SECOND DI VI SI ON

A NDREWS, P. J.

, M I LLER and BRA NCH, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

October 15, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A0 83 1 . CAUSEY v

. THE STATE.

B R A N C H , J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g a st i p ul at ed b en ch t ri al

, M i ch ael Van Cau s ey w as co n vi ct ed o n o n e

co u nt o f p o s s es s i o n o f m et h am ph et am i n e. On ap p eal

, h e co n t en d s t h e tri al co u rt erred

b y d en y i n g hi s m o ti o n t o s up p res s

. F o r t h e reas o n s t h at fo l l o w, we rev ers e an d

rem an d wi th d irect i o n

.

On rev i ew o f a ru li n g o n a m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

, t h e t ri al ju d g e’ s fi n d i n g s o f fact

s h o u ld n o t b e d i s t u rb ed if t here i s an y ev i d en ce t o s u p p ort t h em ; d et erm i n at i o n s o f

fact an d cred i b il i t y m

u s t b e accep t ed u n l es s cl earl y erro n eo u s ; an d t h e ev i d en ce m u s t

b e co n s t ru ed i n fav o r o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s an d ju dg m en t

. Ta te v. S t at e

, 2 6 4 Ga.

5 3 , 5 4 (1 ) (4 4 0 SE2 d 6 4 6 ) (1 9 94 ); Ja cks o n v. S t a t e

, 2 5 8 Ga. Ap p . 8 0 6 , 8 0 7 -8 0 8 (2 )

(5 7 5 SE2 d 7 1 3 ) (2 0 0 2 ). “ In al l cas es

, [ap p el lat e co u rt s ] i n dep en d en t l y ap p l y t h e l awt o t h e fact s .” Dr a ke v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 2 86

, 2 8 8 (2 ) (7 66 SE2 d 4 4 7 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ).

Th e ev i den ce p r e s e n t ed at t h e h eari n g on t h e m ot i o n t o s u p p res s s ho ws t h at

Dep ut y W i l l i am Sch wart z an d at l eas t t h ree o t h e r o f fi cers o f t he Fl o y d Co u n t y

Sh eri ff’ s o ffi ce, wh o were s eek i n g t o ex ecu te an arres t w arran t fo r o n e J es s e Po wel l

,

wen t t o Cau s ey ’ s h om e b as ed o n a t ip t h at Po wel l co u l d b e fo u n d t h ere; Po wel l d id

n o t res i d e at th at ad d res s an d t h e o ffi cers d i d n o t h av e a warran t t o s earch Cau s ey ’ s

h o m e. Offi cers Sch wart z an d Sal t er w en t t o a po s i ti o n wh ere t h ey co u l d o b s erv e t h e

s i de d o o r o f t h e h o u s e; Co rp o ral W h i t fi el d an d Dep u ty Bu rt ap p ro ach ed t h e fro nt

d o or o f t h e h o m e an d were ab l e to o b s erv e Po wel l s it t in g o n a co uch

. W h e n t h e

o ffi cers k n o ck ed an d an n o u n ced t h at i t was t h e p o li ce, t h e o ffi cers at th e fro n t d o o r

s aw Po wel l g et u p an d ru n t hro ug h t h e h o u s e. Sch wart z t h en s aw Po wel l ru n p as t t h e

s i de d o or an d s aw “ a co u p l e o t h er fl as h es g o by ”; he cl ari fi ed t h at h e reco g n i zed o n e

o f t h e “ fl as h es ” as a fel l o w o ffi cer, ap p aren t ly Co rp o ral W h i tfi el d

. Sch wart z k i ck ed

i n t h e s i de d o o r, en t ered t h e p rem i s es wi th Dep u t y Sal t er, an d

, al o n g wi t h W h i t fi el d

an d y et an o t her offi cer (W at k i n s ), ch as ed Po w el l i n t o a b at h ro om wh ere a s t ru g g l e

en s u ed

. Po wel l w as ev en t ual l y s u b d u ed an d p l aced i n h an d res t rai nt s. W h i tfi el d an d

Po wel l w ere in

j u red i n t h e s tru g g l e, an am b u l an ce was cal l ed

, an d u lt i m at el y

,

2W h i t fi el d was t ak en t o th e ho s p i t al t o get s t i t ch es

. Cau s ey an d a gu es t were

h an dcu ffed an d s i t t i n g o n a s o fa d u ri n g t hi s t im e.

