People v. Chase C.

243 Cal. App. 4th 107, 196 Cal. Rptr. 3d 381, 2015 Cal. App. LEXIS 1128
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedDecember 18, 2015
DocketD067787
StatusPublished
Cited by27 cases

This text of 243 Cal. App. 4th 107 (People v. Chase C.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Chase C., 243 Cal. App. 4th 107, 196 Cal. Rptr. 3d 381, 2015 Cal. App. LEXIS 1128 (Cal. Ct. App. 2015).

Opinion

Opinion

HUFFMAN, Acting P. J.

— In this matter, we are asked to decide a novel issue regarding whether a minor urging his cohorts not to cooperate with a police investigation rises to the level of a violation of Penal Code 1 section 148. This case requires us to determine when a refusal to cooperate with police becomes unlawful interference with police activity under section 148. *110 We conclude that refusal to cooperate only becomes criminal when it obstructs lawful police activity.

Appellant Chase C., a minor, was charged with resisting, delaying, or obstructing a peace officer in violation of section 148, subdivision (a)(1). On March 6, 2015, an adjudication hearing was held, at which the juvenile court found the allegation against Chase to be true. On March 27, 2015, the court adjudged Chase a ward of the court under Welfare and Institutions Code section 602 and placed him on formal probation for one year or until Chase’s 18th birthday, whichever was longer.

On appeal, Chase contends that substantial evidence does not support the finding as to section 148, subdivision (a)(1). We agree and reverse the judgment.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

On May 2, 2014, at approximately 4:50 p.m., San Diego Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Hill was conducting a foot patrol through Turtle Park, on Craftsman Way in the Forest Ranch area of San Diego. Hill was not in full uniform at the time, but was wearing either an external raid vest with “Sheriff’ written on it, or a sheriff shirt with patches. Hill was approached by a group of middle school children, who told him that two high school aged children had tried to sell them drugs. The middle school children described the suspects with enough detail that Hill believed he would be able to find the two suspects they were describing.

Interaction 1

Hill set out in his patrol car and within two minutes had located two individuals who matched the suspects’ descriptions “completely.” The two individuals were with a group of approximately eight other minors, all of whom Hill estimated to be about 16 years old. In approaching this group, Hill parked his patrol car, got out, and specifically addressed the two individuals who matched the suspects’ descriptions. Hill told the other minors that they were free to go.

Hill ordered the two suspects to sit down on the curb. One of the suspects, “Jason or Jacob M.,” cooperated right away. The second suspect, Brandon H., refused to sit down and questioned Hill about why he was being detained. At this point, one of the nonsuspect minors, Chase, began telling Brandon “not to listen to [Hill] or obey, not to do what [Hill] was telling him to do.” Hill testified that the purpose of his investigation initially *111 was to determine whether the two suspects had been trying to sell drugs to the middle school children, and that he had no need to contact any of the other minors in the group.

As Hill was addressing the two suspects and ordering them to sit down on the curb, Brandon continued to protest. Brandon told Hill that he “wasn’t going to listen; he wasn’t going to do what [Hill] said.” Hill placed his hand on Brandon’s arm and said, “Hey, I really need you to sit down.” In response, Brandon “threw his arm up as if he was going to strike [Hill].” Hill grabbed Brandon and pulled him back, holding him there while Hill requested immediate backup by radio. Hill detained Brandon in a patrol car, and backup officers arrived on scene within two minutes. Hill then proceeded with his initial investigation by speaking with the other suspect, Jason, who had been cooperating the entire time.

In regard to what Chase said to Brandon during Hill’s initial contact, Hill testified that he could only remember “a generalized statement [by Chase] . . . telling [Brandon] not to listen to what I was saying,” and “[Chase] telling the other kids ‘fuck him,’ referring to me.” Hill also testified that Brandon was already refusing to comply before Chase told Brandon that he should not cooperate. In contrast, Hill testified that Jason did not resist him at any time, in spite of Chase’s audible protests. Brandon remained noncompliant throughout the contact and Hill could not say whether or not this was due to Chase’s verbal protestations. “I cannot say what the determining factor for [Brandon] to remain noncompliant was.”

In addition, the other nonsuspect minors were also “questioning” Hill’s actions during his initial contact with Brandon and Jason, but Hill “would not quantify their statements as interfering.” While Hill testified he believed Chase’s statements affected the nonsuspect minors, Hill conceded that “nobody became violent. . . nobody else became resistant physically.”

Interaction 2

When backup deputies Baquiran and Robins arrived, Hill was placing a handcuffed Brandon in a patrol car, while “another kid was yelling something,” and the other nonsuspect minors “were just kind of standing around.” Baquiran detained and handcuffed all of the remaining minors, “for their safety and [the officers’] safety.” Baquiran testified that the purpose of detaining the nonsuspect minors who remained on the scene was “to get their information and to make sure that they didn’t have any contraband on their person and they were not involved in any type of drug sales activity.” While the officers were detaining the nonsuspect minors, Chase continued to protest, telling the other minors, “Don’t listen to him. This is bullshit. Don’t tell him *112 anything. Don’t say shit.” Baquiran told Chase, “Please be quiet. We’re trying to get information on everybody here.” Chase continued to say, “Don’t tell him shit.”

Handcuffing and identifying the teenagers took “a few minutes,” and was accomplished “in an efficient manner.” Baquiran testified that there was “a little delay” in getting the minors’ information, and Baquiran felt this delay was caused by Chase telling the other minors not to cooperate. The minors were initially not cooperating in providing their names, but began cooperating after Baquiran threatened that they would be taken down to the station and their parents would be called if they did not identify themselves.

Toward the end of the encounter, Brandon began banging his head inside of the patrol car. Baquiran became concerned and “wanted to get [Brandon] out of the area and back to the station so he [didn’t] hurt himself or he [didn’t] try to damage the patrol vehicle.” Baquiran felt that he was delayed in dealing with Brandon because of the need to detain the other minors and get their information.

Interaction 3

Chase refused to give his name or his parents’ information on scene, stating that he was pleading the Fifth Amendment. Baquiran testified that when he placed handcuffs on Chase, Chase said, “What the fuck,” and “Am I getting arrested?” When Baquiran told Chase that he was in fact being arrested, Chase responded, “For what? This is bullshit.” Baquiran told Chase that he needed Chase to “calm down,” at which point Chase yelled to the other minors, “Don’t cooperate. Don’t tell them shit.” Chase did not at any time, however, physically resist Baquiran, run away, or require any use of force.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
243 Cal. App. 4th 107, 196 Cal. Rptr. 3d 381, 2015 Cal. App. LEXIS 1128, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-chase-c-calctapp-2015.