Case ID: f-appx_128/html/0561-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Thomas E. YOAKUM, Appellant, v. Brian LYNN, Siloam Springs Police Officer, in his official and individual capacities, Appellee.
    No. 04-2171.
    United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.
    Submitted: April 22, 2005.
    Decided: May 6, 2005.
    Norman Douglas Norwood, Rogers, AR, for Appellant.
    Susan T. Lusby, Norwood & Norwood, Rogers, AR, John G. Trice, Davis & Wright, Fayetteville, AR, Appellee.
    Before MELLOY, MCMILLIAN, and GRUENDER, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM.

Thomas Yoakum appeals the district court’s adverse grant of summary judgment in his civil rights suit against a Si-loam Springs police officer. After careful de novo review, we affirm. See Lincoln Benefit Life Co. v. Edwards, 243 F.3d 457, 461 (8th Cir.2001) (per curiam); Dulany v. Carnahan, 132 F.3d 1234, 1237 (8th Cir. 1997) (standard of review).

We agree with the district court that the undisputed facts establish defendant did not violate Yoakum’s constitutional rights, because the officer had probable cause to arrest Yoakum for obstructing governmental operations during an incident in the police station lobby. See Ark Code. Ann. § 5-54-102(a)(l) (Michie Supp.2003) (elements of obstructing governmental operations); Garionis v. Newton, 827 F.2d 306, 309 (8th Cir.1987) (probable cause to arrest suspect exists where reasonable officer would believe, based on available facts and circumstances, that suspect was committing or had committed offense); Kelley v. Arkansas, 75 Ark.App. 144, 55 S.W.3d 309, 311-12 (2001) (defendant obstructed governmental operations under Arkansas law where officer was conducting field sobriety test of motorist in defendant’s driveway, and defendant exited his house, yelled profanities, and refused to take field sobriety test, after which motorist stopped cooperating with officer).

Although some facts are in dispute, they are not material. We also reject, as unsupported and contrary to the district court’s opinion, Yoakum’s arguments that the court made credibility findings, and that the court made its probable-cause determination based on the conduct of Yoa-kum’s family members. We do not address arguments Yoakum raises for the first time on appeal.

Accordingly, we affirm. 
      
      . The Honorable Jimm Larry Hendren, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas.