# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls

For the Eig hth Circu it

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No. 1 2- 16 55

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Uni te d S ta te s o f Am eri ca

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff - App el le e

v.

Jo hn D. Farn el l

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Defe nd

an t - Ap pe ll an t

__ __ __ __ __ __

App eal fro m

Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t

fo r th e Eas te rn Dis tri ct of M is so ur i – St. Lo ui s

__ __ __ __ __ __

Su bm it te d: Sep te m

be r 21 , 20 12

Fi le d: Decem

be r 4, 2 01 2

__ __ __ __ __ __

Befo re MELLOY, BEAM, an d B ENTON, Ci rcu it Ju dg es

.

__ __ __ __ __ __

MELLOY, Circu it Ju dg e.

A Mi ss o ur i St at e Hig hwa y Pat ro l of fic er st op pe d Jo hn Dav id Farn el l on

su sp ic io n th at Farn el l ro bb ed a ba nk in Cu ba

, Mi ss ou ri. The of fic er se arch ed

Farn el l's ve hi cl e an d di sc ov ered ev id en ce m at ch in g th e ba nk ro bb er's de sc rip ti on an d

te nd in g to sh ow Farn el l's in vo lv em en t in th e ro bb ery. Farn el l m ov ed to su pp res s th e

ev id en ce, cl ai m in g th a t t h e s t o p an d se arch of hi s ve hi cl e vi ol at ed hi s Fo ur thAm en dm en t rig ht s. The di st ric t co ur t de ni ed Farn el l's m ot io n, an d Farn el l ap pe al ed

. 1

Fo r th e rea so ns set for th be lo w, we affi rm

.

I.

A.

Aro un d 10 :3 0 a.m

. on Apr il 29

, 20 10

, Co rp or al Ky le W il m on t of th e Mi ss ou ri

St at e Hig hwa y Pat ro l (M SHP) rece iv ed a rad io di sp at ch reg ard in g a ba nk ro bb ery th at

ha d t ak en pl ace earl ie r th at m or ni ng in Cu ba

, Mi ss ou ri. The di sp at ch de sc rib ed th e

su sp ect 's v eh ic le as a whi te va n a nd th e su sp ect as a he av y -s et , wh it e m al e weari ng

a da rk ba se ba ll cap , da rk su ng la s s e s, an d a bl ue lo ng -s le ev ed bu tt on -d own sh irt

. 2

W il m on t, u po n re cei vi ng th e d is pa tc h, p os it io ne d h im se lf at th e in te rs ect io n o f two

hi gh way s o ut si de of C ub a to sec ur e th e p eri m et er.

At ap pr ox im at el y 11 :3 0 a.m ., W il m on t ob se rv ed a whi te va n tra ve li ng

wes tb ou nd to ward th e in te rs ta te hi gh way

. The dr iv er of th e va n was a he av y -s et

, whi te m al e weari ng a y el lo w t- s h i r t a n d ye ll ow ba se ba ll cap

. As th e va n pa ss ed

W il m on t, th e dr iv er o f t h e v a n h e ld up hi s ha nd to co nc eal hi s face

. W il m on t,

su sp ect in g th at th e dr iv er was in vo lv ed in th e ba nk ro bb e ry in Cu ba

, pu ll ed ou t

be hi nd th e va n an d cal le d in th e va n's li cen se pl at e nu m be r. W il m on t th en tu rn ed on

The Hon or ab le Je an C. Ham il to n, Uni te d St at es Dis tri ct Ju dg e fo r th e East ern 1

Dis tri ct of Mi ss ou ri, ad op ti ng th e rep or t an d reco mm e nd at io ns of th e Hon or ab le

Dav id D. Noc e, Uni te d St at es Mag is tra te Ju dg e fo r th e East ern Dis tri ct of Mi ss ou ri.

Prev io us ly, on Feb ru ary 26

, 20 10

, two bu ll et in s reg ard in g se ve ral ba nk 2

ro bb eri es were is su ed to th e M S H P

. Th e bu ll et in s co nt ai ne d a de sc rip ti on of th e

su sp ect si m il ar to th e o n e in th e Apr il 29 di sp at ch an d no te d th at th e su sp ect was be li ev ed to be arm ed wit h a pi st ol

. The Feb ru ary 26 bu l l e t i ns al so in cl ud ed a de sc rip ti on an d ph ot os of th e su sp ect ' s ve hi cl e, whi ch was a whi te va n wit h on e dr iv er-s id e d oo r an d t wo p as se ng er-s id e d oo rs

.

-2

-hi s l ig ht s an d s ire n a nd st op pe d t he va n to in ve st ig at e. The dr iv er's li cen se sh owe d

hi m t o b e J o hn Farn el l, to who m th e va n was reg is te red

. Afte r or de rin g Farn el l to

ex it th e ve hi cl e, W il m on t ex pl ai ne d to Farn el l th at he st op pe d hi m be cau se th e va n 3

m at ch ed th e de sc rip ti on of th e ve hi cl e th at was us ed in a ba nk ro bb ery th at m or ni ng

in Cu ba

. Farn el l to ld W il m on t th at he was dr iv in g fro m St eel vi ll e, Mi ss ou ri, whe re

he ha d be en an ti qu e sh op pi ng

. W il m on t ha d pr ev io us ly lo ok ed th ro ug h th e win do ws

of th e v an an d h ad see n o nl y em pt y card bo ard bo xe s.

W il m on t an d Farn el l walk ed aro un d to th e pa ss en ge r si de of th e va n, at whi ch

ti m e Farn el l vo lu nt ari ly o p e ne d th e sl id in g do or to si t do wn on th e flo or

. W il m on t

co ul d se e on th e fro nt pa ss en ge r se at m ap s wit h ci ti es th at were hi gh li gh te d an d

ci rcl ed

. W he n W il m on t as ke d Farn el l a b o u t th e m ap s, Farn el l st at ed th at th e ci ti es

were pl aces th at he pl an ne d to lo ok fo r an ti qu es

. W il m on t th en ex pl ai ne d to Farn el l

th at FBI ag en ts were on th ei r way an d th at th e ag en ts wou ld de ci de whe th er or no t to

el im in at e h im

as a su sp ect in th e b an k ro bb ery.

Pri or to th e arri va l of th e FBI ag en ts

, W il m on t to ld Farn el l th at he al so wan te d

to in ve st ig at e fu rth er to de te rm in e whe th er Farn el l co ul d be el im in at ed as a su sp ect

. At th is po in t, W im on t rad io ed to th e di sp at ch er fo r a fu rth er de sc ri p t i o n o f t h e

ro bb ery su sp ect

. The di sp at ch er sa id th at th e su sp ect ha d a ch ip pe d rig ht fro nt to ot h.

Upo n he ari ng th is

, Farn el l sm il ed

, rev eal in g a m is si ng le ft fro nt to ot h. Add it io na ll y , W ilm ont le arn ed th at ot he r of fic ers ha d co m

pa red Farn el l's dr iv er's li cen se ph ot o with

su rv ei ll an ce ta pe s of th e ro bb ery an d bel ie ve d th at Farn el l was th e ro bb er. W il m on t

as ke d Farn el l fo r pe rm is si on to se a r c h t h e v a n, an d Farn el l or al ly co ns en te d. Pri or

to en te rin g th e va n, W il m on t as ke d Farn el l if an y it ems t h a t h e ha d de sc rib ed to

Farn el l as be in g co nn ect ed to th e ro bb ery—a bl ue bu tt on -d own sh irt

, a ba ll ca p , a

Pri or to Farn el l pu ll in g ov er, W il m on t ob se rv ed Farn el l rea c h i n g fo r 3

so m et hi ng in th e cen te r co ns ol e of th e va n, an d whe n W il m on t as ke d Farn el l to sh ow hi s ha nd s an d pl ace th em ou ts id e th e va n win do w, Farn el l's ha nd s were "v is ib ly

sh ak in g" an d h e ap pe ared "ex tre m el y ne rv ou s."

-3

-la rg e am ou nt of m on ey , an d a weap on —wer e in th e va n. Farn el l to ld hi m th at th ere

w a s a g u n i n th e cen te r co ns ol e. W il m on t th en se arch ed th e cen te r co ns ol e an d

ret rie ve d a Ru ge r Red Hawk .35 7 rev ol ve r, whi ch he im m ed ia te ly se cu red

. Add it io na l MSHP la w en fo rcem en t of fic ers th en arri ve d, an d W il m on t was ord ered

to ph ot og rap h th e gu n an d ex te rio r of th e va n w h i le an ot he r of fic er ha nd cu ffed

Farn e l l

. A t t h is po in t, Farn el l was pl aced in th e ve hi cl e of an of fic er who ha d

rece nt ly arriv ed on th e sc en e.

