State v. Broussard

517 So. 2d 1000, 1987 WL 831
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedOctober 7, 1987
DocketK87-313
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 517 So. 2d 1000 (State v. Broussard) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Broussard, 517 So. 2d 1000, 1987 WL 831 (La. Ct. App. 1987).

Opinion

517 So.2d 1000 (1987)

STATE of Louisiana
v.
Warren BROUSSARD.

No. K87-313.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit.

October 7, 1987.
Writ Denied November 20, 1987.

L. Lomax Jordan, Jr., Lafayette, for defendant.

*1001 David Hutchins, Asst. Dist. Atty., Lafayette, for plaintiff.

Before STOKER, DOUCET and KNOLL, JJ.

STOKER, Judge.

On August 12, 1986 defendant, Warren H. Broussard, was arrested for driving while intoxicated, first offense, a violation of LSA-R.S. 14:98. Defendant filed a motion to suppress evidence which was heard on November 25, 1986 in the City Court of the City of Lafayette. The judge denied the motion. Defendant subsequently pleaded nolo contendere and reserved his right to appeal pursuant to State v. Crosby, 338 So.2d 584 (La.1976). Defendant was sentenced and filed a motion for writ of review, which was granted.

FACTS

On August 12, 1986, at approximately midnight, defendant, Warren H. Broussard, was pulled over by Officer Randall Menard for improper lane usage on Johnston Street in Lafayette. Officer Menard had just observed defendant pull out of the parking lot of the Centerfold Lounge and testified that defendant's vehicle had crossed the centerline of Johnston Street twice in approximately 200 feet of roadway. Defendant was given a field sobriety test, placed under arrest, and brought to the police station. Defendant was read his Miranda warnings and the authorities explained the consequences of a refusal to take the chemical test he was about to be administered. Defendant questioned Officer Menard regarding the explanation given and made several requests to make a phone call. Later defendant specifically requested to call an attorney, at which point Officer Menard complied with his request. Another officer followed defendant and observed defendant for the period of time he was on the telephone. Defendant telephoned the chief of police in Abbeville, a friend of defendant, and talked for approximately ten minutes.

When defendant was escorted back he again asked to be permitted to call his attorney. The officer refused to allow him to do so until after he had been questioned on the ground that he had already been given an opportunity to call his attorney and had instead called a friend. Defendant repeatedly asked to be allowed to call an attorney and was refused. Officer Menard said he raised his voice to defendant before defendant exhaled into the machine. Defendant said he was intimidated into taking the test. Defendant registered 0.13 percent blood alcohol.

The defendant moved to suppress the results of the blood alcohol test and his statements on the ground that his constitutional right to consult an attorney before speaking had been violated. At the hearing on the motion, Wesley D. Nelson was called by defendant as a witness. Mr. Nelson testified that he was driving directly behind defendant when defendant pulled out of the Centerfold parking lot and that defendant never once crossed the centerline. Defendant testified that he had been to an auto auction at 7:30 in the evening and had consumed a few beers earlier that evening. The motion was denied and the defendant entered a plea of non contendere, reserving his right to appeal under the Crosby rule.

ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

The plaintiff assigns as errors the following:

1. The trial court erred in denying defendant's motion to suppress statements made by the defendant in response to interrogation by police officers incident to arrest and subsequent to the time defendant asserted his right to the assistance of counsel, where defendant did not knowingly and intelligently waive his right to the assistance of counsel and where police officers deliberately denied him that right.

2. The trial court erred in failing to suppress the results of a chemical test for intoxication where, prior to submission to such test, defendant asserted his right to counsel and expressed his desire not to submit to such test until being advised by counsel, defendant did not knowingly and intelligently waive that right, and defendant was denied access to counsel.

*1002 3. The trial court erred in denying defendant's motion to suppress the results of the chemical test for intoxication where defendant submitted to said test as a result of duress and intimidation, and defendant was compelled through such duress and intimidation to give evidence against himself in contravention of Article 1, Section 15 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974.

4. The trial court erred in finding the State had proved that the arrest of the defendant was made pursuant to probable cause when the testimony of a third party witness indicated factually that the requisite probable cause did not exist.

5. The trial court erred in denying defendant's motion to suppress evidence based on the lack of probable cause where the State failed to rebut or refute the testimony of a third party witness whose testimony indicated factually that the requisite probable cause did not exist.

6. The trial court erred in denying defendant's motion to suppress the chemical test for intoxication where the State failed to carry its burden of proof that the defendant had not regurgitated during the 15 minutes immediately prior to testing in accordance with the officially promulgated procedure.

ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR 1 AND 2

Defendant contends the trial court erred in denying his motions to suppress statements given and the blood alcohol test results taken after he invoked his right to speak to an attorney.

LSA-C.Cr.P. art. 230 provides:

"The person arrested has, from the moment of his arrest, a right to procure and confer with counsel and to use a telephone or send a messenger for the purpose of communicating with his friends or with counsel."

If an accused who is in custody indicates in any manner and at any stage of the process that he wishes to consult with an attorney before speaking, there can be no questioning. U.S. Const. amend. V; La. Const. art. I, § 13; State v. Rodrigue, 409 So.2d 556 (La.1982). If an accused has invoked his right to have counsel present during custodial interrogation, a valid waiver of that right cannot be established by showing only that he responded to further police initiated custodial interrogation even if he has been advised of his rights; he is not subject to further interrogation until counsel has been made available to him, unless accused himself initiates further communication, exchanges or conversations with the police. State v. Rodigue, supra.

In State v. Harper, 430 So.2d 627 (La. 1983), the court held that after a defendant has asserted his right to counsel, continued questioning of defendant by police is clearly impermissible and thus any statements given, whether exculpatory or inculpatory, are subject to suppression.

Thus, the statements given after defendant asked to call an attorney should have been suppressed.

As to the blood alcohol test results, since the defendant registered 0.13 percent on the intoximeter, he was squarely within the provisions of LSA-R.S. 14:98, which provide in pertinent part:

"A crime of operating a vehicle while intoxicated is operating of any motor vehicle... when:
* * * * * *

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Bluebook (online)
517 So. 2d 1000, 1987 WL 831, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-broussard-lactapp-1987.