State v. Ingram

802 P.2d 656, 104 Or. App. 389, 1990 Ore. App. LEXIS 1589

• Court: Court of Appeals of Oregon
• Decided: November 21, 1990
• Docket: 88C-21014; CA A50427; 10-88-03617; CA A51174; 88P-3379; CA A61024
• Status: Published

Opinions

EDMONDS, J.

The common issue in each of these cases is whether the search warrant complies with ORS 133.565(2)(b) and Article I, section 9, of the Oregon Constitution, which require that a person to be searched be described with particularity. For this opinion, we consolidate State v. Ingram, CA A50427; State v. Devereaux, CA A51174; and State v. Gardner, CA A61024.

In State v. Ingram, defendant appeals his conviction for possession of a controlled substance. ORS 475.992(4). He argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress evidence seized from his pickup during the execution of a search warrant. The warrant authorized the search of a residence and “[a]ll individuals and occupants found to be frequenting said premises and all vehicles determined to be associated with the occupants of said premises.”

The warrant was issued on the basis of an affidavit by Officer Nelson in which he said that Elaine Sink’s residence was being used as a place to sell controlled substances. He also described different transactions that had occurred there:

“Elaine Joyce Sink went on to say that she always had a supply of cocaine and that your affiant could phone her at her residence in order to receive cocaine.

“Elaine Joyce Sink advised she handles a minimum of five to seven thousand dollars in drug business through her residence each week.

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“Your affiant approached the residence of Elaine Joyce Sink, located at 4155 Lancaster Drive NE, Salem, space #57 at 1037 hours. * * * Elaine Joyce Sink came to the door and allowed your affiant to enter. Your affiant immediately became aware of a very strong odor of marijuana smoke in the trailer. * * * Sink invited your affiant to the rear portion of the trailer. We entered what appeared to be the middle bedroom of the trailer off the hallway. When entering this room, your affiant noted there were two scales set up on a desk, one was an Ohaus scale and the other was a RCBS scale. * * * Elaine Joyce Sink pulled two separate bags of marijuana from a box in the room.

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“Your affiant arranged to go to Elaine Joyce Sink’s residence to purchase some more marijuana. * * * [S]he directed your affiant back into her business room for the drug sale. She weighed the substance which was provided to her by Stephen Thomas Drynan and it weighed just shy of 1/2 ounce of thai [sic] marijuana.

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“Your affiant arrived at Elaine Joyce Sink’s residence located at 4155 Lancaster Drive NE Salem, space #57 at 1150 hours and entered. She directed your affiant back to the middle bedroom area of her trailer house where your affiant again observed the two separate scales for weighing cocaine and marijuana. Elaine Joyce Sink opened up her portable safe and removed (l/8th) one-eighth ounce of cocaine which was already weighed and packaged in a plastic baggie. * * * Elaine Joyce Sink pulled out a plastic baggie containing approximately (1/2) one-half ounce of cocaine and showed it to your affiant. She advised your affiant she also had two other plastic baggies containing quantities of marijuana and the aforementioned thai [sic] and ‘green’ bud marijuana.

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“On April 8, 1988 at approximately 1100 hours your affiant called Elaine Joyce Sink and arranged to conduct a marijuana transaction. Your affiant arrived at her residence at 1120 hours and knocked on the door. Elaine Joyce Sink yelled from within the trailer house to come in. Your affiant entered the trailer and she directed the affiant back to the middle bedroom where your affiant again observed the two sets of scales which Elaine Joyce Sink uses to weigh out quantities of cocaine and marijuana for distribution. She opened the portable safe with her keys and your affiant observed various quantities of packed cocaine and marijuana. Your affiant was purchasing (1) one ounce of marijuana from Elaine Joyce Sink and she removed approximately (1) one ounce from a half pound bag.” (Emphasis in original.)

In addition, the affidavit describes multiple transactions at Sink’s residence and other places involving numerous individuals over the next several weeks.