Afte r he fin is he d ph ot og rap hi ng th e ex te rio r of th e va n bu t wit ho ut ag ai n

as ki ng Farn el l f

o r pe rm is si on , W il m on t reen te red th e va n to se arch fo r ad di ti on al

ev id en ce of th e Cu ba ba nk ro bb ery. He lo cat ed a cl os ed gr een ba g in th e carg o area

of th e va n, whi ch co nt ai ne d a l a r g e a mou nt of U.S. cu rren cy , a bl ue bu tt on -d own

sh irt

, an d ot he r it em s th at were rep or te d as be in g rel at ed to th e ro bb ery. W il m on t

th en st op pe d h is sea rch an d e xi te d t he va n t o s ecu re i t fo r th e FBI

.

Farn el l was pl aced un de r fo rm al arre st an d tra ns po rte d away fro m hi s va n. He

was la te r ad vi se d of hi s Mi ran da rig ht s, whi ch he waiv ed

, an d si gn ed a "Co ns en t to 4

Sear c h an d Sei ze" fo rm , ex pr es sl y co ns en ti ng to a se arch of hi s va n. FBI Sp eci al

Age nt Mi ch ael Ch ris ti an su bs eq ue nt ly app li ed for a warra nt to se arch th e va n. The

warra nt ap pl ic at io n in cl ud ed a su pp or ti ng affi da vi t de ta il in g th e ro bb ery at th e Fi rs t

C o mm un it y Nati on al Ban k in Cu ba an d th e ev en ts th at tra ns pi red th ere a f t e r , in cl ud in g W il m on t's kn owl ed ge of th e Feb ru ary 26 bu ll et in s and Apr il 29 di sp at ch

,

se e su pr a n o t e 2

, a n d W il m on t's ro ad si de st op an d se arch of th e va n. The affi da vi t

al so st at ed th at Farn el l co nf es se d to th e ro bb ery in Cu ba

, al on g wit h fiv e ot he r ba nk

ro bb eri es

.

Bas ed on Ch ris ti an 's affi da vi t, a m ag is tra te jud ge is su ed a se arch warran t fo r

F a r n e l l 's va n. Upo n ex ecu ti ng th e warra nt

, MSHP of fic ers se iz ed fiv e .35 7 mm

Mi ran da v. Ari zo na , 38 4 U.S. 4 36 , 44 4– 45 (19 66 ). 4

-4

-ro un ds of am m un it io n; a fla th ead sc rewd riv er; an id en ti fic at io n card ho ld er

co nt ai ni ng a ba nk card an d $8 00 .00 cas h; m ap s an d writ te n di rect io ns ; a cel l ph on e;

an d a gr een ba g co nt ai ni ng a bl ack ba se ba ll cap , bl a c k t

- s h irt

, bl ue de ni m lo ng

sl eev ed t-s hi rt, a nd $4 56 2.0 0. 5

B.

Farn el l m ov ed to th e su pp res s th e ph y si cal ev id en ce ob ta in ed fro m W il m on t's

se arch of hi s va n. The di st ric t co ur t, ad op ti ng th e Ord er an d Rec om m en da ti on of th e

m ag is tra te jud ge , de ni ed Farn el l's m ot io n. In hi s ap pe al

, Farn el l cl ai m s th at th e st op

an d se arch of hi s ve hi c l e vi ol at ed hi s Fo ur th Am en dm en t rig ht s fo r th ree reas on s.

Fi rs t, Farn el l co nt en ds th at W il m on t di d no t ha ve a va li d ba si s fo r co n d u c ti ng a

warra nt l e s s s ei zu re of hi s va n whe n he st op pe d hi m al on g th e hi gh way

. Seco nd

, Farn el l arg ue s th at he di d no t vo lu nt ari ly co ns e n t t o W il m on t's in it ia l se arch of hi s

va n. And th ird

, Farn el l c l a i m s th at aft er W il m on t ph ot og rap he d hi s va n, W il m on t

ne ed ed to ag ai n ob ta in hi s co ns en t to co nd uc t wha t was a se pa rat e se arch of th e va n,

an d t ha t Wilm on t d id no t o bt ai n h is co ns en t.

II.

A.

