United States v. Ortiz

54 F. Supp. 3d 1081, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 115537, 2014 WL 4090153
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. California
DecidedAugust 19, 2014
DocketNo. CR-14-0019 EMC
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 54 F. Supp. 3d 1081 (United States v. Ortiz) 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. Ortiz, 54 F. Supp. 3d 1081, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 115537, 2014 WL 4090153 (N.D. Cal. 2014).

Opinion

(Docket No. 12)

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO SUPPRESS

EDWARD M. CHEN, United States District Judge

Defendant Luis Martin Ortiz has moved the Court to suppress evidence obtained through a search of his person and vehicle conducted on October 21, 2013. Motion to Suppress (“Motion”), Docket No. 12. The Government opposes the Motion. Government’s Response to Defendant’s Motion to Suppress (“Response”), Docket No. 15. On July 30, 2014, the Court held an evi-dentiary hearing to resolve factual disputes as to whether Ortiz consented to the search of his vehicle, and whether reasonable suspicion supported the prolongation of a traffic stop and subsequent frisk of Ortiz. Minute Order, Docket No. 19. The day before the.hearing, the City of Ukiah Police Department (“UPD”), joined by the Government, filed a Motion to Quash a subpoena Ortiz had served on the UPD four days earlier. Docket No. 26. The subpoena requested information from the personnel files of three officers who were present at various times during the searches.

Having considered the parties’ briefs and accompanying submissions, as well as testimony, the witnesses’ demeanor, and [1084]*1084arguments presented at the evidentiary hearing, the Court hereby GRANTS Ortiz’s Motion to Suppress and the UPD’s Motion to Quash.

I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

The testimony of Pintane and Ortiz during the evidentiary hearing largely coincided with their declarations, the police report and briefs filed in conjunction with the Motion to Suppress. The testimony however clarified some points and provided a few additional facts, as noted below.

A. The Initial Traffic Stop

At approximately 10:00 p.m. on October 21, 2013, Ortiz was driving his ^ truck with only his parking lights on, and headlights off, a violation of the California Vehicle Code. UPD Report (“UPD Rpt.”), Docket No. 12-1, 3; Declaration of Luis Ortiz (“Ortiz Deck”), Docket No. 12-2, ¶ 2. Pin-tane, a sergeant with the UPD for fifteen years, called in Ortiz’s truck and activated his overhead lights. Declaration of Richard Pintane (“Pintane Deck”), Docket No. 16, ¶ 1; UPD Rpt. at 3. Ortiz drove about 500 feet and pulled into a gas station, stopping between two pumps. See Defendant’s Reply Memorandum in Support (“Reply”), Docket No. 18, 7:12-13; UPD Rpt. at 3; Ortiz Deck ¶ 4; Motion at 4 n. 2.

Pintane approached Ortiz’s truck and explained the reason for the stop. UPD Rpt. at 3; Ortiz Deck ¶ 5. Ortiz laughed that his headlights were turned off and turned them on.1 UPD Rpt. at 3; Ortiz Deck ¶ 5. Ortiz then asked if he could move his vehicle. UPD Rpt. at 3; Ortiz Deck ¶ 7. During the evidentiary hearing, Ortiz testified that in response to his request Pintane put one finger up to indicate that Ortiz should wait while Pintane listened to communication over his radio. The Government did not dispute this specific testimony. Ortiz further testified he told Pintane he wanted to move his truck closer to the pump so he could pump gas. But Pintane testified Ortiz did not mention wanting to pump gas, and that he believed Ortiz may have wanted to park the truck intending to leave it.

Ortiz asked for Pintane’s registration and proof of insurance. UPD Rpt. at 3. Ortiz explained that the insurance card would not reflect the present vehicle, as his truck was new. Id.; Ortiz Deck ¶5. Pintane testified that Ortiz became nervous when asked for the paperwork and that Ortiz’s hand shook as Ortiz retrieved the paperwork from the glove box and handed it to Pintane. Pintane Testimony. While Pintane reviewed the paperwork, Ortiz dropped his hands. UPD Rpt. at 3. Pintane asked Ortiz to keep his hands where he could see them. Id.; Ortiz Deck ¶ 6. Ortiz complied, but “lowered them again shortly thereafter[,]” and Pintane asked him to place them on the steering wheel. UPD Rpt. at 3.

Pintane then called UPD dispatch to check Ortiz’s license status and for any outstanding warrants or supervised release. Id. Pintane noted again that Ortiz was nervous and asked a second time if he could move the truck. Id. at 4. Pintane refused and told Ortiz to keep his hands on the wheel. UPD Rpt. at 4; Ortiz Deck ¶ 7. UPD dispatch “advised Ortiz had a valid license and was not on probation/parole or on any type of supervised release.” UPD Rpt. at 4.

B. Continued Stop: Consent

After the check came back clear, Pin-tane called for a second unit and proceeded to ask Ortiz further questions. Id.

[1085]*10851. Pintane’s Version of the Facts

According to Pintane, he asked if Ortiz had anything illegal in the truck. Id. “Ortiz hesitated [and] looked around the vehicle” before saying no. Id. Pintane then asked Ortiz if he could search the vehicle and “Ortiz hesitated, looked around[, and] stated, ‘Go ahead.’” Id. When Ortiz stayed in the truck, Pintane told Ortiz that he “could not search the vehicle with him in [sic] seated in the driver seat.” Id. Ortiz responded “Oh,” opening the door and stepping out, and Pintane asked Ortiz whether there was anything Pintane should be concerned about, to which Ortiz replied, “there might be some bullets.” Id.

2. Ortiz’s Version of the Facts

On the other hand, Ortiz explained that he responded to the request to search his car by saying, “Why? I’m not on parole or probation.” Ortiz Decl. ¶ 8. Then, Pin-tane told Ortiz if he did not “have anything illegal in the truck, [he] should have nothing to hide.” Id. Ortiz replied, “well, you have no reason to search me if I’m not on parole or probation.” Id. At that point, Pintane said, “sir, would you please step out of the truck,” and Ortiz complied. Id. Ortiz contends that he mentioned a necklace made out of a bullet, but did not otherwise mention bullets in the car. Motion at 13.

C. Continued Stop: Frisk and Arrest

Pintane held Ortiz’s hands behind Ortiz’s back, beginning a frisk with his free hand. UPD Rpt. at 4; Ortiz Decl. 19. Pintane then “grabbed” Ortiz’s clothing “on the front of his body at the waistline” in search of a handgun. UPD Rpt. at 4. During the evidentiary hearing, Pintane testified that Ortiz wore a “baggy” shirt and what he believed to be denim pants. He explained that the folds in the shirt’s material made it difficult for him to be certain that Ortiz was not concealing a weapon. Pintane Testimony. Ortiz, on the other hand, testified that he had been wearing a tee shirt, which he explained to the Court was very similar to the one he was wearing at the hearing. The shirt that he showed the Court at the end of the evidentiary hearing was made of a thin, cotton-like material. The Government did not dispute this testimony. Pintane stated Ortiz watched him closely while he conducted the frisk.

Pintane did not feel anything during the frisk. UPD Rpt. at 4. He then lifted Ortiz’s shirt up “exposing his waistline, the top of his pants,” and “the tail end of ... a torn piece of a clear plastic bag.” Id.

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Bluebook (online)
54 F. Supp. 3d 1081, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 115537, 2014 WL 4090153, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-ortiz-cand-2014.