When the officers arrived at Sink’s residence to execute the warrant, a pickup was the only vehicle parked in the vicinity. Nelson knocked on the door, identified himself as “Ron” and was admitted by defendant. There was no one else in the residence. Defendant was holding a piece of paper that indicated that he had been taking telephone messages. The trial court found that

“defendant was the only person present in the [residence], and the defendant reasonably appeared to be, and in fact was, exercising lawful and exclusive dominion and control over the premises. However, the executing officers did not then believe, and no reasonable basis then existed for the officers to believe, that the defendant was a person who frequented the premises.”

Despite the fact that nearly all of the individuals and vehicles described in Nelson’s affidavit were identified by name, neither defendant nor his vehicle were described or mentioned. Nelson searched defendant.

The trial court’s written findings describe what occurred next:

“Among the items found in the search of the defendant were a quantity of marijuana and the key to a vehicle. After finding the key, Officer Nelson read defendant’s Miranda Rights to the defendant and then asked the defendant if the key was to the defendant’s vehicle. The defendant understood his rights and knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waived them by responding to the officer’s question and acknowledging that the key was to the defendant’s vehicle. Officer Nelson then informed defendant that he had a search warrant to search vehicles associated with the described premises and stated his desire to search the defendant’s vehicle. The defendant indicated that he did not object. Defendant’s response to Officer Nelson’s assertion of authority to search vehicles associated with the premises was equivocal and was not a knowing, voluntary and intelligent consent to the search of defendant’s vehicle by police officers.”

The officers searched the pickup parked in front of the residence and found the contraband that is the basis of the charge.

The trial court concluded that the search of defendant’s person and pickup were authorized by the warrant, but were not otherwise authorized by any exception to the warrant requirement. The defendant then stipulated to the fact that controlled substances were found in his pickup, and the court found him guilty. No evidence seized from the residence or defendant’s person was offered.

On appeal, defendant argues that he was not a member of the class of persons authorized to be searched by the warrant and that the warrant was not sufficiently particular under ORS 133.565(2)(b) and Article I, section 9. He asserts that suppression of the evidence found in his pickup is necessary, because the unlawful search of his person resulted in the officer finding the key that led to the search of his vehicle. The state argues that there is no statutory or constitutional requirement that persons be specifically named when a warrant for the search of premises also authorizes the search of persons found on the premises.

In State v. Devereaux, defendant was indicted for unlawful possession and delivery of a controlled substance. ORS 475.992. The state appeals from an order granting defendant’s motion to suppress evidence seized from his residence and person pursuant to a search warrant. ORS 138.060(3). The trial court granted the motion on the basis of its apparent conclusions that the affidavit supporting the warrant failed to establish probable cause to search the residence, that the information contained in the affidavit was stale and that the warrant was defective, because it did not specifically name defendant. The affiant stated in his affidavit:

“Since early February, 1988,1 have become involved in an undercover investigation targeted at identifying and prosecuting individuals who are selling controlled substances in the Oakridge community. In the course of this investigation, I have come to know Arlene Harris, an Oakridge resident. Harris has advised me that she is involved in the use of drugs and has identified numerous other people in the Oakridge area involved with controlled substances. Harris is not aware of this investigation or of my true identity as an Oakridge police officer.

“On April 2, 1988, I went with Arlene Harris to the [Oakridge] residence of Gerry and Tami Lundbom * * *. Harris previously advised me that Gerry Lundbom was a supplier of cocaine. Upon arriving at the residence, I met with Gerry Lundbom and arranged to purchase l/16th ounce of cocaine. I gave Gerry Lundbom $130.00. Later that same date, I returned to Lundbom’s residence to pickup [sic] the cocaine.

“During the course of this transaction, Harris advised me that [defendant] Jim Devereaux was a supplier of cocaine to number [sic] of Oakridge area residents. While at Lundbom’s residence during the initial arrangement for the purchase, Lundbom stated he would get the cocaine from ‘Jim, up on the hill.’ He then got his telephone and placed it on the coffee table in front of me. I observed him dial 782-3284. Apparently someone answered and I heard Lundbom say, ‘Jim, do you have a sixteenth I can get from you.’ After a reply, I heard Lundbom say, ‘Okay, I’ll see you in a little bit.’ Lundbom hung up the phone and told me he could get the cocaine.

