United States v. Garner

46 F. App'x 278
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
DecidedSeptember 5, 2002
DocketNos. 00-4395, 00-4409
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 46 F. App'x 278 (United States v. Garner) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Garner, 46 F. App'x 278 (6th Cir. 2002).

Opinion

WILLIAMS, Senior District Judge.

Lindira M. Hubbard (“Hubbard”) appeals from his conviction for possession with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A) and 18 U.S.C. § 2 and for the use and carrying of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1). Frank J. Garner (“Garner”) appeals from his guilty plea to a charge of possession [281]*281with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A) and 18 U.S.C. § 2. Hubbard and Garner raise a number of challenges to their convictions and sentences. For the reasons set forth below, we AFFIRM the judgment of the district court.

I. BACKGROUND

The convictions of Hubbard and Garner stem from events occurring on May 16, 2000. Cleveland Police Officer Joseph O’Neill (“O’Neill”), a motorcycle patrolman, pulled over a 1998 Ford Expedition lacking a front license plate at approximately 11:50 a.m. (J.A. at 354-55.) Hubbard was the driver, and Garner was in the passenger seat. (J.A. at 356.) After stopping the vehicle, O’Neill approached the driver and asked for his driver’s license. (J.A. at 357.) Hubbard responded that he did not have a driver’s license, that the vehicle belonged to Khaleel Haqq, that he was taking Garner to work, and that there was possibly a warrant for his (Hubbard’s) arrest. (J.A. at 357.) Thereafter, O’Neill took Hubbard’s name and social security number down and returned to his motorcycle to run the vehicle plates and the driver’s information. (J.A. at 358.)

The dispatcher informed O’Neill that the vehicle belonged to Sylvester Harris, who was currently incarcerated, that Hubbard did not have a valid driver’s license, and that he had no outstanding warrants. (J.A. at 358.) At this point, O’Neill requested that backup be sent to assist him. (J.A. at 358-59.) O’Neill testified at Hubbard’s hearing on his motion to suppress that he asked the vehicle occupants to remain in the vehicle while he checked on the information he had received. While O’Neill was on the radio, Hubbard stated that Garner needed to go to work. O’Neill told him to wait, that “it [would] only be a few more minutes.” (J.A. at 232.) Hubbard began honking his horn to get the officer’s attention and again requested that Garner be allowed to go to work. (J.A. at 233.) Garner attempted to get out of the car, and O’Neill told him to wait in the car for a few more minutes. (J.A. at 233.) Garner again opened his door, looked back at O’Neill and stated that he needed to go to work, and, again, O’Neill told him to wait. Garner persisted, and O’Neill testified that rather than risk a confrontation, he told Garner to go ahead and leave. (J.A. at 234.) O’Neill gave similar testimony at trial, stating, “Then the passenger got out of the car again, and I’m by myself, behind the vehicle, and I just told them, that’s fine. Just go.” (J.A. at 359.) At this point, Garner exited the vehicle, grabbed a black gym bag and began to walk down the street. (J.A. at 234, 359.)

Hubbard’s and Garner’s versions of these events differ somewhat from the government’s version. According to Hubbard, once O’Neill returned from running the personal information and plates, Garner asked if he could get out and go to work, and O’Neill responded, “Go ahead.” (J.A. at 286.) Garner’s testimony was essentially the same. (J.A. at 294.)

Shortly thereafter, Cleveland Police Officer Paul Wilson (‘Wilson”) arrived to assist O’Neill. O’Neill told Wilson to go stop Garner and return him to the scene of the traffic stop. (J.A. at 360, 365.) Wilson pulled his police car alongside Garner, who was approximately 200 feet from the scene of the traffic stop, exited the vehicle and walked up to Garner. (J.A. at 366-67.) Garner was still carrying the black gym bag and, according to Wilson, visibly shaking. (J.A. at 367.) Wilson identified himself and informed Garner that O’Neill wanted him back at the traffic stop. Garner did not respond. (J.A. at 367.) Again Wilson asked Garner to return to the traf[282]*282fie stop with him, and also asked him what was in the bag. (J.A. at 367.) When asked at trial why he questioned Garner about what was in the bag, Wilson responded, “I check everybody’s bag, purse, that sits behind me, so I know for their safety and my safety. And plus I want to arrive home to my family. I wouldn’t want to be shot in the back or nothing.” (J.A. at 367-68.)

Garner responded to the question that he had found the bag along the railroad tracks and that the bag contained jewelry or drugs. (J.A. at 368.) Wilson then grabbed Garner with his left hand around Garner’s right bicep, escorted him to the car and opened the rear passenger door where Garner sat down with his feet on the sidewalk. Wilson then took the bag and stated, “[L]et’s open this bag and see what’s in it.” (J.A. at 267, 368.) Garner made no response. (J.A. at 369.) Wilson unzipped the bag in front of Garner, and both looked in the bag. There, Wilson observed seven bags vacuum-wrapped in brown packaging tape that appeared to be drug packages. Wilson advised Garner that he was under arrest at that time and not to speak to him. (J.A. at 368-69.) Wilson placed Garner in the rear of the car without handcuffing him, placed the bag in the front passenger floorboard of the car and returned to the scene of the traffic stop. (J.A. at 369.)

At the suppression hearing, Garner’s explanation differed from that of Officer Wilson. According to Garner, he found the bag alongside the railroad tracks. He stated that he did not know the bag contained drugs. (J.A. at 303.) Garner stated that a few days prior to this incident, he was riding with Detective Johnson of the East Cleveland Police Department when they came across a Jamaican who said he had been robbed of a bag fitting the description of the bag Garner found. (J.A. at 304.) Detective Johnson reportedly told Garner that if he found the bag, to let him know. (J.A. at 304.) Garner stated that he was on his way to see a lawn care client and intended to call Johnson from there. (J.A. at 304-05.)

Wilson informed O’Neill of what he had found. The two officers then decided to approach the vehicle. (J.A. at 370.) Because of the drug discovery, the officers drew their sidearms. (J.A. at 361-62, 370.) Wilson approached the driver’s side of the vehicle, and O’Neill approached from the passenger’s side. (J.A. at 361, 370.) Wilson opened the door to the car, asked Hubbard to step out and face the truck and get on his knees. (J.A. at 370.) O’Neill came around from the other side. Hubbard stated that he was carrying a gun on his right hip. (J.A. at 362-63, 371, 398.) O’Neill removed a loaded Star .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun and extra loaded magazine from a black nylon belt designed to secure a weapon underneath a person’s pants. (J.A. at 363.)

At this point, other officers arrived at the scene. Garner and Hubbard were advised of their constitutional rights and placed under arrest. (J.A.

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Related

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Bluebook (online)
46 F. App'x 278, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-garner-ca6-2002.