W h i l e wai t i n g fo r t h e am

b u l an ce t o arri v e, Sch wart z wal k ed t h ro ug h t h e h o u s e

t o “ cl ear[ ] t h e ho u s e,” o r “ t o m ak e s u re t h ere’ s n o b o d y el s e h id i n g i n a cl o s et o r

an y t h i n g el s e, t o m ak e s u re i t ’ s s afe.” He d i d s o “ as a safet y p recau t io n t o ou rs el v es

wh i le we’ re th ere,” an d “ t o m ak e s u re t h e s cen e i s s afe es p eci al l y b efo re b ri n g i n g in

o t h er p ub l i c s afet y p ers o n n el ,” m ean i n g i n t h is cas e, m ed i cal p ers on n el

. He t es t i fi ed

t h a t s u c h a s earch w as es p eci al l y n eces s ary i n a “ fas t m ov i n g ” s i t u at i o n. Sch wart z

fu rt her t es t i fi ed t h at g i v en th at Cau sey was a k n own d ru g us er, t h a t Cau s ey ’ s g u es t

al s o h ad a p en di n g warran t f o r a v i o l en t o ffen s e, an d t h at Po wel l was fl eei n g l aw

en fo rcem en t

, “ [i ] t wo u l d n ’ t b e a far s t ret ch o f t h e i m ag i n at i o n fo r s o m eo n e t o b e t h ere

i n a cl o s et .” Sch wart z l at er ad d ed t h at t h e offi cers “ had t o b e th ere”; read i n co n t ex t

an d co n st ru ed i n fav o r o f th e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i ng

, t h i s st at em en t refers t o t h e o ffi cers

rem ai n i n g at t he h ou s e u n t i l t he am b ul an ce arri v ed t o care fo r W h i t fi el d

. Fi n al l y

,

Sch w art z t es t i fi ed

, “ Yo u ’ v e g o t ev ery b o d y k n ow n t o b e d ru g u sers

. Yo u k n o w,

p eo pl e th at h av e t ri ed t o cau s e h arm t o p o l i ce b efo re.

. . [an d t h erefo re] I wo u l d h av e

reas on t o b el i ev e, i n a pl ace l i k e t h at

, t h ere wo u l d b e m o re p eo p l e th at m ay p o s s i b l y

b e wan t ed fo r warran t s.”

3W h i l e cl eari n g t h e h o u s e, Sch wart z lo o k ed i n to a b ed ro o m an d o b s erv ed wh at

h e s us p ect ed w as m et h am p h et am i n e in p l ai n s ig h t o n a d res s er. Sch wart z d i d n ot

co l l ect t h e s u s p ect ed co n t rab an d ; rat h er h e wen t t o t h e l i v in g ro o m

, fo u nd Cau s ey

h a n d c u f f e d an d s it t i n g o n a s o fa, an d read Cau s ey h i s Mi r an d

a ri gh t s

. Cau s ey t h en

co n sen t ed t o a s earch

, s i g n ed a co n s en t fo rm

, an d an s wered q u es t i o n s i n wh i ch h e

ad m i t t ed t h at t he d ru g s were fo u n d i n hi s b ed ro o m an d t h at t he d ru g s di d n o t b el o n g

t o t h e gu es t

. S c h wa r t z t h en co l l ect ed t h e s u s pect ed co n t rab an d an d s earch ed t h e

rem ai n d er o f t h e h o u s e fo r o th er i l l eg al s ub s tan ces , b u t n o n e were fo u n d

.