“Subsequent to the April 2,1988 cocaine transaction with Gerry Lundbom, I looked up Devereaux’s phone number in the Oakridge phone directory. I noted that 782-3284 is listed to J.R. Devereaux, Jr., 49671 Huckleberry Rd. I also noted this residence address is located up a hill from Oakridge. Arlene Harris told me that Jim Devereaux is the ‘guy up on the hill.’

“On April 7, 1988,1 again purchased cocaine from Gerry Lundbom at his residence. * * * On this occasion, Lundbom indicated that he needed to obtain the cocaine from his local supplier.

“On April 15, 1988, I contacted Gerry Lundbom at his residence for the purpose of buying 1/2 gram of cocaine. I asked him if he got in touch with Jim. He said he hadn’t yet but that it would only take a phone call. He then made a phone call. I heard Lundbom state, ‘Jim, I’m coming up, bye.’ He then hung up. I told Lundbom that he could take his cut out and I’d be back to pick the cocaine up later. He said that ‘... Jim would probably give him a couple of lines while he was up there.’

“Prior to leaving, I asked Lundbom to ask Jim if he would have an ounce of cocaine for me this Friday. I had more conversation with Lundbom about Jim and he indicated he would ask Jim how much the cocaine would cost. When I returned to the Lundbom’s residence about one hour later, he gave me the cocaine and told me that Jim said one ounce of coke would cost $1800.”

Defendant argues that, although he was identified by name in the affidavit, the warrant was defective, because it directed the officers to search defendant’s residence and “its occupants” without identifying defendant by name in the warrant. The state argues that, because the affidavit named defendant and showed that he was an occupant of the residence to be searched, the warrant complied with ORS 133.565(2)(b).

In State v. Gardner, defendant appeals from a conviction for unlawful possession of a controlled substance. ORS 475.992(4) (b). She assigns as error the failure of the trial court to grant her motion to suppress evidence seized pursuant to a search warrant. The warrant directed the officers to search defendant’s residence and “all persons found on the premises.” The affidavit on which the issuing court relied named only defendant and one other person. Defendant argues that the quoted language does not comply with either ORS 133.565(2)(b) or Article I, section 9, which require that a person to be searched be described with particularity. The state responds that the warrant was sufficiently particular to inform the officers serving the warrant as to what persons the issuing court had authorized them to search.

ORS 133.565(2) (b) provides:

“(2) The warrant shall state, or describe with particularity:

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“(b) The name of the person to be searched, or the location and designation of the premises or places to be searched.”

Moreover, Article I, section 9, of the Oregon Constitution provides, in relevant part:

“[N]o warrant shall issue but upon probable cause * * * and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the person or thing to be seized.”

In the absence of legislative history to the contrary, we hold that ORS 133.565(2) (b) and Article I, section 9, provide an identical standard of “particularity,” based on a policy of prohibiting general warrants.¹

In State v. Blackburn/Barber, 266 Or 28, 511 P2d 381 (1973), the Supreme Court noted:

“Both the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, § 9, of the Oregon Constitution require a search warrant.‘particularly describing the place to be searched.’ It has been explained that ‘the historical motivation for this constitutional mandate was a fear of “general warrants,” giving the bearer an unlimited authority to search and seize.’ More specifically, the aim of the requirement of particularity is to protect the citizen’s interest in freedom from governmental intrusion through the invasion of his privacy. If the search warrant describes premises in such a way that it makes possible the invasion of this interest in privacy without the foundation of probable cause for the search, the warrant is too broad and therefore constitutionally defective.

“In testing a warrant for definiteness ‘it is enough if the description is such that the officer with a search warrant can with reasonable effort ascertain the identity of the place intended.’ The description must be sufficiently clear so that the property to be searched is recognizable from other neighboring properties. If, however, a warrant purporting to authorize a search is sufficiently ambiguous that it is impossible to identify with a reasonable degree of certainty the particular premises authorized to be searched, the warrant may not be executed and any search pursuant to it is illegal, whether of the premises actually intended or not, because of the danger that the privacy of unauthorized premises will be invaded.” 266 Or at 34-35. (Footnotes omitted.)