W e rev ie w a di st ric t co ur t's de ni al of a m ot io n to su pp res s un de r a two -p ro ng ed

fram ewo rk : fac t ua l fin di ng s are rev ie wed fo r cl ear erro r, an d le ga l co nc lu si on s are

rev ie wed de no vo

. Uni te d St at es v. Lom el i, 67 6 F.3 d 73 4, 73 8 (8 th Ci r. 20 12 ). "We

m us t affi rm an or de r de nyin g a m ot io n to su pp res s un le ss th e de ci si on is un su pp or te d

by su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce, is b a se d on an erro ne ou s vi ew of th e ap pl ic ab le la w, or in

li gh t of th e en ti re reco rd

, we are le ft wit h a fir m an d de fin it e co nv ic ti on th at a m is ta ke

Ch ris ti an 's a ffi da vi t s ta te d t ha t t he ba nk tel le r ga ve $4 66 2.0 0 t o t he rob be r. 5

-5

-ha s be en m ad e." Uni te d St at es v. Ro dr ig ue z– Hern an de z, 35 3 F.3 d 63 2, 63 5 (8 th Ci r.

20 03 ).

B.

The Fo ur th Am en dm en t pr ot ect s "[t ]he rig ht of th e pe op le to be se cu re in th ei r

pe rs on s, ho us es , pa pe rs , an d effe ct s, ag ai ns t un reas on ab le se arch es an d se iz ur es

. . . ."

U.S. Co ns t. a men d IV. The Fo ur th Am en dm en t's "'ce nt ral req ui rem en t' is on e of

reas on ab le ne ss ," Ill in oi s v . McArt hu r, 53 1 U.S. 3 26 , 33 0 (2 00 1) (qu ot in g Tex as v.

Bro wn, 46 0 U.S. 73 0, 73 9 (1 98 3) ), whi c h " i s m eas ur ed in ob jecti ve te rm s by

ex am in in g th e to ta li ty o f t he ci rcu m st an ces ," Ohi o v. Ro bi ne tt e, 51 9 U.S. 33

, 39

( 1 9 9 6 )

. "[I ]t is a card in al pr in ci pl e th at 'se arch es co nd uc te d ou ts id e th e jud ic ia l

pr oc es s, wit ho ut pr io r ap pr ov al by jud ge or m ag is tra te

, are pe r se un reas on ab le un de r

th e Fo ur th Am en dm en t— su bjec t on ly to a few sp eci fic al l y e s t ab li sh ed an d

well -d el in eat ed ex cep ti on s.'" Mi nc ey v. Ariz on a, 43 7 U.S. 38 5, 39 0 (1 97 8) (q uo ti ng

K at z v. Uni te d St at es , 38 9 U.S. 34 7, 35 7 (1 96 7) ). "[T]he reas on ab le n e s s o f

. . .

se iz ur es de pe nd s on a b al an ce b et ween th e p ub li c in te res t an d t he in di vi du al 's ri gh t

to pe rs on al sec ur it y

free fro m arb it rary in te rfer en ce by la w off ic ers ." Uni te d S ta te s

v. Br ig no ni -Po nc e, 42 2 U.S. 8 73 , 87 8 (1 97 5) (ci ta ti on s o m it te d)

.

W it h th es e ba si c pr in ci pl es to gu id e ou r an al y si s, we ad dr es s in tu rn Farn el l's

th ree Fo ur th Am en dm en t ch al le ng es to W il m on t's st op an d su bs eq ue n t s e a r ch es of

hi s v an

.

1.

Farn el l fir st ob

jects to W il m on t's warra nt le ss st op of hi s va n. W e no te th at th e
"[t ]em po rary de te nt io n of in di vi du al s du rin g th e st op of an au to m ob il e by th e po li ce,

ev en if on ly fo r a br ie f pe rio d an d fo r a li m it ed pu rp os e, co ns t i t u t e s a 'se iz ur e' of

'pe rs on s' with in th e m ean in g of [th e Fo ur th Am en dm en t]." W hr en v. Uni te d St at es ,

-6

-51 7 U.S. 80 6, 80 9– 10 (1 99 6) (ci ta ti on s om it te d) ; Uni te d St at es v. Lop ez, 56 4 F.3 d

10 01

, 10 03 (8 th Ci r. 20 09 ). "An au to m ob il e st op is th us su bjec t to th e co ns ti tu ti on al

im pe rat iv e th at it no t b e 'u nr eas on ab le ' un de r th e ci rcu m st an ces ." W hr en , 51 7 U.S.

at 81 0. W he th er a se iz ur e was reas on ab le i s a q u es ti on of la w. Howar d v. Kan sa s

Ci ty Poli ce Dep 't, 5 70 F.3d 98 4, 9 89 (8t h C ir. 2 00 9)

.