Al t h ou g h t he t ri al co urt ’ s o rd er d en y i ng t h e m o t io n t o s up p res s d o es n ot

i n cl u d e fi n d i n g s o f fact , at t h e h eari n g t h e t ri al co u rt reas o n ed as fo l l o ws :

Yo u ’ v e g o t t o l o o k at t h i s i n a l l t h e t o t al it y o f t h e ci rcu m st an ces

. T he

o ffi cer s aw Mr. Po wel l ru n n i ng fro m th e l i v in g ro o m t o ward s th e

b at h ro om

. He’ s fl eei n g t o ward s t h e b ack o f t h e h o u s e an d s h u t t i n g t he

d o o r t o cl o s e

– t o g et i nt o t h e b at hro o m

. Th e o ffi cers h av e ev ery reas o n

t o b el i ev e t h at i f h e was ru n n i n g t o s ecu r e h i m s e l f i n t he b ack o f th e

h o u s e[, w] h o el s e m i gh t h av e s ecu red t h em s el v es i n t h e b ack o f t h e

h o u s e? It d o es n ’ t hav e an y t h i n g t o d o wi t h t h es e fel l o w [s ’ ] rep u t at i o n s

o r c r i m i n al reco rd s

. It h as t o d o wi t h th e ci rcu m st an ces at t h e t i m e. A

wan t ed fu g i t i v e was ru n n i n g an d t ry i n g t o h i d e fro m t h e p o l i ce wh en

t h ey en t ered t h e ho u s e

. . . . T h e fact t h at t h ere w as an in j u ry

, an d a

s ev ere i n j u ry

– i t was n ’ t ju s t a s crat ch

. It req u i red s t it ch es t o th e o ffi cer.

Req u i red t hem t o s t ay an d be t h ere an d wai t o n E M T s an d h av e Mr.

4Po wel l t reat ed as wel l as t h e d ep ut y treat ed

. He w o u ld b e d erel i ct i n h i s

d u t y i f h e d i d n o t ch eck t o s ee if an y b o dy el s e h ad g o n e t o h i d e i n t hat

h o u s e s o m ewh ere g i ven t h e ci rcu m s t an ces at t h e t i m e.

Bas ed o n t h e ab o ve fact s an d o n Cau s ey ’ s s t i p ul at i o n t o v en u e an d t o t h e fact s

t h at t h e co n t rab an d was m et h am p h et am i ne, t h at t h e m et h am p h et am i n e was fo u n d in

Cau sey ’ s ro o m

, an d t h at Cau s ey d en ied i t b el on g ed t o h is g u es t

, Cau s ey was

co n vi ct ed o f p o ss es s i o n o f m et h am p h et am in e.

1

. W e fi rs t co m

m en t on an i s s ue n o t arg ued o n ap peal

. “ [A] b s en t ex i g en t

c i rcu m s t an ces

, t h e Fo u rt h A m en d m en t p ro hibits polic e f r om s e a r c hing a n individua l’ s

h o m e o r b u s i n es s wi th o u t a s earch warran t ev en t o ex ecu t e an arres t warran t fo r a

t h i rd pers o n

. ” Pemb au r v. Ci t y o f Ci n ci n n a ti

, 4 7 5 U. S. 4 6 9

, 4 7 4 (I) (1 0 6 SCt 1 2 9 2,

8 9 L E2 d 4 5 2 ) (1 9 8 6 ), ci ti n g S t ea g a l d v. Un i t ed St a t es

, 4 5 1 U. S. 2 0 4 (1 0 1 SCt 1 6 4 2,

6 8 LE2 d 3 8 ) (1 9 8 1). Here, i n t h e t ri al co u rt

, t h e St at e as s ert ed t h at t h e o ffi cers at t h e

fro n t do o r h ad ex i g en t ci rcu m s t an ces t o en t er Cau s ey ’ s h o m e, t h e t ri al co urt ag reed

t h at t h e o ffi cers h ad a ri g h t t o en t er t h e h o m e, an d Cau s ey h as no t co n t es t ed th at i s s u e

o n ap p eal . Th at q u es t i o n , t h erefo re, i s n ot b efo re u s

.

