State v. Atwater

228 N.W.2d 876, 193 Neb. 669, 1975 Neb. LEXIS 1047
Nebraska Supreme Court·Decided May 8, 1975·No. 39616·Published·Cited by 9 cases

Opinion

Spencer, J.

Defendant, Lawrence E. Atwater, prosecutes this appeal from two separate robbery convictions. In the first one, he was convicted by a jury after a lengthy trial on two counts. He assigns as error therein the overruling of his motion to suppress evidence, for the reason that his arrest was without probable cause. In the second *670 case, which involves a different robbery, he changed his plea during the course of the trial and pled guilty. There he assigns as error the insufficiency of the record to establish a waiver of his rights voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently. We affirm both cases.

In the early morning hours of December 13, 1973, two black men forced their way into Champs Restaurant in Omaha, Nebraska. Three employees were robbed. One of them was beaten and his throat cut with a box knife. Further details of the robbery are immaterial. The only issue presented is whether the warrantless arrest of defendant, Lawrence Atwater, was illegal and without probable cause. If so, then articles found in á search incident to that arrest would be suppressed.

In the investigation of the robbery, the police ascertained that an automobile registered to Alonzo Atwater, a brother of the defendant, was parked in the Champs’ parking lot near the time of the robbery. The police began a search for Alonzo, but found he was no longer at the address they had for him. Two officers then proceeded to the home of his mother. In response to a knock, the door was opened by an individual who identified himself as “Mr. Atwater.” Shortly thereafter, Mrs. Atwater came to the door. The officers explained the purpose of their presence, and asked if either of the sons were there. They received an answer in the negative. The officers had been permitted to enter the house. While they were talking, they observed Lawrence At-water come down a flight of stairs and walk into the room. They identified themselves, and he did likewise.

When the officers saw Lawrence, they decided he fit the description given to them of one of the robbery suspects. They then advised Lawrence they would like him to accompany them to the police station for questioning. Lawrence agreed to go, but told them he would have to go upstairs to get dressed. As they proceeded upstairs, Lawrence began arguing about whether he would accompany them to the station. He finally told *671 them he would not go unless he was under arrest. Lawrence was then advised he was under arrest.

As the officers entered the bedroom with Lawrence, they observed a brown leather jacket lying on the bed, which fit the description of the jacket one of the suspects had been wearing. One of the officers, who went with Lawrence into, a clothes closet, saw a box cutting knife, which fit the description of the one involved in the robbery. It was later positively identified by one of the victims as the actual knife used in the robbery.

The question involved herein is the quantum of information necessary before an officer has probable cause to arrest. We said in State v. Russ (1975), ante p. 308, 226 N. W. 2d 775: “The applicable standard for an arrest without warrant is that there must exist reasonable ground to believe both that a felony has been committed and that the person arrested is guilty of such offense.”

The applicable rule in applying this standard to a particular case is set out in Ker v. California (1963), 374 U. S. 23, 83 S. Ct. 1623, 10 L. Ed. 2d 726, wherein the Supreme Court of the United States said: “ ** * * there is no formula for the determination of reasonableness. Each case is to be decided on its own facts and circumstances.’ ” The ultimate test is whether the action of the officers was reasonable. State v. McElroy (1972), 189 Neb. 376, 202 N. W. 2d 752.

What information was within the knowledge of the officers at the time the arrest was made? A car observed at the scene was registered to Alonzo Atwater. Alonzo was black. Two black men had been involved. Lawrence was Alonzo’s brother. When the officers arrived at the mother’s home, they were first told that neither Lawrence nor Alonzo was present. They then observed Lawrence, who both officers believed fit the description given by the victims of one of the robbers. They requested that Lawrence accompany them to the police station for questioning. When Lawrence refused *672 to do so, the officers placed him under arrest. It was immediately thereafter that the incriminating evidence was found in his possession.

There is no question the officers knew the offense had been committed. The only question is, did they have reasonable grounds to detain the defendant? They knew an automobile belonging to defendant’s brother had been observed at the scene of the robbery. They knew two black men were involved in the robbery. They believed the defendant fit the physical description of one of the participants given to them by the robbery victims. We believe this sufficient to give the officers reasonable grounds to detain defendant for preliminary questioning. When the defendant refused to accompany the officers, they properly placed him under arrest. There is no merit to defendant’s assignment of error.

Defendant’s other assignment of error is that the District Court sentence to a term of 10 to 30 years in the Nebraska Penal and Correctional Complex was excessive. The penalty provided for the offense is a term of not less than 3 years and not more than 50 years. § 28-414, R. R. S. 1943. The crime involved was a serious one and particularly agonizing and brutal for the victims. The throat of one of the victims was cut in an effort to force him to divulge the combination of the safe. A gun was placed in the mouth of a female victim, and the hammer was released but caught by the robber before contact was made. Defendant was convicted on two counts of robbery and given concurrent sentences of 10 to 30 years in the Nebraska Penal and Correctional Complex. We .have said on many occasions that where the punishment of an offense created by statute is left to the discretion of the court to be exercised within certain prescribed limits, a sentence imposed within such limits will not be disturbed on appeal unless there appears to be an abuse of discretion. State v. Glouser (1975), ante p. 186, 226 N. W. 2d 134. There *673 was no abuse of discretion herein. Defendant’s convictions for the Champs robbery are affirmed.

Defendant’s second case involves a prosecution for forcibly and by violence taking from the personal protection of Bruce Kenny personal property of value, the property of the Pizza Hut, with intent to rob and steal. During the course of the trial defendant requested and was allowed to withdraw his plea of not guilty and enter a plea of guilty. Defendant was sentenced to 10 to 30 years in the Nebraska Penal and Correctional Complex, said sentence to be served concurrently with the sentences imposed for the Champs robbery. We affirm.

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State v. Atwater, 228 N.W.2d 876, 193 Neb. 669, 1975 Neb. LEXIS 1047 (Neb. 1975).

228 N.W.2d 876 (State v. Atwater) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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