"Fo r an of

fic er to pe rfo rm an in ve st ig at or y st op of a ve h ic le

, th ere m us t be

reas on ab le su sp ic io n.

. . . th at cri m in al act iv it y is afo ot ." Uni te d S t a t e s v

. W al ke r,

55 5 F.3 d 71 6, 71 9 (8 th Ci r. 20 09 ) (ap pl y in g th e st an da rd of Terry v. Ohi o, 39 2 U.S.

1, 30 ( 1 9 6 8 ) )

. "In or de r fo r su ch a st op to be co ns ti tu ti on al un de r th e Fo ur th

Am en dm en t, the of

fi ce r m ust be aware of 'pa rti cu la riz ed

, ob jecti ve fact s, whi ch

, ta ke n

to ge th er wit h rat io na l in fere nc es fro m th os e fact s, reas on ab ly warra nt su sp ic io n th at

a cri m e is be in g co m

m it te d.'" Id

. (q uo ti ng Uni te d St at es v. Mar ti n, 70 6 F.2 d 26 3, 26 5

(8 th Ci r. 19 83 )). "Whi l e ' r e a s on ab le su sp ic io n' m us t be m or e th an an in ch oa te

'hu nc h,' th e Fo ur th Am en d men t on ly req ui res th at po li ce art ic ul at e so m e m in im al

, ob jecti ve jus ti fic at io n fo r an in ve st ig at or y st op ." Uni te d St at es v. Fu se , 39 1 F.3 d 92 4,

92 9 (8 th Ci r. 20 04 ). The of fic er ne ed no t ha ve pr ob ab le cau se

. See Uni te d St at es v.

W in te rs , 49 1 F.3 d 91 8, 92 1 (8 th Ci r. 20 07 ) (ci ti ng Uni te d St at es v. So ko lo w, 49 0 U.S.

1, 7 (1 98 9) ). "In ev al ua ti ng th e va li di ty of a st op , we m us t co ns id er 'th e to ta li ty of th e

ci rcu m st an ces —t he who le pi ct ur e.'" Id

. at 92 1– 22 (q uo ti ng So ko lo w, 49 0 U.S. at 8)

.

Farn el l arg ue s th at th e on ly ba si s fo r W il m on t to pu ll hi m ov er was th at he was

a he av y -s et

, whi te m al e dr iv in g a whi te va n, an d th at th es e ci rcu m st an ces al on e do

no t co ns ti tu te " r e a s on ab le su sp ic io n." Farn el l no te s th at he was weari ng di ffer en t

cl ot he s th an th e su sp ect 's cl ot he s de sc rib ed in th e di sp at ch ; th at hi s va n ha d di ffer en t

li cen se pl at es th an th e on es in th e di sp a t c h ; a n d t h at W il m on t di d no t cl ai m th at he

co m m it te d a ny traff

ic vi ol at io ns

. Acco rd in g to Farn el l, "Wil m on t's st at ed ba si s fo r

th e in it ia l tra ffi c st op was so la ck in g in act ua l de ta il th at

. . . al m os t an y ve hi cl e co ul d

be st op pe d u nd er t he gu is e o f in ve st ig at io n, a c le ar co ns ti tu ti on al vi ol at io n."

-7

-W e di sa gr ee. W e ha ve se ve ral ti m es st at ed th at "[i ]f a flyer or bu ll et in ha s be en

is su ed on th e ba si s of art ic ul ab le fact s su pp or ti ng a reas on ab le su sp i c i o n t ha t th e

wan te d pe rs on ha s co m

m it te d an of

fen se , th en rel ia nc e on th at flyer or b u l l et in

jus ti fie s a st op to ch eck id en ti fic at io n, to po se qu es ti on s to th e pe rs on , or to de ta in th e

pe rs on bri efl y whi le at te m pt in g to ob ta in fu rth er in fo rm at io n." E.g., Uni te d S ta te s

v. Sm it h, 6 48 F.3d 65 4, 6 59 (8t h C ir. 2 01 1) (q uo ti ng Uni te d St at es v. Hen sl ey , 46 9

U.S. 2 21 , 2 3 2 ( 1 9 8 5 ) (in te rn al qu ot at io n m ark s om it te d) ); se e al so Uni te d St at es v.