We see no difference in application between the search of places and persons.

The purported defect in these warrants is not that the executing officer cannot tell from the face of the warrant whom he is to search; rather, the question is whether the description on the face of each warrant is so general that it authorizes the search of individuals for whom no probable cause to search exists. Professor LaFave states:

“[T]he individual to be searched must be described with such particularity that he may be identified with reasonable certainty. The person’s name, if known, should be set forth, but a name is not essential in all cases. Description of the individual by an alias, family relationship to another named person or even as ‘John Doe’ will suffice when other facts, such as physical description and location are also included.

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“One form of warrant which has been challenged with some frequency directs a search for particularly described items within a particularly described home, apartment, store, or vehicle, including ‘any and all persons found therein.’ While some courts have condemned this form of warrant as a ‘general or blanket’ search warrant which would authorize the indiscriminate search of a large number of people without naming or describing any of them,’ this characterization is not justified in all cases[.]

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“A search warrant authorization to search all persons found within a specifically described place is not lacking in particularity in the sense that the executing officer will be unable readily to determine to whom the warrant applies. Rather, the question is whether there is sufficient particularity in the probable cause sense, that is, whether the information supplied the magistrate supports the conclusion that it is probable anyone in the described place when the warrant is executed is involved in the criminal activity in such a way as to have evidence thereof on his person. If the evidence tendered to the magistrate supports such a conclusion, then the search-all-persons-present warrant is unobjectionable. If the evidence does not support such a conclusion, then the searches of those present find no justification in the search warrant.” 2 LaFave, Search and Seizure § 4.5(e), 228-31 (2nd ed 1987). (Citations omitted.)

Contrary to the dissenting opinions, we think it is legally sufficient that a warrant describe a general category of persons, if there is probable cause. We do not believe that the legislature or the framers of the Constitution intended to prohibit searches of individuals for whom probable cause to search exists, but who, because of the circumstances, could not be described by name or personalized descriptions. For instance, probable cause would exist where an affiant reported that a party was in progress and all the participants were using controlled substances, even though he was unable to name or give personal descriptions of those present. However, if the person to be searched is named or described with particularity in the supporting affidavit, the warrant must contain a similar description to comply with ORS 133.565(2)(b) and Article I, section 9. Moreover, because the risk is great that an innocent person may be swept up in a search under a warrant that authorizes a search of all persons on the premises, the issuing magistrate should review the supporting affidavit for probable cause with strict scrutiny. The affidavit must indicate with particularity why probable cause exists for the search of those generally described. See People v. Nieves, 36 NY2d 396, 369 NYS2d 50, 330 NE2d 26 (1975).

We apply those principles to each of the consolidated cases to illustrate their operation.

State v. Ingram: The warrant authorized a search of Sink’s mobile home and

“[a]ll individuals and occupants found to be frequenting said premises and all vehicles determined to be associated with the occupants of said premises.”

Defendant argues that the warrant directs the police to search only those persons who “frequent” Sink’s residence, i.e., those who are present there more than once. Warrants should be read in a realistic and common sense manner. State v. Villagran, 294 Or 404, 415, 657 P2d 1223 (1983). We do not understand how the magistrate could have intended that the officers search only those whom they know to have been present on the premises more than once, given the statement in the affidavit that five to seven thousand dollars a week in drug transactions involving many persons occurred on the premises. We interpret the face of the warrant to authorize the search of those persons who could be charged with a violation of ORS 167.222(1).²

Although Nelson’s affidavit does not specifically describe defendant, it does describe a mobile home where controlled substances are stored and in which several individuals had been involved in continuous drug selling activity over the course of several months. Defendant was found alone inside the mobile home holding a piece of paper that indicated that he had been taking telephone messages. In the light of those facts, we hold that he fits the description of the class of people that were authorized to be searched by the warrant. See Commonwealth v. Smith, 370 Mass 335, 348 NE2d 101, cert den 429 (1976). The language in the warrant meets the requirements of ORS 133.565(2)(b) and Article I, section 9, and the trial court properly denied defendant’s motion to exclude the evidence.

