State v. Rice

199 N.W.2d 480, 188 Neb. 728, 1972 Neb. LEXIS 906
CourtNebraska Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 14, 1972
Docket38157, 38188
StatusPublished
Cited by43 cases

This text of 199 N.W.2d 480 (State v. Rice) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nebraska Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Rice, 199 N.W.2d 480, 188 Neb. 728, 1972 Neb. LEXIS 906 (Neb. 1972).

Opinions

[730]*730Clinton, J.

The defendants, David L. Rice and Edward Poindexter, in a joint trial, were convicted by a jury of murder in the first degree in the bombing death on August 17, 1970, of an Omaha police officer, Larry D. Minard, Sr., and the jury fixed the penalty at life imprisonment.

On this appeal assignments of error relate to the following: (1) Denial by the trial court of motions of both defendants to suppress evidence seized in a search at 2816 Parker Street in Omaha on August 22, 1970; (2) denial by the trial court of motions by both defendants to suppress the results of scientific analysis of clothing taken from each of them following their arrests; (3) instructions to the jury; and (4) overruling by the trial court of objections to admission in evidence of seven certain purported newsletters of the United Front Against Fascism and National Committee to Combat Fascism, local militant black organizations, and denial of related motions to strike and for mistrial. Errors also were alleged in connection with instructions related to said exhibits. In a separate pro se brief Poindexter makes an assignment of error that the evidence is insufficient to sustain the verdict.

We will note each of the assignments of error in order in separate parts of this opinion and make such reference to the evidence and other matters as may from time to time be required in consideration of the assignments. We first, however, briefly set forth some of the necessary factual information concerning the death of Officer Minard.

In the early morning hours of August 17, 1970, the police department of the city of Omaha received a telephone call purportedly originating from 2865 Ohio Street, which call represented that cries of a girl or woman screaming for help were coming from a vacant house next door at 2867 Ohio Street. The police dispatcher relayed the information by radio and several patrol cars responded to the call, including that of [731]*731Officer Minard. Certain officers, including Minard, entered the house at 2867 Ohio Street and in so doing noticed and stepped over a suitcase lying on its side near the doorway. While a search was being conducted an explosion occurred, killing Minard who was standing near the suitcase and apparently inspecting it visually or otherwise. Other officers were injured by the explosion. Scientific analysis of the debris of the explosion established that the source was dynamite contained within the suitcase. Other evidence supported the conclusion that the suitcase contained a dynamite bomb which had been booby trapped and set to explode when moved. Subsequent intensive investigation by the police department led to the apprehension of Duane Peak, age 15, the acknowledged deliverer and planter of the booby trapped suitcase and maker of the false telephone report of the cries for help at 2867 Ohio Street. Peak testified for the State and the defendants were convicted as the instigators of the crime.

I.

On August 22, 1970, police officers procured a search warrant authorizing the search of 2816 Parker Street, the residence of David L. Rice, and the seizure of: “Dynamite and devices which could be used to construct devices which could cause injury to persons and damage to property.” The search was conducted and as a result the following items of property, some of which were introduced into evidence at the trial, were seized: “14 Sticks Dupont Red Cross Extra Strength Dynamite, 40 and 50%. 3 DuPont Elect. Blasting Caps., MS 25, 1 DuPont Elect. Blasting Cap. 3 pcs assorted wire. 1 Marathon #499 RR #6 Volt Battery. 1 pr Homecraft wire dykes. 1 CeeTee Co. Pliers. 1 long nose dyke, made in Japan, orange grips. 2 % X1X% inch permanat magnets.” It was the foregoing evidence at which the motions to suppress were directed. Prior to trial a hearing was held on the motions to [732]*732suppress, evidence was adduced by all parties, and the trial court denied the motions.

The defendants assert that the search and seizure was in violation of the provisions of the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States which provides: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

The defendants assert that the affidavit upon which the search warrant was issued was invalid in that it does not meet the standards laid down by the Supreme Court of the United States in Aguilar v. Texas, 378 U. S. 108, 84 S. Ct. 1509, 12 L. Ed. 2d 723; and Spinelli v. United States, 393 U. S. 410, 89 S. Ct. 584, 21 L. Ed. 2d 637. They further contend that evidence seized in the search should have been excluded under the doctrines of Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U. S. 643, 81 S. Ct. 1684, 6 L. Ed. 2d 1081, 84 A. L. R. 2d 933; and Ker v. California, 374 U. S. 23, 83 S. Ct. 1623, 10 L. Ed. 2d 726.

The affidavit was prepared by one of the officers in charge of the search while 2816 Parker Street was under surveillance by other officers. It was done under the intensive pressure of the extensive investigation following the bombing and during a time when the officers were working 18 hours day after day.

The affidavit is as follows: “The complaint and affidavit of Sgt. R. Pfeffer and Sgt. Jack Swanson, on this 22 day of August 1970, who being first duly sworn, upon oath says:

“That he has just and reasonable grounds to believe, and does believe that there is concealed or kept as hereinafter described, the following property, to-wit: Dynamite and devices which could he used to construct devices which could cause injury to persons and dam[733]*733age to property. Also illegal weapons which he stated should be used against Police Officers. . . .
“That said property is concealed or kept in, on, or about the following described place or person, to-wit: A one story white frame house on Parker Street at 2816, In Omaha Douglas County, Nebraska.
“That said property is under the control or custody of Davidi Lewis RICE, Minister of Information, National Committee to Combat Fascism.
“That the following are the grounds for issuance of a search warrant for said property and the reasons for his belief, to-wit: David Rice is a known member of the National Committee to Combat Fascism, which advocates the violent killing of Police Officers. A violent killing of a Police Officer occurred, in Omaha and arrests were made from the membership of the NCCF. We have been told in the past that RICE keeps explosives, at his residence, and also illegal weapons, which he has said should be used against Police Officers.
“A warrant authorizing a night-time search is requested because Nighttime when information was secured, and the property may be removed.
“WHEREFORE, he prays that a search warrant may issue according to law.”

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Related

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888 N.W.2d 159 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 2016)
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766 N.W.2d 391 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 2009)
State v. Ryan
534 N.W.2d 766 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1995)
State v. Brunzo
532 N.W.2d 296 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1995)
People v. Olguin
31 Cal. App. 4th 1355 (California Court of Appeal, 1994)
State v. Secret
524 N.W.2d 551 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1994)
Rust v. Hopkins
984 F.2d 1486 (Eighth Circuit, 1993)
State v. Cortis
465 N.W.2d 132 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1991)
David Lewis Rice v. Harold Clarke, Warden
923 F.2d 117 (Eighth Circuit, 1991)
State v. Skolnik
358 N.W.2d 497 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1984)
State v. Thomas
314 N.W.2d 15 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1981)
State v. Young
273 S.E.2d 592 (West Virginia Supreme Court, 1980)
State v. Petry
273 S.E.2d 346 (West Virginia Supreme Court, 1980)
State v. Anderson
296 N.W.2d 440 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1980)
Standefer v. United States
447 U.S. 10 (Supreme Court, 1980)
David Lewis Rice v. Robert F. Parratt
605 F.2d 1091 (Eighth Circuit, 1979)
Simants v. State
277 N.W.2d 217 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1979)
State v. Rust
250 N.W.2d 867 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1977)

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Bluebook (online)
199 N.W.2d 480, 188 Neb. 728, 1972 Neb. LEXIS 906, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-rice-neb-1972.