United States v. Nash

294 F. Supp. 3d 1227
CourtDistrict Court, D. New Mexico
DecidedMarch 9, 2018
DocketCrim. No. 17–2487 MV
StatusPublished

This text of 294 F. Supp. 3d 1227 (United States v. Nash) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. New Mexico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Nash, 294 F. Supp. 3d 1227 (D.N.M. 2018).

Opinion

MARTHA VÁZQUEZ, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

This matter comes before the Court on defendant Quincy D'Own Nash's Motion to Suppress Physical Evidence and Statements and Corrected Motion to Suppress Physical Evidence and Statements. [Docs. 15, 32].1 The government opposes the motions. Based upon the pleadings of the parties, the facts of this case and applicable law, Mr. Nash's motions are hereby granted.

I. Background

On the evening of September 17, 2016, Hobbs Police Department Officer Jayson Hoff stopped a 2000 silver Cadillac Escalade for throwing a lit cigarette out the window and having an unreadable license plate. According to his report, Officer Hoff approached the car and, while talking to the driver, Mr. Nash, he observed signs that he was intoxicated. The driver told him he had a previous DUI conviction and had served time in federal prison for possession of drugs. Officer Hoff's video recorder was not functioning, so he requested backup with working video for a field sobriety test. Two other officers arrived.

Officer Hoff ordered Mr. Nash out of the car and conducted a pat down search for weapons, holding Mr. Nash's hands behind his back as he did so. No weapons were detected, but the officer felt what he believed to be a baggie of drugs in Mr. Nash's pants pocket. He asked for permission *1230to reach into the pocket, but Mr. Nash refused. Officer Hoff stated that he was going to reach into the pocket anyway. Mr. Nash jerked away and tried to run, but was tackled by the three officers and arrested.

Officers searched Mr. Nash's person and removed two baggies from his pants pockets. One field tested positive for methamphetamine and the other for marijuana. When officers searched the car, which belonged to Mr. Nash's grandmother, they found a firearm under the front seat.

Defendant was charged with possession with intent to distribute five grams and more of methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B) and 18 U.S.C. § 2 ; possession of a firearm and ammunition in furtherance of a federal drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) ; and felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1).

Pursuant to Fed. Crim. R. 12(b)(3)(C), Mr. Nash moves for suppression of any physical evidence or statements seized as a result of his September 17, 2016 detention, search and arrest; and any statements made by him after his detention and arrest.

II. Analysis

Mr. Nash asserts any evidence garnered during the traffic stop should be suppressed because:

A. Officer Hobbs lacked reasonable suspicion to execute the traffic stop;
B. Officer Hobbs lacked reasonable suspicion of criminal conduct on Mr. Nash's part to prolong the traffic stop beyond its original purpose;
C. The officer's pat down was illegal because he lacked a specific articulable suspicion of danger that would permit a pat down; and
D. Even if the officer had a specific articulable suspicion of danger which would permit a pat down, when the officer went from conducting a pat down looking for weapons to trying to seize evidence of a crime, police "crossed the line," and any evidence seized from that point forward should be suppressed.

The Court considers each of Mr. Nash's arguments in turn and finds that the government has failed to carry its burden of showing Officer Hoff had not completed his pat down before locating what he believed to be a baggie of dope in Mr. Nash's pocket. Therefore, Mr. Nash's Motion to Suppress must be granted.

A. The Initial Traffic Stop Was Based on Reasonable Suspicion.

The government bears the burden of proof to justify warrantless searches and seizures. United States v. Zubia-Melendez , 263 F.3d 1155, 1160 (10th Cir. 2001) (citing United States v. Maestas , 2 F.3d 1485, 1491 (10th Cir. 1993). A traffic stop is treated as an investigative detention, and is governed by the standards set forth in Terry v. Ohio , 392 U.S. 1, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 20 L.Ed.2d 889 (1968). United States v. Bradford , 423 F.3d 1149, 1156 (10th Cir. 2005). To determine the reasonableness of an investigative detention, the Court makes a dual inquiry, asking first "whether the officer's action was justified at its inception," and second, "whether it was reasonably related in scope to the circumstances which justified the interference in the first place." Id. Mr. Nash argues neither prong has been met in this case.

"A traffic stop is justified at its inception if an officer has (1) probable cause to believe a traffic violation has occurred, or (2) a reasonable articulable suspicion that a particular motorist has violated any of the traffic or equipment regulations of the jurisdiction."

*1231United States v. Winder , 557 F.3d 1129, 1134 (10th Cir. 2009) (citing United States v. Martinez , 512 F.3d 1268, 1272 (10th Cir.

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Bluebook (online)
294 F. Supp. 3d 1227, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-nash-nmd-2018.