United States v. Conerly

75 F. Supp. 3d 1154, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 169937, 2014 WL 6900994
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. California
DecidedDecember 8, 2014
DocketCase No. 13-cr-00717-JST-1
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 75 F. Supp. 3d 1154 (United States v. Conerly) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Conerly, 75 F. Supp. 3d 1154, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 169937, 2014 WL 6900994 (N.D. Cal. 2014).

Opinion

[1157]*1157ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO SUPPRESS

Re: ECF No. 69

JON S. TIGAR, United States District Judge

Defendant David Conerly now moves to suppress all physical evidence that officers of the Berkeley Police Department obtained after they arrested and searched him following his flight from a police vehicle on February 22, 2013. Conerly also seeks to suppress statements he made following his arrest, as fruits of the unlawful arrest and search. For the reasons set forth below, the motion is GRANTED.

I. BACKGROUND

A. Procedural History

In October 2013, the United States indicted Conerly for violation of 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Defendant filed the instant motion to suppress on September 30, 2014. ECF No. 69. The matter came on for hearing on November 24, 2014.

B. Factual History

i.Officers’ Initial Encounter with Conerly

On the afternoon of February 22, 2013, Officers Lathrop and Flores of the Berkeley Police Department Drug Task Force were patrolling the area near San Pablo Park in a semi-marked vehicle. Lathrop Police Report, ECF No. 80-1 at 6. Officer Lathrop testified by declaration that this area is “commonly frequented by individuals possessing firearms and engaging in drug dealing.” Lathrop Declaration, ECF No. 80-6 at 2. The officers observed an adult black male, later identified as Conerly, walking down Park Street. Lathrop Police Report, ECF No. 80-1 at 6. When Conerly saw the police vehicle, he “immediately fled into the block behind 2627 Park Street.” Id. Officer Flores “exited the vehicle and said ‘stop police.’ ” Id. Conerly did not comply and continued to flee. Id. The officers “set up a perimeter to contain the block,” but found “no sign” of Conerly. Id. An anonymous citizen told the officers that they had seen Conerly heading towards 2748 Acton Street, a residential home outside of which that citizen had earlier observed Conerly loitering. Id.

ii.Officers’ Arrival at 2748 Acton Street

After speaking with the anonymous individual, the officers proceeded to 2748 Acton Street. Id. Upon their arrival, they observed an individual who “appeared to be sweating and nervous” exit the house. Id. The individual then entered a Chevy Tahoe, which the officers approached. Id. The smell of burnt marijuana emanated from the vehicle. Id. Officers detained the individual, who identified himself as Antoine Custer, and informed the officers that his nephew Robert Custer resided in the home. Id. Antoine Custer told the officers that the only person currently inside the house was his grandmother, Emma Custer. Id. The officers then conducted a record check of Robert Custer, which revealed that he was on probation with an active search clause and registered as living at the Acton Street address. Id.

iii.Entry of Action Street Home

After discovering that a resident of the home had an active probation search condition, Officers Lathrop and Flores entered the home along with “other BPD officers” who had arrived on the scene. Id.1 Although the basis of the officers’ [1158]*1158entry into the home was a probation search of Robert Custer, Conerly states that the officers entered without knocking and had their guns drawn. Conerly Declaration at ECF No. 69 at 18, ¶ 3-4. Once inside the home, the officers saw Conerly exit the northwest bedroom, immediately recognizing him as the individual who had fled from them near San Pablo Park. La-throp Police Report, ECF No. 80-1 at 6. “Conerly was ordered to put his hands on his head, and was then handcuffed and escorted outside without delay.” Lathrop Declaration, ECF No. 80-6 at ¶ 7. Conerly says that officers “had their guns on [him] the whole time.” Conerly Declaration, ECF No. 69 at 18, ¶ 3-4. The officers admit that they entered the home with “their weapons drawn for safety,” but claim “[n]o weapons were trained on Mr. Conerly after he was handcuffed.” La-throp Declaration, ECF No. 80-6 at ¶ 8.

Conerly maintains that the officers did not ask his name or identity before searching him. Conerly Declaration, ECF No. 69 at 18, ¶4. Officer Lathrop contends that, prior to searching Conerly, the officers conducted a records check, which established that Conerly was on parole. La-throp Declaration, ECF No. 80-6 at ¶ 7. The search recovered “1.40 g of suspected marijuana and $1003 cash.” Lathrop Police Report, ECF No. 80-1 at 6.

After detaining Conerly, the officers received consent from Emma Custer to search the home. Id. The officers then continued to search the home “in an attempt to determine who resides in the northwest bedroom.” Id. The officers observed crack cocaine packaged for sale “on the bed along the north wall of the bedroom.” Id. The officers also saw the red jacket Conerly had been wearing when they initially observed him on a couch in the living room. Id.

iv. Transport to Jail and Subsequent Confession

While other officers conducted the search of the Acton Street home, Officer Dozier transported Conerly to the BPD jail for booking for a violation of Cal. Penal Code § 148. Id. Following Conerly’s arrival at the jail, Sergeant Hong informed Conerly of his Miranda rights. Dozier Police Report, ECF No. 80-1 at 10. After Conerly was booked, he “spontaneously stated” to Dozier that he needed to tell him something. Id. Conerly told Dozier that he had a loaded gun that was at the Acton Street house underneath a pillow “in the kids room.” Id. Conerly stated that he did not want “that lady to get in any trouble,” but initially refused to put a statement in writing claiming ownership of the gun. Id. Dozier persuaded Conerly to put in writing what he had told him regarding the gun. Id. Conerly wrote “Handgun mines owing up to my responsibility in young man room under pillow.” Exhibit D, ECF No. 23-2 at 18.

Sergeant Lindenau, an officer conducting the search of the Acton Street home, contacted Officer Dozier to inform him that the officers had not been able to find the gun where Conerly had told Dozier that it was located inside the bedroom. Dozier Police Report, ECF No. 80-1 at 10. Lindenau asked Dozier to again “talk with Conerly to see where the gun was.” Id. Dozier attempted to talk to Conerly again, but Conerly now denied ownership of the gun. Id. After Dozier left Conerly, Lin-denau informed him that officers searching the home had “located the gun in a white bag, at the foot of the same bed that Conerly said the gun was hidden.” Id.

Later that evening, Conerly made a telephone call from jail, during which he stated that “[tjhey found the pistol.” ECF [1159]*1159No. 80-1 at 17. When asked by the woman to whom he was speaking “what that have to do with you?,” Conerly admitted “[i]t was mine.” Id. The woman then asked how the officers knew the weapon belong to Conerly and Conerly responded “[e]ause I ... I told them it was mine. I didn’t want them people to get in trouble for me.” Id.

C. Legal Standard

The Fourth Amendment protects individuals against unreasonable searches and seizures. U.S. Const. amend. IV.

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Bluebook (online)
75 F. Supp. 3d 1154, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 169937, 2014 WL 6900994, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-conerly-cand-2014.