State v. Devereaux: The warrant directed the officers to search defendant’s residence and “its occupants.” Whether the affidavit established probable cause to search all “occupants” of defendant’s residence is immaterial. “Occupants” is not a particular description of defendant, in the light of the fact that he was named in the affidavit. As a result, the warrant violates ORS 133.565(2) (b) and Article I, section 9. The trial court correctly granted defendant’s motion to suppress items seized from defendant’s person.³

The state also challenges the part of the order granting defendant’s motion to suppress evidence seized from his residence. An affidavit can establish probable cause to search if it would “lead a reasonable person to believe that seizable things will probably be found in the location to be searched.” State v. Anspach, 298 Or 375, 380-81, 692 P2d 602 (1984); State v. McBride, 96 Or App 268, 276, 773 P2d 379, rev den 308 Or 184 (1989). Sufficiency of an affidavit depends, not only on the facts expressly asserted, but also on the reasonable inferences that can be drawn from those facts. State v. Anspach, supra, 298 Or at 381; State v. Howell, 93 Or App 551, 557, 763 P2d 179 (1988), rev den 307 Or 405 (1989).

The affidavit established probable cause to search defendant’s residence. The issuing magistrate could have properly inferred that evidence of unlawful possession and delivery of a controlled substance would be found at the residence from the fact that the supplier could be contacted at that residence by prospective purchasers. See State v. Anspach, supra, 298 Or at 381; State v. Villagran, supra, 294 Or at 408; State v. Howell, supra, 93 Or App at 557. Further, the affidavit showed a continuing course of conduct from April 2 to April 15, and its information was not stale on April 22. See State v. Wilson/Helms, 83 Or App 616, 623, 733 P2d 54, rev den 303 Or 172 (1987). The trial court erred in granting defendant’s motion to suppress items seized from the residence.⁴

State v. Gardner: The warrant directed the officer to search defendant’s residence and “all persons found on the premises,” even though defendant was named in the affidavit. The warrant violates ORS 133.565(2)(b) and Article I, section 9, because “all persons found on the premises” is not a particular description of defendant.

However, the record is not clear as to whether the seized evidence was found on defendant’s person, within the residence or both. If evidence that led to defendant’s arrest was seized from the residence, and if the subsequent search of defendant was incident to her arrest, the search was lawful. We vacate defendant’s conviction and remand for further findings. If the trial court finds that the state introduced no evidence seized as a result of the search of defendant, or that the introduction of that evidence was harmless, the court shall re-enter the judgment of conviction; otherwise it shall grant a new trial.

State v. Ingram: affirmed; State v. Devereaux: order reversed with respect to suppression of evidence seized from defendant’s residence; otherwise affirmed; State v. Gardner: judgment vacated and remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.

1 ORS 133.565 was enacted as part of the 1973 Oregon Criminal Procedure Code, which was the legislature’s attempt to update and codify existing criminal procedure law. Commentary, Proposed Oregon Criminal Procedure Code XXXII (1972); see also Minutes, Senate Committee on Judiciary (Feb. 5,1973 — written statement of Chapin Milbank). ORS 133.565 is in part based on former ORS 141.080, which set forth the required form of a search warrant. Commentary, supra, at 75. Nothing in the legislative history suggests that the word “particularity” used in ORS 133.565(2)(b) has a different meaning than in Article I, section 9.

2 ORS 167.222(1) provides:

“A person commits the offense of frequenting a place where controlled substances are used if the person keeps, maintains, frequents, or remains at a place, while knowingly permitting persons to use controlled substances in such place or to keep or sell them in violation of ORS 475.005 to 475.285, 475.295 and 475.940 to 475.995.”

3 Because we hold that ORS 133.565(2) (b) and Article I, section 9, impose identical standards, we do not reach the state’s argument that a violation of ORS 133.565(2)(b) is not of constitutional proportions. See State v. Davis, 295 Or 227, 236, 666 P2d 802 (1983).

4 The fact that the search of defendant was unauthorized does not invalidate the authorized search of the residence. See State v. Blackburn/Barber, supra, 266 Or at 36-37.