United States v. Juan Thomas Suarez

902 F.2d 1466, 1990 U.S. App. LEXIS 7821, 1990 WL 62163

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: May 16, 1990
• Docket: 88-1145
• Status: Published

Opinions

CANBY, Circuit Judge:

Juan Thomas Suarez appeals the district court’s denial of his motion to suppress evidence. Suarez entered a conditional plea of guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846. Suarez contends that the warrantless search of his apartment was conducted without probable cause and absent exigent circumstances. We have jurisdiction over this timely appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We reverse.

1. Probable Cause and Exigent Circumstances

We accept the findings of fact made by the district court as not clearly erroneous. We review de novo the motion to suppress, and the existence of probable cause and exigent circumstances. United States v. Howard, 828 F.2d 552, 554 (9th Cir.1987)

For the reasons stated by the district judge, the agents¹ had probable cause to search Suarez’s premises when they activated the garage door opener. Nevertheless, “[e]ven the existence of probable cause, without more, does not validate a warrantless entry into a residence.” United States v. Delgadillo-Velasquez, 856 F.2d 1292, 1298 (9th Cir.1988) (emphasis in original). The government bears the additional burden of showing the existence of exigent circumstances by particularized evidence in order to justify a departure from the normal procedure of obtaining a warrant. See United States v. Alvarez, 810 F.2d 879, 881 (9th Cir.1987). Here, the government has not met this burden.

The arresting agents attempted to justify the search as necessary to protect their personal safety. To justify such a protective search, the agents must point to “specific and articulable facts supporting their belief that other dangerous persons may be in the building or elsewhere on the premises.” United States v. Whitten, 706 F.2d 1000, 1014 (9th Cir.1983), cert. denied, 465 U.S. 1100, 104 S.Ct. 1593, 80 L.Ed.2d 125 (1984). Here, the government has not shown that the agents possessed more than a mere subjective belief that danger existed. Delgadillo-Velasquez, 856 F.2d at 1298.

Moreover, the government has not presented sufficient evidence to indicate that the agents had a reasonable belief that Suarez had any codefendants in his apartment who could destroy evidence. There is no testimony in the record that any agent ever observed anyone other than Gonzalez at Suarez’s apartment. In addition, when detained by the agents, Suarez did nothing to alert any confederates. Because the agents merely speculated that cocaine was present and that there was an imminent danger that it would be destroyed, they have failed to show exigent circumstances to justify the search of Suarez’s apartment.² See United States v. Driver, 776 F.2d 807, 811 (9th Cir.1985).

Finally, the record indicates that the agents could have obtained a warrant to search Suarez’s apartment before his arrest. The agent in charge of the operation testified that he could have arranged for a magistrate to issue a warrant once he determined which apartment Gonzalez was entering. In fact, the surveillance agent knew which apartment in the complex belonged to Suarez and could have communicated that information in time to obtain a warrant. Alternatively, the arresting agents could have secured Suarez’s apartment until they obtained a warrant. See, e.g., Segura v. United States, 468 U.S. 796, 801, 104 S.Ct. 3380, 3383, 82 L.Ed.2d 599 (1984).

Because there was no sufficient showing of exigent circumstances, the district court erred in denying Suarez’s motion to suppress, even though the agents had probable cause. Delgadillo-Velasquez, 856 F.2d at 1298.

2. Consent to Search

As the government correctly concedes, absent a finding of exigent circumstances, Suarez’s consent was invalid. The illegal entry unconstitutionally tainted his subsequent consent to search. See United States v. Howard, 828 F.2d 552, 556 (9th Cir.1987). Accordingly, we need not consider whether Suarez’s consent would otherwise be regarded as voluntary. See id.

REVERSED AND REMANDED.³

1 . This operation was conducted by agents of the Drug Enforcement Agency as well as detectives from the North Las Vegas Police Department. For purposes of this opinion, we refer to the participants collectively as “agents."

2 . The government argues that it was reasonable for the officers to believe that Gonzalez's failure to return to Suarez's apartment after the transaction would put Suarez on notice that something had gone wrong, allowing him to destroy evidence before the agents could obtain a warrant. We understand this concern, but again see no specific evidence to indicate that it was standard procedure for Gonzalez to meet Suarez immediately after each sale. Though Gonzalez returned to the apartment following one of the transactions, he did not after the other.

3 . We are aware of the Supreme Court’s recent decision in New York v. Harris, - U.S. -, 110 S.Ct. 1640, 109 L.Ed.2d 13 (1990). The majority thinks that decision does not impair its foregoing opinion. The dissenter believes that it supports his dissent.