United States v. Pape

917 F. Supp. 2d 888, 2013 WL 68634, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1806
CourtDistrict Court, D. Minnesota
DecidedJanuary 7, 2013
DocketCivil No. 12-251 (PJS/LIB)
StatusPublished

This text of 917 F. Supp. 2d 888 (United States v. Pape) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Minnesota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Pape, 917 F. Supp. 2d 888, 2013 WL 68634, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1806 (mnd 2013).

Opinion

ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

PATRICK J. SCHILTZ, District Judge.

Based upon the Report and Recommendation of United States Magistrate Judge [891]*891Leo I. Brisbois, and after an independent review of the files, records and proceedings in the above-entitled matter, IT IS ORDERED:

That Defendant’s motions to suppress evidence and statements [Docket Nos. 20 and 21] are denied.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

LEO I. BRISBOIS, United States Magistrate Judge.

This matter came before the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge upon Defendant’s motions to suppress evidence obtained as a result of a search and seizure and to suppress statements made by Defendant during an interview. The case has been referred to the Magistrate Judge for report and recommendation pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) and Local Rule 72.1. The Court held a hearing on November 19, 2012 regarding these two suppression motions and both parties’ discovery motions in this case.1 The parties each made their arguments on the record, and the Court permitted each party to file a letter to the Court outlining any additional legal authority upon which the parties relied for their argument. For the reasons outlined below, the Court recommends that both of Defendant’s motions to suppress be denied.

I. BACKGROUND

On May 6, 2012, Eveleth Police received a report regarding two vehicle break-ins earlier in the day, both of which involved stolen property, including two purses, one of which contained a loaded .38 caliber revolver.

Later on the same day, police received information that a credit card stolen from the break-ins had been used at the Target store located in Virginia, MN. The police obtained the video allegedly showing Defendant using the stolen credit card at the Target store. Still on May 6, Eveleth Police Chief Timothy Koivunen applied for a search warrant to search Defendant’s apartment located at 1705 9th Ave. N. # 1, Virginia, MN and the vehicle Defendant was seen driving at the Target store.

Chief Koivunen participated in the execution of the search warrant of Defendant’s apartment at approximately 9:05 p.m. on May 6. When the police arrived at Defendant’s apartment they made an unannounced entry by kicking-in the door and found Defendant lying down on the floor in the kitchen.2 Defendant did not appear to be intoxicated, and he was compliant with the police officers. Defendant was arrested, his person searched, and then taken to the St. Louis County jail in Virginia, MN. Defendant was not questioned by anyone at the scene or while he was transported to the jail. Chief Koivunen and the remaining officers searched the apartment and seized numerous items including some of the credit cards that had been reported stolen. During the search, police also uncovered .22 grams of methamphetamine. However, one item the police were unable to find was the loaded .38 caliber revolver that had been reported stolen.

The next morning, at approximately 9:24 a.m., Chief Koivunen travelled to the St. Louis County jail where the Defendant was being held because Chief Koivunen wanted to see if he could obtain more [892]*892information relevant to the case. Chief Koivunen met with Defendant in the interview room of the jail, which was described as approximately 8 feet by 8 feet in size; it included a table with two chairs and had one sidewall with clear glass.3 During the interview, Defendant and Chief Koivunen were the only two people present in the room, Defendant was still dressed in the same clothes he wore the previous night. Chief Koivunen was not in uniform (he wore dress slacks, dress shirt, and a tie), and Chief Koivunen did not carry his firearm into the interview room. Prior to commencing the interview with Defendant, Chief Koivunen turned on a tape recorder and recorded the entire interview.

After receiving some basic identifying information from Defendant, such as his name, date of birth, and address, Chief Koivunen provided Defendant with the following warning:

You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have him present with you while you are being questioned. If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, one will be appointed to represent you before any questioning, if you wish.

(Gov’t Ex. 2B at 1). Chief Koivunen then asked Defendant if he understood the rights that had been explained to him, to which Defendant responded “Yeah.” (Id.) Chief Koivunen then asked, if after having been read those rights Defendant wished to talk to Chief Koivunen, to which Defendant responded “Might as well.” (Id. at 2). After Chief Koivunen requested that Defendant clarify and answer either yes or no, Defendant answered “Yes.” (Id.)

During the interview, Defendant, made a request to meet with his girlfriend at the time, Angie: “I want a date with my old lady ... an hour ... half an hour ... a minute.” (Gov’t Ex. 2B at 10) (ellipses in original). Chief Koivunen responded that he would see what he can do: “I will see what I can do about, uh, having her visit with you. Never done it before, John.” (Id.) Defendant then express his disbelief: “Ain’t never gonna happen. Whispered promises in a fu* *in’ back room closet that never come true. I’ve heard all the (inaudible).” (Id.) Prior to departing, Chief Koivunen said that he would work on it. At no point during the interview, however, did Chief Koivunen promise to Defendant that he would be able to visit with Angie as a condition for Defendant to answer questions by Chief Koivunen. Likewise, Chief Koivunen never threatened Defendant that Angie would be unable to visit Defendant if he did not respond to questions.

Chief Koivunen testified that one of his primary interests in conducting the interview with Defendant was to uncover the location of the loaded .38 caliber revolver for the protection of the community. Eventually, Defendant stated that he had hidden the revolver in a hole in the living room wall of his apartment and that it was accessible from the outside of the building. After inquiring as to how to access the revolver, Chief Koivunen concluded the interview, at approximately 9:54 a.m., and headed to Defendant’s apartment to attempt to recover the revolver.

At Defendant’s apartment building, approximately only a mile away from the jail, Chief Koivunen went to the east side of the building, where he observed a section of the siding that was missing from the [893]*893outside wall as Defendant had described. Chief Koivunen remained outside of the building at all times and never entered the apartment building or Defendant’s apartment. Although Chief Koivunen thoroughly searched the area where Defendant had represented the revolver was hidden, he was unable to locate the missing .38 caliber revolver. He concluded that Defendant had not told him the truth about the location of the revolver.

Chief Koivunen returned to the St. Louis County jail to book out the Defendant. Defendant provided that he was agreeable to leave with Chief Koivunen and St. Louis County Sheriffs Deputy Tarr,4

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Bluebook (online)
917 F. Supp. 2d 888, 2013 WL 68634, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1806, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-pape-mnd-2013.