State v. Thompson

399 So. 2d 1161
Supreme Court of Louisiana·Decided July 21, 1981·No. 80-K-2521·Published·Cited by 51 cases

Opinion

399 So.2d 1161 (1981)

STATE of Louisiana
v.
Clyde N. THOMPSON, Charles M. Hubbs and Colvin L. Wines.

No. 80-K-2521.

Supreme Court of Louisiana.

May 18, 1981.
Rehearing Denied July 2, 1981.
Dissenting Opinion July 21, 1981.

*1164 William J. Guste, Jr., Atty. Gen., Barbara Rutledge, Asst. Atty. Gen., Harry F. Connick, Dist. Atty., Lindsay Larson, Louise S. Korns, and J. Kevin McNary, Asst. Dist. Attys., for relator-applicant.

Richard B. Stricks and Bernard Bagert, of Bagert, Bagert & McDonald, New Orleans, for defendants-respondents.

Dissenting Opinion July 21, 1981. See 400 So.2d 1080.

MARVIN, Justice Ad Hoc.[*]

Writs were granted by this court to review the correctness of the trial court's suppression of an alleged inculpatory statement made by the defendant Thompson to a police officer without Thompson being advised of the right to counsel afforded him by Art. 1, § 13, La.Constn. and by Miranda. We find the alleged statement was made in a non-custodial situation and reverse.

The issue concerns whether an inculpatory statement was made as a response to police interrogation while Thompson was in custody or was significantly detained. State v. Menne, 380 So.2d 14 (La.1980); Rhode Island v. Innis, 446 U.S. 291, 100 S.Ct. 1682, 64 L.Ed.2d 297 (1980).

The record states Policeman Hughes' summary of the conversation which took place in the presence of the victim, the three defendants, and two other police officers in the lobby of a small New Orleans motel, but does not recite details of the conversation. The defendants were Thompson, Wines, and Hubbs.

Officer Hughes testified:

"I was having ... coffee ... at ... [a] donut shop and was approached by the complainant [Schoen] who alleged he had been the victim of a battery committed upon him by several persons ... I returned with him to the parking lot of the [motel] ... where ... Wines was standing... We discussed the altercation with him ... The course of the inquiry took us into the lobby ... and ... the elevator door opened and ... Thompson and ... Hubbs came out of the elevator. Wines ... came in with me and the victim or complainant was walking through the front door with [the other officers.] [Schoen identified Thompson as a perpetrator when the door opened.] I noted what appeared to be some blood spatters or spots on ... Thompson's shirt. I asked him who he was, he identified himself to me, the other subjects identified themselves, and I asked Thompson how he came by the blood spots on his shirt and apparently looking over my shoulder at the victim who entered the lobby he said an incident had occurred between them at another location as he was located in the parking lot and they assaulted him without any provocation.

"Who?

"Wines and Hubbs.

"Did he make any other statements to you?

"There was a general discussion at the time about who they all were."

Apparently the trial court concluded that Hughes said that Thompson said "... an incident had occurred between them [Thompson, Wines, and Hubbs, on the one hand, and Schoen, on the other] ... and they [Wines and Hubbs] assaulted him [Schoen] without any provocation," for it is only in this sense that the statement is inculpatory of any defendant. The quoted testimony obviously is subject to other reasonable interpretations.[1]

*1165 Only Hughes and Schoen testified at the suppression hearing. Schoen testified that Officer Hughes first asked Thompson when Thompson stepped out of the elevator, "May I see you for a moment?" Schoen said that he did not hear all of the details of the Hughes-Thompson conversation and Schoen was not asked what else he heard.

Defendants were not arrested or physically detained during or after the conversation, but were given a summons to appear in municipal court apparently on the authority of CCrP 211. Defendants made no move or attempt to leave the motel lobby while the police officers were there. A bill of information was later filed against the defendants charging them with second degree battery, a felony, under LRS 14:34.1.

In Menne, this court held that our constitution, by providing in Art. 1, § 13, that a person who is detained in the connection with the investigation of any offense must be fully advised of his rights, requires "that investigating officers give the warnings anytime such a citizen is deprived of his liberty in a significant way or was not free to go as he pleases." 380 So.2d at p. 17. Emphasis supplied.

The determination of whether the detention is significant is to be made objectively from the totality of the circumstances. Menne, supra. Factors relevant to the determination include (1) whether the police officer had reasonable cause under C.Cr.P. 213(3) to arrest the interrogee without a warrant; (2) the focus of the investigation on the interrogee; (3) the intent of the police officer, determined subjectively; and (4) the belief of the interrogee that he was being detained, determined objectively. Whether or not there is a custodial interrogation under federal terminology or a significant detention under Louisiana terminology must be determined on a case-by-case basis. State v. Ned, 326 So.2d 477, 479 (La.1976).

The conversation in the motel lobby was described as "brief" and was prefaced by the apparent request, "May I see you for a moment?" Officer Hughes testified that he did not consider the defendants were in a custodial situation but that they were "... not free [to leave] until he concluded the business [of the investigation]." In response to the hypothetical what-if question, Hughes speculated that "... had [defendants] said [they] were going to leave ... I would have reassessed what to do ... I believe I would have said you will have to be arrested, I have to take action."

Hughes had alternative courses of action. Under CCrP 213(3) he had the discretionary authority to arrest Thompson without a warrant (may arrest with reasonable cause). Under CCrP 215.1 he had the discretionary authority to stop Thompson and ask him to explain his circumstances (actions) and to identify himself (may do this upon reasonable suspicion that that person has committed an offense). Hughes' initial assessment of Schoen's story caused Hughes not to choose to arrest under 213, but to inquire under 215.1(A):

"A law enforcement officer may stop any person in a public place whom he reasonably suspects ... has committed ... a felony or a misdemeanor and may demand of him his name, address and an explanation of his actions." Emphasis supplied.

Hughes asked Thompson to identify himself and, in effect, to explain his apparent actions (the circumstance of apparent blood on Thompson's shirt). After that inquiry, Hughes did not further interrogate Thompson, did not decide to arrest Thompson, but instead, to issue him a municipal court summons under CCrP 211, which may be issued when it is lawful to arrest without a warrant for a misdemeanor. It is apparent that Hughes determined to exercise and act upon probable cause to arrest without a warrant by issuing the summons after the conversation in the lobby.

*1166 This court observed in State v. Weeks, 345 So.2d 26, 28 (1977) that

"... Miranda warnings are

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