2

. “ A ‘ p ro t ect i v e s weep ’ i s a q u i ck an d l i m i t ed s earch o f p rem i s es

, i n ci d en t to

an arres t an d co nd u ct ed t o p ro t ect t he s afet y o f po l i ce o ffi cers o r o t h ers .” Ma r yl a n d

5v. Bu i e

, 4 9 4 U

. S. 3 25

, 32 7 (1 1 0 SCt 1 0 9 3, 1 0 8 LE2 d 2 7 6 ) (1 9 90 ). Pro t ect i v e s weep s

fo rce co u rt s to b al an ce th e Fo u rt h A m en d m en t ’ s p ro tect i o n fro m u n reas on ab l e s earch

an d s ei zu re ag ai ns t an o ffi cer’ s i nt eres t “ i n t ak i ng s tep s t o as s ure [ h ers el f] t h at t h e

h o u s e i n wh i ch a s us p ect i s b ei n g

, o r h as ju s t b een

, arres t ed i s n o t h arb o ri n g o t h e r

p ers o n s wh o are d an g ero u s an d wh o co u l d u nex p ect ed l y l au n ch an at t ack .” Id

. at 3 3 3

(III). In s t ri k i n g a b al an ce b et ween t hes e i n t eres t s

, th e Un it ed St at es Su p rem e Co u rt

h as hel d t h at i n ci d en t t o an arres t i n a h o m e, o ffi cers m ay “ as a p recau t io n ary m at t er

an d wi t h o u t p ro b ab le cau s e o r reas o n ab l e su s p i ci o n

, l o o k i n cl o s et s an d o t h er s p aces

i mmed i at el

y a d j o i n in g t h e p la ce o

f ar r es t fro m wh i ch an at t ack co ul d b e i m m ed i at el y

l au n ch ed .” Id

. at 3 34 (III) (em p ha sis su p p l ied ). 1 Bu t t o s earch b ey o n d t h e i m m ed i at el y

ad jo i n i n g s p aces

,

t h ere m us t b e a r t i cu l ab l e fact s wh i ch

, t ak en to g et h er wi t h th e rat i o nal

i n feren ces fro m t h o s e fact s

, wo u l d w arran t a reas o n ab l y p ru d en t o ffi cer

i n b el i ev i ng t hat t h e area t o be swe p t h a r b o r s an in d i v i du al p os i n g a

d an g er t o t h o s e o n t h e arres t s cen e.

1 Here, t he St at e d o es n o t co n t en d t h at t h e b ed ro o m i m m ed i at el y ad

jo i n ed t h e

p l ace wh ere Po wel l was arres t ed

.

6Id

. A “ m ere i n ch o at e an d u n p ar t i cu l ari zed s u sp i ci o n or h un ch ” t hat th e h o m e m ay

h arb o r an i n d i v id u al p o s i n g a d an g er t o t h e o ffi cers i s i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt a

warran t l es s s weep . Id . at 3 3 2 (III) (ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). 2

At fi rs t b lu s h, t h i s ap p ears t o b e a cl os e cas e an d t hat s o m e ev i d en ce s u p p o rt s

t h e tri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s

, wh i ch i s al l t h at i s req u i red b y t he s t an dard of rev i ew. Bu t

,

as s h o wn b el o w, t he S t at e p res en t ed n o ev id en ce t o su p po rt t h e co n cl u s i on t h at a

reas on ab l e offi cer co u l d h av e reas o n ab l y b el i ev ed th at a d d it io n a l d an g ero u s

i n d i v i d u al s were i n t he h o m e. Th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d th at b ecau s e t h e o ffi cers were

