searches," Wells , 495 U.S. at 4 , 110 S.Ct. 1632 . See also Poole , 199 Mich.App. at 266, 501 N.W.2d 265 .

The record lacks evidence as to whether Officer Burkart's search of the backpack fell within the scope of a proper inventory search. Officer Burkart testified that he searches vehicles to "check for valuables or any damage to the vehicle, anything that may be in there" whenever he tows or impounds a vehicle. However, Officer Burkart offered no further explanation of police department policies, did not explain department policy for the search of a container, and did not explain how his search complied with department policy. Therefore, we lack evidence to determine that he conducted a proper inventory search.

"The inevitable-discovery rule permits the admission of evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment if the prosecution establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that the information inevitably would have been discovered through lawful means." People v. Mahdi , 317 Mich.App. 446 , 469, 894 N.W.2d 732 (2016).

The inevitable-discovery exception does not apply here. On appeal, the prosecution only argues that Taylor consented to the search and that Mead lacked standing to contest the search. The prosecution is correct. Even assuming that the search violated Mead's Fourth Amendment rights, the prosecution advanced no other argument that the police inevitably would have discovered the contents of the backpack. We conclude that no other grounds justified the search.

We affirm.

Talbot, C.J., and K. F. Kelly, J., concurred with O'Connell, J.

Footnotes

1

People v. Mead , unpublished opinion per curiam of the Court of Appeals, issued September 13, 2016 (Docket No. 327881), 2016 WL 4804081 .

2

People v. Mead , 500 Mich. 967 , 892 N.W.2d 379 (2017).