United States v. Tragash

691 F. Supp. 1066, 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6897, 1988 WL 73292
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Ohio
DecidedMay 16, 1988
DocketCR-1-87-095
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 691 F. Supp. 1066 (United States v. Tragash) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Tragash, 691 F. Supp. 1066, 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6897, 1988 WL 73292 (S.D. Ohio 1988).

Opinion

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

HERMAN J. WEBER, District Judge.

This matter is before the Court upon defendant’s Motion to Suppress (doc. no. 10), the response by the United States (doc. no. 12) and the evidence received at the evidentiary hearing held on December 21 and 22, 1987. The parties filed briefs and Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law on March 4, 1988. Upon consideration of all submissions and after observing the demeanor and hearing the testimony of defendant and Troopers Schaffner and Torres at the suppression hearing, the Court makes the following Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law.

I. Statement of the Facts

At approximately 3:45 P.M. August 12, 1987, State Highway Trooper Clifford L. Schaffner was driving northbound on Interstate 75 in the vicinity of the north city *1068 limits of Dayton, Ohio in a marked patrol car. He observed a vehicle which appeared to be speeding, passing other traffic by using multiple lane changes, and failing to use its turn signal.

By the time Trooper Schaffner reached the vehicle, 1-75 narrowed to two lanes northbound and then expanded to three. As he closed on defendant’s vehicle, defendant saw him in his rear-view mirror. Mr. Tragash slowed down but straddled the white lane marks separating the left from the middle lane. Tragash then returned to the left lane. Trooper Schaffner attempted to overtake the vehicle to determine whether the driver was intoxicated, sleepy, or otherwise impaired.

Continuing to follow Tragash, Trooper Schaffner observed that the car was a silver Chevrolet Caprice with a Dade County license plate. The “Y” on the plate indicated that the vehicle was probably a rental car. A tissue box was visible on the front dash board. Tragash continued to make erratic lane shifts without signaling despite the presence of the patrol car behind him. There was no apparent reason for these lane changes and Tragash did not pass any other vehicle. Although Tragash’s driving was not endangering any other vehicle at this point, Trooper Schaffner determined to stop him. First, however, Trooper Schaffner called the Highway Patrol dispatcher and discovered that the vehicle was rented. It was not until he received this information from the dispatcher that he stopped Mr. Tragash. It was at that point Trooper Schaffner also suspected the vehicle was involved in transporting drugs.

In February, 1987, Trooper Schaffner took a course at the State Highway Patrol Training Academy concerning “characteristic indicators of a possible drug courier.” Trooper Shaffner testified that he suspected Tragash of being a drug courier because 1) he was driving a GM car, 2) the vehicle was rented, 3) the vehicle was rented out of Miami, Florida, a source city, 4) the driver was the sole occupant of the vehicle, 5) the sudden speed change when Trooper Schaffner approached him and 6) the presence of the tissue box.

After stopping Tragash, Trooper Schaffner walked up to Tragash’s car and asked to see his driver’s license. Tragash produced a valid Florida license which showed his true name and a Miami, Florida address. Trooper Schaffner observed a cooler in the front seat, the tissue box on the dash board, tissues scattered around the front seat, various fast-food items and a pillow.

Trooper Schaffner told Tragash that he was giving him a warning for straddling a lane and failure to signal. Tragash stated in response to questions by Schaffner that the car was rented and that he left his car with his wife in Florida. Trooper Schaffner asked him where he was headed and Tragash said he was going to visit his daughter in Saginaw, Michigan. As the conversation continued, Tragash became increasingly nervous. Based on his earlier suspicions, his observation of the interior of the ear, and this nervous reaction, Trooper Schaffner asked him point blank whether he was “hauling any drugs in the car.” Tragash got very nervous, looked down and paused for a brief moment before looking back at Schaffner and saying “no.”

Trooper Schaffner then asked defendant if he could look through his car. Tragash responded, “I don’t care.” Tragash also gave him the rental agreement for the vehicle. Trooper Schaffner asked defendant to step out of the vehicle and sit in the back of the patrol car. As defendant exited the vehicle, he took the keys from the ignition and put them in his pocket. Trooper Schaffner did a quick frisk search of defendant. Nothing was found.

When Tragash was seated in the right rear seat of the patrol car, Trooper Schaffner filled out a Consent to Search form and asked Tragash to review it before the backup officer arrived and Trooper Schaffner searched the vehicle. Trooper Schaffner called for another Trooper to back him up at the scene. Tragash was presented with the Highway Patrol form by which consent to search a vehicle may be given in writing. Tragash took a considerable amount of time to review the consent form and appeared to labor over each sentence. The *1069 form clearly stated that the vehicle, including luggage and contents, would be searched. The form also clearly stated that Tragash had the right to refuse to consent to the search and the right to refuse to sign the form. When Tragash reviewed the form, he told Trooper Schaffner that he would rather not sign the form because his attorney told him never to sign anything. Trooper Schaffner explained that he had to have Tragash’s consent or he could not look through the vehicle, that the form was a mere formality, but without Tragash’s consent, Schaffner would have to get a warrant in order to search the vehicle. When Trooper Schaffner asked whether it was still okay to search the vehicle, Tragash said it was “okay” but he would rather not sign the form.

At this time, approximately 4:00 P.M., Trooper A.J. Torres arrived at the scene to act as back-up. Trooper Schaffner instructed Trooper Torres to stay in the patrol car with Tragash while he conducted the search of the vehicle. Before beginning the search, Trooper Schaffner asked Tragash one more time in the presence of Trooper Torres, if he consented to the search. Tragash said “its okay.” Neither Trooper Schaffner nor Trooper Torres gave Tragash his Miranda warnings prior to this request and Tragash was not informed specifically of his right to refuse the search or his right to leave the scene at this time.

Trooper Schaffner then searched the passenger compartment of Tragash’s rental vehicle but found no drugs or any other incriminating evidence.

Trooper Schaffner returned to the patrol car and asked Tragash for the keys to the vehicle so he could look into the trunk. Tragash reached into his pocket and gave Trooper Schaffner the keys. Trooper Schaffner observed that Tragash was quite nervous, more nervous than before when Trooper Schaffer had asked Tragash if he had any drugs in the car, but Tragash did not protest nor did he withdraw his consent to the search of the vehicle at this time.

Trooper Schaffner opened the trunk and observed a piece of luggage, a garment bag and a gym bag. He opened the gym bag and inside observed “a brown grocery-size bag that the top had been folded over and masking tape closed.” He ripped open the wrapped package and found three smaller packages wrapped in newspaper. Each was about six inches by eight to 10 inches by four inches and were numbered.

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Bluebook (online)
691 F. Supp. 1066, 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6897, 1988 WL 73292, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-tragash-ohsd-1988.