p u rs u i n g a fel o n fl eei n g t o ward t h e b ack o f t he h o u s e, t h ey co u l d reas on ab l y b el i ev e

t h at th ere m i g ht be an o t h er pers o n i n t h e b ack o f t h e h o u s e t h ereb y warran t i n g a

p ro t ect i v e s w eep wh il e t h ey wai t ed fo r m e d ical pers o n nel to arri v e. Th e “ fas t

m o vi n g ” n at u re o f t h e s i t u at i o n i s al s o rel ev an t

. An d “ [a] l t h o u g h we rev i ew p o l i ce

act i on s fro m t h e s tan d p o i n t o f a h y p o t h et i cal ‘ reas o n ab l e’ o ffi cer, we m u st m eas u re

t h o s e act i o n s fro m t he fo res ig h t o f an o ffi cer act i n g i n a q u i ck l y d ev el o p i ng si t u at i o n

an d n o t fro m t h e h i n ds i g h t o f wh i ch ju d ges h av e b en efi t .” S t a te v. Br a n n a n

, 2 2 2 Ga.

Ap p . 3 7 2 , 3 7 3 (1 ) (4 7 4 SE2 d 2 6 7 ) (1 9 9 6 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i on o m i t ted ).

2 A p ro p er p ro t ect i v e s w eep “ m ay ex ten d o nl y t o a cu rs o ry i ns p ect i o n o f t h o s e

s p aces wh ere a p ers o n m ay b e fo u n d .” Id . at 3 3 5 (III) (fo ot n o t e o m i t t ed ).

7Nev ert h el es s

, Sch wart z nev er t es t ifi ed to an y fact s to s u p p o rt a b el i ef t h at t h ere

were m o re t h an t h ree p eo p l e i n t h e h ou s e b ef o re t h e o ffi cers arri v ed

. No r d i d h e

t es t i fy t o an y fact s t h at d ev el op ed aft er th e o ffi cers arri v ed t hat s u p p o rt an i n feren ce

t h at t here were m ore t han t h ree p eo p l e, ot h er th an o ff i c e r s

, i n th e h o u s e wh en t h e

o ffi cers act u al l y e n t e red t h e h o u s e. A l t ho u g h h e t es t i fi ed th at h e saw t wo “ fl as h es ”

aft er Po wel l ran b y (o n e o f wh o m h e reco g n i zed as a fel l o w o ffi cer), Sch wart z n ev er

t es t i fi ed t h at h e t h o u gh t t h e o t h er fl as h was s o m eo n e o th er t h a n a n o f f i c er, an d t h e

fact s s h o w t h at at l eas t o ne m o re o ffi cer w h o en t ered t h ro u g h t h e fro n t do o r en d ed u p

i n t h e b at h ro o m s u b d u i n g Po wel l

. A l s o

, ev en t h o ug h Sch wart z t e s t i fi ed t h at t h e

o ccu pan t s ’ o u ts t an di n g warran t s an d rep u t at i o ns g av e h im co n cern ab o u t wh o el s e

co u ld b e i n t h e h o u s e, t h e t ri al co u rt s p eci fi cal l y fo u n d t h at fact t o b e i rrel ev an t.

In Bu i e

, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt reject ed a “ b ri g h t -l i n e ru l e” t h at p ol i ce s h o u l d b e

p erm i t t ed t o co n d u c t a p ro t ect i v e s weep wh en ev er t h ey m ak e an i n -h o m e arres t fo r

a v i ol en t cri m e. Bu ie

, 4 9 4 U. S. at 3 3 4 (III), n. 2

. In s t ead

, fo l l owi n g t h e reas o n i n g o f

Ter r y v. Oh i o

, 3 92 U. S. 1 (8 8 SCt 1 8 6 8

, 2 0 LEd 2 d 88 9 ) (1 9 6 8 ), t h e Su p rem e Co u rt

h el d ev en t ho u g h s o m e d an g er m i g h t ex i s t

, a p ro tect i v e s weep req u i res a “ reas o n ab l e,

i n d i v i d u al i zed s u sp i ci on ” o f t h at d an g er:

