People v. Hutson

177 Cal. App. 2d 595, 2 Cal. Rptr. 438, 1960 Cal. App. LEXIS 2517
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedFebruary 2, 1960
DocketCrim. No. 3046
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 177 Cal. App. 2d 595 (People v. Hutson) 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. Hutson, 177 Cal. App. 2d 595, 2 Cal. Rptr. 438, 1960 Cal. App. LEXIS 2517 (Cal. Ct. App. 1960).

Opinion

SCHOTTKY, J.

Norman Hutson was charged by information with three counts of burglary. After a jury trial he was found guilty on all three counts. His motion for a new trial was denied and judgment was pronounced. He has appealed from the order denying his motion for a new trial.

Appellant does not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the convictions but bases his appeal upon two major contentions:

“1. The arrest made by Officer Thomas for vagrancy was illegal.
“2. Since the arrest was illegal, the search incident thereto was also illegal and the evidence obtained should not have been admitted.”

Before discussing these contentions we shall summarize the evidence as shown by the record insofar as it is relevant to the arrest and the search.

Officer Thomas of the IJkiah Police Department observed appellant at 4 a. m. standing near a telephone pole close to the entrance of the Diamond Match Company. The Diamond Match Company is located in an area frequented by drunks and hobos and approximately one-half block from the railroad tracks. He noticed that appellant seemed to be observing him. The officer then saw a second man come out of the shadows and saw both men start to walk toward the railroad tracks. Appellant was carrying a brown burlap sack over his shoulder. The second man, one Cooper, was carrying a blue bag and a brief ease. The officer stopped the two men. They told him that they were going to catch a fast freight out of town. Appellant told the officer that he lived in Ukiah, but he was unable to give the officer an address. Cooper gave an address but said he was leaving town because he was unable to pay his rent. The officer could not recall whether or not he asked the two men if they had any money. He testified that it was his impression “they were just a couple [of] hobos going through town, ...” While talking to the men the officer observed a flashlight and an electric drill in the brief case. He then decided to take them in as vagrants “upon no lawful business in the street at late and unusual hours.” After the men were booked the bags they were carrying were searched. The material found in the bags was identified as coming from [597]*597three business establishments which had been burglarized. While they were walking toward the police station, Cooper asked the officer if he had seen them carrying anything. The officer said, “No.” Cooper informed the officer that he did not know what was in the bags they were carrying. Officer Thomas said, “What do you mean, you don’t know what you’re carrying?” Cooper stated, “Well, we found them.” Officer Thomas then stated, “Well, are you in the habit of picking up things you find?” Cooper answered, “Yes, if we find them, we are.”

Section 836, subdivision 1, of the Penal Code provides that a peace officer may make an arrest without a warrant, “Whenever he has reasonable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed a public offense in his presence.”

In People v. Fischer, 49 Cal.2d 442 [317 P.2d 967], the court said at page 446:

“Probable cause for an arrest is shown if a man of ordinary caution or prudence would be led to believe and conscientiously entertain a strong suspicion of the guilt of the accused. (Bompensiero v. Superior Court, 44 Cal.2d 178, 183 [281 P.2d 250]; People v. Brite, 9 Cal.2d 666, 687 [72 P.2d 122] ; Trowbridge v. Superior Court, 144 Cal.App.2d 13, 17 [300 P.2d 222].) Probable cause may exist even though there may be some room for doubt. (People v. Nagle, 25 Cal.2d 216, 222 [153 P.2d 344]; People v. Platt, 124 Cal.App.2d 123, 130-131 [268 P.2d 529].) The court and not the officer must make the determination whether the officer’s belief is based upon reasonable cause. (People v. Burke, 47 Cal.2d 45, 48 [301 P.2d 241]; Willson v. Superior Court, 46 Cal.2d 291 [294 P.2d 36]; People v. Gorg, 45 Cal.2d 776 [291 P.2d 469]; People v. Boyles, 45 Cal.2d 652 [290 P.2d 535].) The test in such case is not whether the evidence upon which the officer made the arrest is sufficient to convict but only whether the prisoner should stand trial.”

And as stated in People v. Jaurequi, 142 Cal.App.2d 555, at page 559 [298 P.2d896] :

“It is settled that reasonable cause to justify an arrest is not necessarily limited to evidence which would be admissible at the trial on the issue of guilt (People v. Boyles, 45 Cal.2d 652, 656 [290 P.2d 535]; Willson v. Superior Court, 46 Cal.2d 291, 294 [294 P.2d 36]). ‘The term, reasonable or probable cause, has been defined: “By ‘reasonable or probable cause’ is meant such a state of facts as would lead a man of ordinary caution or prudence to believe, and conscientiously entertain [598]*598a strong suspicion, that the person accused is guilty.” (In re McCarty, 140 Cal.App. 473, 474 [35 P.2d 568].)
“ ‘The term, probable, has been defined as meaning “having more evidence for than against; supported by evidence which inclines the mind to believe, but leaves some room for doubt. ’ ’ (Ex parte Heacock, 8 Cal.App. 420, 421 [97 P. 77].) ’ (People v. Novell, 54 Cal.App.2d 621, 623-624 [129 P.2d 453].)
“It was stated in People v. Brite, 9 Cal.2d 666, at page 687 [72 P.2d 122] : ‘ “Probable cause is a suspicion founded upon circumstances sufficiently strong to warrant a reasonable man in the belief that the charge is true.” (Citing cases.) Reasonable or probable cause is a question of law, where there is no conflict to be decided by the court. (Citing eases.) ’
“There is no formula for the determination of reasonableness. Each ease is to be decided on its own facts and circumstances. (Go-Bart Importing Co. v. United States, 282 U.S. 344, 357 [51 S.Ct. 153, 75 L.Ed. 374].)”

Section 647 of the Penal Code, so far as here applicable, defines a vagrant as follows:

“3. Every person who roams from place to place without
any lawful business; or,
( (
“6. Every person who wanders about the streets at late or unusual hours of the night, without any visible or lawful business;...”

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Related

People v. Reed
202 Cal. App. 2d 575 (California Court of Appeal, 1962)

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Bluebook (online)
177 Cal. App. 2d 595, 2 Cal. Rptr. 438, 1960 Cal. App. LEXIS 2517, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-hutson-calctapp-1960.