People v. Bracy

154 N.W.2d 619, 8 Mich. App. 266, 1967 Mich. App. LEXIS 465
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedNovember 27, 1967
DocketDocket 2,000
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 154 N.W.2d 619 (People v. Bracy) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Bracy, 154 N.W.2d 619, 8 Mich. App. 266, 1967 Mich. App. LEXIS 465 (Mich. Ct. App. 1967).

Opinion

J. H. Gillis, J.

Defendants Edward Ray Bracy, 1 Wilbert Thomas, Willie Sims, Willie Smith, Mary *270 Ella Thomas, and Riley Bell appeal their January 12, 1965 conviction by the court, sitting without a jury, of conspiracy to violate the gaming laws of the State of Michigan. 2

On or about March 31, 1960, certain members of the Michigan State police racket squad commenced a surveillance of the actions and movements of certain persons in the city of Jackson, Michigan. On July 8, 1960, pursuant to search warrants issued by a justice of the peace, the Michigan State police and the Jackson city police raided two premises located in the city of Jackson. Mutuel slips, betting-slips, money, and other items alleged by the police to have been used for gaming purposes were seized. All of the defendants were arrested within a short time after the execution of the search warrants.

On December 30, 1960, the defendants filed a motion to suppress the evidence and quash the information alleging that one of the search warrants and the accompanying affidavit was insufficient and void and that, therefore, the evidence seized should be suppressed. On May 29, 1961, the trial court denied the motion to suppress the evidence and to quash the information. On April 4, 1962, application for leave to appeal the denial of the above motion was filed in the Michigan Supreme Court. On September 3, 1964, the Michigan Supreme Court entered an order as follows:

“That the application for leave to appeal be, and the same is hereby, Denied, for the reasons that it appears that the search and seizure complained of were legal and constitutional, and that nothing further of moment could be added if an appeal were granted.”

*271 On December 15, 1964, trial commenced before the circuit court and testimony was concluded the following day. By opinion dated January 12, 1965, the court found each of the defendants guilty as charged. On February 19,1965, each of the defendants was sentenced.

Search and Seizure

The first five issues raised on appeal concern the validity of the search and seizure that occurred on July 8, I960. The affidavit submitted to the justice of the peace in support of the search warrants here questioned is quite lengthy and consists of approximately 52 pages of alleged observations by members of the State police racket squad.

Basically, the subjects of these observations were defendants Smith, Sims, and Wilbert Thomas. The typewritten notes of the police officers disclose that the three defendants made numerous short visits to houses located within the city of Jackson. Often the observations commenced and ended at 704-1/2 S. Milwaukee or 311 Biddle street in Jackson. These observations also disclosed that these defendants normally met immediately prior to 2 p. m. at either the Milwaukee or Biddle street addresses. After several minutes this rendezvous would terminate and the surveillance would be discontinued.

On several occasions, not immediately prior to the arrest, defendants were observed carrying brown paper bags. Defendant Sims was once observed with his “pockets bulging” and on June 17, 1960, Sims was handed a yellow mutuel slip by an unidentified man.

Michigan law states that a magistrate may not issue a search warrant “without probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation.” 3 The magistrate is *272 required to find probable cause “from the facts or circumstances presented to him under oath or affirmation. Mere affirmance of belief or suspicion is not enough.” Aguilar v. Texas (1964), 378 US 108 (84 S Ct 1509, 12 L ed 2d 723), citing Nathanson v. United States (1933), 290 US 41 (54 S Ct 11, 78 L ed 159).

While probable cause is difficult to define, it is clear that the term “means less than evidence which would justify condemnation.” United States v. Ventresca (1965), 380 US 102 (85 S Ct 741, 13 L ed 2d 684). In the instant case the facts and circumstances as set forth in the affidavits form a sufficient basis for the issuance of the warrant.

In so holding we are not unmindful of the Michigan law which states:

“ ‘The right to issue a search warrant rests upon facts existing at the time the showing is made for the warrant.’” People v. Wright (1962), 367 Mich 611, 613, citing People v. Chippewa Circuit Judge (1924), 226 Mich 326, 328.

The present case is readily distinguishable from the above cited cases in that the magistrate was presented with an affidavit which recited facts to show the alleged illegal activity continued from the date of initial surveillance to the date of issuance of the warrant.

The search warrants for 704-1/2 S. Milwaukee and 311 Biddle street were executed simultaneously. The search of the Milwaukee address uncovered “dream books, playing cards, and a copy of race results with the winning mutuel slips marked.” None of the defendants named herein were present at this address.

The raid at 311 Biddle street was considerably more productive. Detective Cluver testified that *273 he was the first to approach 311 Biddle, although Sergeant Avery held the search warrant. Detective Cluver knocked once and heard a voice from the inside. He knocked again, stated it was the police,, and when he received no answer, he attempted to open the door. The door was locked and the detective subsequently gained entrance by forcing it open.

As the officers entered the dining room they observed defendants Bracy, Wilbert, Thomas and Mrs. Thomas at the dining room table. On the table was a telephone, an adding machine, and several mutuel slips. The officers also found a pad with several horse bets, numerology sheets; racing forms, a strongbox containing 396 post-dated mutuel slips, other mutuel slips, a telephone bill for $292 and some cash. At the time of this raid, defendant Wilbert Thomas made an incriminating statement which was admitted into evidence.

When the trial began defense counsel raised a continuing objection to the items seized during the raid “because the raid was illegal and improper, based upon our claim of a void affidavit and search warrant.”

On appeal, it is claimed, that the entry prior to the search and seizure at 311 Biddle was illegal and therefore the search and seizure were illegal. However, this issue was not raised in the trial court nor was it included in the continuing objection and will not he considered by this Court “unless necessary to prevent manifest injustice.” People v. McLaughlin, (1966), 3 Mich App 391, 394. The facts presented to this Court do not indicate that manifest injustice would result by our decision not to consider this issue raised for the first time on appeal.

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Related

People v. Rodgers
193 N.W.2d 412 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1971)
People v. Reeves
178 N.W.2d 115 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1970)
People v. Tisi
167 N.W.2d 795 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1969)

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Bluebook (online)
154 N.W.2d 619, 8 Mich. App. 266, 1967 Mich. App. LEXIS 465, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-bracy-michctapp-1967.