8[D] es pi t e t h e d an g er t h a t i n h eres i n o n -t h e-s t reet en co u n t ers an d th e

n eed fo r p o l i ce t o act q ui ck l y fo r t h ei r o wn s afet y

, t h e Co u rt i n Ter ry d i d

n o t ad o p t a b ri g h t -l i n e r u l e au t h o ri zi ng fri s k s fo r weap o n s i n al l

co n fro n t at i o n al en co u n ters

. Ev en i n h i g h cri m e are a s

, w h ere th e

p o s s i b i l i t y t h at an y g i ven i n d i v i d u al i s arm ed i s s i g n i fi can t

, Terry

req u ires reas o n ab l e, i n d i vi d u al i zed s us p ici o n b efo re a fri s k fo r w eap o n s

can b e co n d u ct ed

. T h at ap p ro ach i s ap p l i ed to t h e p ro t ect i v e s weep o f

a h o u s e.

Bu i e , 4 94 U. S. at 3 3 4 (III), n . 2

.

Geo rg i a an d El ev en t h Ci rcu i t Cas es ap p l y i n g B u i e are co n s i s t en t i n req u i ri n g

t h at s om e fact s b e p res en t ed t h at s h o w o r rai s e a reas o n ab l e i n feren ce t h at o t h er

p ers o n s wh o m i g h t p res en t a d an g er are p res en t i n th e h o m e, n o t s i m p ly u n cert ai n t y

as t o wh et h er su ch pers o n s are p res en t

. Fo r ex am p le, i n Un i ted S t a t es v. Ho l l i s

, 7 8 0

F3 d 1 0 6 4

, 10 6 9 (III) (A) (1 1 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 5 ), t h e go v ern m en t p res en t ed ev i d en ce t h at t h e

o ffi cers h ad b een t o l d t h at t h e ap art m en t was a “ ‘ d ru g h o u se,’ wi t h a ‘h i g h l ev el o f

act i vi t y ,’ wh ere ‘ p eo p le were i n a n d o ut o f t h e h o u s e al l h ou rs o f t h e day o r n i g h t ,’

an d th at t h ey ‘ co u l d ex p ect t o en co u n t er a n u m b er o f peo p l e i n s i d e.’ ” Id

. (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). Acco rd i ng l y

, t he o ffi cers were au t h ori zed t o m ak e a rat io n al i n feren ce t h at

t h ere m i g h t b e arm ed i n d i v i d u al s p res en t

. Id

. In Un i t ed S t at es v. Ch a ves

, 1 6 9 F3 d 6 8 7

(1 1 t h Ci r. 19 9 9 ), t h e El ev en t h Ci rcu i t h el d t h at wh ere offi cers h ad n o i n fo r m a t i o n

9reg ard i n g t he i ns i de o f a wareh o u s e, t h ey h ad n o s p eci fi c an d art i cu lab l e fact s t o s h o w

t h e pres en ce o f an o t h er i n di v i d u al i n t h e wareh o us e wh o p o sed a dan g er t o t h e

o ffi cers ev en t h o u g h t wo arm ed m en su s p ect ed o f b ei n g i n v o l v ed i n d ru g act iv i t y

ex i t ed t h e wareh o us e i n th e o ffi cers ’ p res en ce. Id

. at 6 8 9

, 6 9 2. See al s o Un i ted S t a t es

v. S u n ket t

, 9 5 FSu p p 2 d 1 3 6 7

, 1 3 7 2 (II) (A) (N.D. G a. 2 0 0 0 ) (fact t h at s o m eo n e el s e

“ m i g h t b e” p res en t i s n o t en o u g h t o s u p p o rt a p ro t ect i v e s weep ).

