United States v. Erik McCoy

Procedural entryThis page is a short order in United States v. Erik McCoy. Read the opinion of the Court — 905 F.3d 409
Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit·Decided September 20, 2018·No. 17-4245·Published

Opinion

RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION Pursuant to Sixth Circuit I.O.P. 32.1(b)

File Name: 18a0209p.06

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ┐ Plaintiff-Appellant, │

│ > No. 17-4245

v. │ │ │

ERIK MCCOY; DERRICK HEARD, │ Defendants-Appellees. │ ┘

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio at Cincinnati.

Nos. 1:17-cr-00029-1–2—Michael R. Barrett, District Judge.

Argued: July 30, 2018

Decided and Filed: September 20, 2018

Before: GUY, BATCHELDER, and BUSH, Circuit Judges.

COUNSEL

ARGUED: C. Mitchell Hendy, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, Cincinnati, Ohio, for Appellant. James E. Kolenich, KOLENICH LAW OFFICE, Cincinnati, Ohio, for Appellee McCoy. Travis T. Dunnington, RION, RION, & RION, L.P.A., INC., Dayton, Ohio, for Appellee Heard. ON BRIEF: C. Mitchell Hendy, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, Cincinnati, Ohio, for Appellant. James E. Kolenich, KOLENICH LAW OFFICE, Cincinnati, Ohio, for Appellee McCoy. Jon Paul Rion, RION, RION, & RION, L.P.A., INC., Dayton, Ohio, for Appellee Heard.

OPINION

JOHN K. BUSH, Circuit Judge. Police officers obtained a warrant, searched defendants’

home, and found over 2,000 grams of heroin, marijuana, drug-distribution paraphernalia, and a

No. 17-4245 United States v. McCoy, et al. Page 2

large amount of cash. Despite the search’s having been conducted under a judge-issued warrant, the district court suppressed the evidence, holding that because the warrant application so failed to connect defendants’ home with drug-trafficking activity, no reasonable officer could have relied on the warrant. The government appeals and argues that the police officers acted in good- faith reliance on the warrant, and so the evidence should be admissible against defendants.

We agree with the government. The police officers’ warrant application established enough of a basis to believe that at least one of the defendants was engaged in a continual, ongoing drug-trafficking operation and that therefore drug-related contraband was likely to be found in his home. Thus, we reverse the district court’s order suppressing the evidence.

I.

In fall 2016, officers of the Cincinnati Police Department began investigating a drug-

trafficking lead. The lead came from a confidential informant’s1 tip that defendants Erik McCoy and Derrick Heard (and their associate, Vincent Brown) were selling marijuana from two adjacent stores on Glenway Avenue. The informant reported that McCoy and Heard lived together in a home located at 10515 Hadley Road and that McCoy and Brown worked at the Glenway Avenue stores. The informant relayed having seen McCoy, Heard, and Brown in possession of marijuana and having observed marijuana and guns inside the 10515 Hadley Road home.

Based on the informant’s information, Officer Longworth began surveilling the Glenway Avenue stores. Over several days, he watched McCoy, Heard, and Brown come and go. He noted a “large amount of foot traffic [that he considered] consistent with drug trafficking.” R.34- 2, Affidavit for Search Warrant, Page ID# 135. And he discovered that McCoy and Brown had drug-trafficking criminal histories.

On October 14, 2016, Officer Longworth’s surveillance proved worthwhile. He was watching the stores when he saw Heard park illegally at a bus stop. As Heard and Brown exited the car, Officer Longworth’s fellow officers arrested Brown for suspicion of his having been

1The record is ambiguous on whether the informant was anonymous. For purposes of our analysis, we assume anonymity of the tipster.

No. 17-4245 United States v. McCoy, et al. Page 3

involved in a robbery.2 While Brown was being arrested, Officer Longworth entered the apparel store to question Heard about his parking violation. The officer spotted Heard walking out of an employee-only area of the store with a large bag of marijuana hanging from his pants.3 This bag, along with another (for a total of about two to three ounces of marijuana) and several hundred dollars were found on Heard upon his arrest. After arresting Heard, Officer Longworth confirmed that he had a drug-trafficking criminal history.

Based on Officer Longworth’s investigation, the circumstances of Heard’s arrest, and the information provided by the confidential informant, Officer Longworth obtained a search warrant for the Glenway Avenue stores (the “Glenway Avenue Warrant”). The search uncovered drug-distribution paraphernalia, gun accessories, and mail addressed to McCoy. Aside from finding the tools of the trade, however, law enforcement found no narcotics in the stores.

Officer Longworth then applied for a second warrant, this time for permission to search the house that the informant identified as defendants’, 10515 Hadley Road (the “Hadley Road Warrant”). The affidavit in support of the Hadley Road Warrant described Officer Longworth’s qualifications, the place to be searched (the home), the evidence sought (evidence of drug trafficking), and the following factual support:

• The confidential informant claimed to be “familiar with” the Glenway Avenue stores and to have had “personal relationships” with people associated with them. R.34-2, Page ID# 134–35. The informant reported that Heard, McCoy, and Brown sold marijuana from the stores. The informant also stated that McCoy and Brown worked at the stores. And the informant reported having seen Heard, McCoy, and Brown in possession of marijuana.

• Officer Longworth surveilled the Glenway Avenue stores several times and watched McCoy, Heard, and Brown enter and exit the stores. He also observed heavy foot traffic that he considered consistent with drug trafficking. On the day of the warrant application, Officer Longworth observed Heard park in front of the Glenway Avenue stores. Officer Longworth followed Heard into the store and eventually arrested him

2Thiswas a warrantless arrest. Brown was later charged with a misdemeanor theft offense, which was ultimately dismissed.

3According to the district court, a video recording supported the fact that the marijuana was in plain view.

Defendants do not contest this finding.

No. 17-4245 United States v. McCoy, et al. Page 4

after spotting him exiting an employees-only section of the store in possession of one large bag of marijuana. When Officer Longworth searched Heard, he found another bag of marijuana and several hundred dollars in cash. McCoy also was present in the store during Heard’s arrest.4 • Law enforcement searched the Glenway Avenue stores and recovered evidence of drug trafficking—electronic scales, drug packaging materials, a handgun box, handgun ammunition, a handgun magazine, and mail addressed to McCoy.

• The same confidential informant informed Officer Longworth that McCoy and Heard lived together at 10515 Hadley Road, and the informant reported having seen marijuana, large amounts of money, and handguns inside the home.

• On the day of the warrant application, law enforcement surveilled 10515 Hadley Road and observed a car parked in the driveway registered to Heard.

• Officer Longworth confirmed that Heard and McCoy had drug-trafficking criminal histories.

The same magistrate judge who signed the Glenway Avenue Warrant executed the Hadley Road Warrant. The search of the residence uncovered about 2,200 grams of heroin, marijuana, an electronic scale, drug-packaging accessories, about $38,000 in cash, a handgun, and ammunition.

Shortly thereafter, Heard and McCoy were indicted on counts of conspiracy to distribute heroin and marijuana, operating a drug-involved premises, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking offense. Defendants each moved to suppress the evidence obtained from the stores and the home. The district court upheld the warrant to search the stores as supported by probable cause. But the Hadley Road Warrant did not fare as well.

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