In b o t h La ws o n v. S t a t e

, 2 9 9 Ga. Ap p . 8 6 5 , 8 7 0 (2 ) (6 8 4 SE2 d 1 ) (2 0 0 9 ) an d

Mo o r er v. S t a t e

, 2 8 6 Ga. Ap p

. 39 5

, 3 9 7 (1 ) (6 4 9 SE2 d 5 3 7 ) (2 0 0 7), o ne fact t h at t h e

co u rt u s ed t o ju s t ify u p h o l d i n g a pro t ect i v e s w eep was t h at al t h o u g h o ffi cers were

i n i t i al l y aware o f on l y

o n e arm ed ro b b er i n t h e h o u s e t h at was s earch ed , t wo arm ed

m en h ad b een i n v o l v ed i n t h e cri m e an d h ad fl ed to g et h er, t h ereb y ras i n g a reas o n ab l e

i n feren ce t h at t h e s eco nd arm ed ro bb er co u l d b e i n t h e ho u se. A n d i n In g l et t v. S t a t e

,

2 3 9 Ga. Ap p

. 52 4

, 5 2 5 (1 ) (5 2 1 SE2 d 2 4 1 ) (1 9 9 9 ), a p ro t ect i v e s we e p w a s u p h el d

wh ere t h e res i d en t wh o r e cei v ed a p ack ag e co n t ai n i n g a l arg e qu an t it y o f d ru g s

referred t o t h o s e i n t h e h o u s e i n t h e p l u r a l

, o ffi cers o bs erv ed at l eas t o n e o t h er

i n d i v i d u al i n t h e res i d en ce, an d an o ffi cer t es t i fi ed t hat g u n s were bo u n d t o b e p res en t

wi t h s u ch a l arg e am o un t o f n arco t i cs . Co m p are Nel s o n v. S t a t e , 2 7 1 Ga. Ap p . 6 5 8,

6 6 1 (1 ) (c) (6 1 0 SE2 d 6 2 7) (2 00 5 ) (wh ere p o l i ce t es t i fi ed t h at “ wi t h d ru g s s afet y i s

10o u r n u m

b er o n e co n cern

. W e d o n ’ t wan t an y b o d y t o g e t s h o t

, ” an d th at th ey were

co n fro n ted wi t h fl eei n g s us p ect s i n a q u i ck l y d ev el o p in g s it u at i o n

, a cu rs o ry s weep

was s u s t ai n ab l e; t h i s fi n d i n g i s d i ct a, h o wev er, b ecau s e t h e Co u rt al s o h el d t h at t h e

m o ti o n t o d i s m i ss was p ro perl y d e n i ed becau s e t h e rel ev an t ev i d en ce was n ot

d i s co v ered d u ri ng t h e s w eep

, i .e., i t was n o t t h e fru i t o f t h e p o i s o no u s tree)

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Here, Sch w art z di d n o t tes t i fy t o an y in fo rm at io n t o s u p po rt t h e p res en ce o f

ad d it i o n al d an gero u s in d i v i d u al s i n t h e ho m e. He co u ld o n l y i m ag i ne t h at su ch p eo p l e

m i g h t b e p res en t b as ed o n t h e fact s t h at Po wel l was fl eei n g

, t h at o n e o r t wo o f t h e

o ccu pan t s h ad o u t s t an d i n g warran t s

, an d t h at t h e occu p an t s o f t h e res i d en ce w e r e

d ru g us ers . No n e o f t h es e fact s s u p p o rt an rat i o n al i n feren ce t h at an y on e o t h er t h an

t h e t h r e e m e n n ear t h e fro n t d o o r were p res en t

, let al o n e d an g ero u s

. W e t h erefo re

co n cl u d e t h at t he St at e fai l ed t o p res en t art icu l ab l e fact s an d rat i o n al i n feren ces fro m

t h o s e fact s t o warran t a reas o nab l y p ru d en t o ffi cer in b el i ev i n g t hat t h e rem ai n d er o f

Cau sey ’ s h o m e h arb o red an y i n d i v i d u al s w h o p o s ed a dan g er t o th e o ffi cers o r o t h ers

.

See Bu i e

, 4 9 4 U. S. at 3 3 4 (III).

3

. Nev ert h el es s

, su p p res s i o n o f t h e ev i d en ce o f m et h am p h et am i ne i s n ot

n eces s ari l y

req u i red :

11Ev en as s u m i n g t h e i l l eg al i t y o f t he i n i t i al en t r y an d s earch

, a p art y ’ s

s u b s eq u en t co n s en t t o t h e s earch

, wh i ch i s freel y an d v o l u n tari l y g i v en

,

m ay s erv e as an in dep en den t act o f free wi l l t h at pu rg es th e pri m ary t ai n t

an d au t h o ri zes ad m i s s i o n o f t h e ev i d en ce. Sev eral fact ors fo r co urt s t o

co n s i d er i n ad dres s i n g t hi s i s s u e i n cl u d e t h e t i m e el ap s ed b et ween th e

i l leg al i t y an d t h e acq u i siti o n o f th e ev i d en ce; t he p res en ce o f in terv en i n g

ci rcu m s t an ces ; an d th e p ur p o s e an d fl ag ran cy o f t h e o ffi ci al m i sco n d u ct

.

Pa r k v. S t a t e

, 3 0 8 Ga. Ap p

. 6 4 8, 6 5 1 (1 ) (7 0 8 SE2 d 6 1 4 ) (2 0 1 1) (ci t at io n s

, fo o t n o t e

an d p un ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ). See al s o S ta t e v. Dr i g ger s

, 3 06 Ga. Ap p. 8 4 9

, 8 5 2 (3 ) (7 0 2

SE2 d 92 5 ) (2 0 1 0 ) ( “ T h e f r u i t s o f an i l l eg al s earch o r arres t s h ou l d b e s u p p res s ed

wh en t hey bear a s i g n ifi can t l y cl o s e rel at i o n s h i p t o t h e u n d erl y i n g i l leg al i t y .”)

(ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Al t h o u g h w e wo u l d co n s i d er t hi s i s s u e i f t h e t ri al

co u rt had ru l ed o n i t

, th e t ri al co u rt ap p ears t o h av e rel ied s o l el y o n t h e val i d i t y o f t h e

p ro t ect i v e s weep

. W e t h erefo re rem an d t h e c a s e t o t h e t ri al co u rt t o ad d res s t h e

q u es ti o n wh et h er Cau s ey ’ s co n s en t t o search was v ol u n t ary an d su ffi c i en t l y

at t en uat ed fro m t h e i l l eg al p ro t ect i v e s weep t o j u s ti fy t h e i n t ro d u ct i o n o f t h e s ei zed

m et h am p h et am i ne i n Cau s ey ’ s t ri al

. See S t a t e v. S a p p

, 2 1 4 Ga. Ap p

. 4 2 8, 4 3 2 (3 )

(4 4 8 SE2 d 3 ) ( 1 9 9 4 ) (wh et h er u ri n al y s i s t es ti n g was s u ffi ci en t l y at t en u at ed fro m

i l leg al i n v es t i gat i v e s t o p d ep en d ed o n fact s n o t ad d res s ed b y t h e t ri al co u rt

, an d

t h erefo re a rem an d was n eces s ary ).

12W e t h erefo re v acat e t h e ju d g m en t an d r e m an d wi t h d irect i o n fo r t h e co u rt to

reco n s i d er Cause y ’ s m o t io n t o s u p p res s an d fo r o th er p ro ceed i n g s co n s is t en t wi t h t h i s

o p i n i o n

.

Ju d g men t r ever

sed a n d c a s e r ema nd

ed wi th d i r ect i o n

. An d

r ews

, P. J., a n d

Mi l l er , J., co n cu r

.

13