Ja co bs en , 39 1 F.3 d 90 4, 90 6 (8 th Ci r. 20 04 ). Mo reo ve r, a pe rs on 's ph y si cal

ap pe aran ce an d lo cat io n rel at iv e to a kn own cri m e sc en e can pr ov id e an ob jecti ve ly

r e as on ab le ba si s fo r an of fic er to st op th at pe rs on , ev en whe re th e of fic er's

ob se rv at io n of th e pe rs on is "b rie f an d fro m a di st an ce" an d "t he re ha d be en no tra ffi c

v i o la ti on s or an y ot he r in de pe nd en t reas on to st op th e ve hi cl e." Uni te d St a t e s v

. Ph il li ps , 6 7 9 F .3d 99 5, 99 7– 98 (8 th Ci r. 20 12 ) (d en y in g m ot io n to su pp res s an d

fin di ng th at po li ce h ad reas on ab le su sp ic io n b as ed on to ta li ty of ci rcu m st an ces ).

Here, W il m on t was aware of th e Feb ur ary 26 bu ll et in s— whi ch in cl ud ed

m ul ti pl e ph ot os of a whi te va n wit h a si ng le do or on th e dr iv er's si d e

— a n d th e
Apr il 29 di sp at ch

, whi ch de sc rib ed th e ba nk ro bb ery su sp ect 's ve hi cl e as a whi te va n.

W il m on t was al so aware of de sc rip ti on of th e su sp ect as a he av y -s et

, w h i t e mal e.

Add it io na ll y , whe n Farn el l dro ve pa st hi m , W il m on t ob se rv ed Farn el l sh ie ld in g hi s

face wit h on e ha nd

. The lo cat io n an d ti m in g of W il m on t's in te rcep ti on of Farn el l are

al so co ns is te nt wit h wha t W il m on t kn ew ab ou t th e ba nk ro bb ery: W il m on t po si ti on ed

hi m se lf at an in te rs ect io n al on g a kn own tra ve l ro u t e f r o m Cu ba to th e in te rs ta te

hi gh way an d o bs erv ed Farn el l's va n a pp ro ach in g h im ap pr ox im at el y

on e h ou r aft er

th e d is pa tc h re ga rd in g t he rob be ry

.

In vi ew of th e ab ov e, we are sa ti sf ie d th at W il m on t ha d, at a m in im u m, a

"re as on ab le su sp ic io n" th at Farn el l was en ga ge d in cri m in al act iv it y whe n he tu rn ed

on hi s l ig ht s an d s ire n a nd st op pe d F arn el l's va n.

-8

-2.

Farn el l al so ob

jects to W il m on t's se arch of hi s va n. Sp eci fic al ly, Farn el l cl ai m s

th at W il m on t di d no t ha ve a w a r r a n t t o se arch hi s va n an d th at W il m on t di d no t

ot he rwis e ob ta in hi s vo lu nt ary co ns en t. W he th er a pe rs on vo lu nt ari ly co ns en ts to a

se arch is a qu es ti on of fact

. Uni te d St at es v. San de rs , 42 4 F.3 d 7 6 8

, 77 3 (8 th Ci r.

20 05 ).

Co ns en t to se arch is on e ex cep ti on to th e warra nt r e q u i r e m en t, an d "[a ]

warra nt le ss se arch is va li d if co nd uc te d p u rs ua nt to th e kn owi ng an d vo lu nt ary

c o n se nt of th e pe rs on su bjec t to a se arch ." San de rs , 42 4 F.3 d at 77 3 (al te rat io n i n

or ig in al ) (ci ta ti on an d in te rn al qu ot at io n m ark s om it te d)

. "An in di vi du al m ay va li dl y

co ns en t to an ot he rwis e im pe rm is si bl e se arch if, in th e to ta li ty of th e ci rcu m st an ces ,

co ns e n t is free ly an d vo lu nt ari ly gi ve n, an d no t th e pr od uc t of im pl ic it or ex pl ic it

co erci on ." Uni te d St at es v. Cas te ll an os , 51 8 F.3 d 96 5, 96 9 (8 th Ci r. 20 08 ) (ci ta ti on

an d in te rn al qu ot at io n m ark s om it te d)

. "Th e go ve rn m en t ha s th e bu rd en of pr ov in g by a pr ep on de ran ce of th e ev id en ce th at a su bjec t's al le ge d co n s e n t to a se arch was

le ga ll y su ffi ci en t to warra nt ad m it ti ng th e fru it s of th e se arch in to ev id en ce." Uni te d

St at es v. Ced a n o

- M e d i na , 36 6 F.3 d 68 2, 68 4 (8 th Ci r. 20 04 ). Thi s is an ob jecti ve

s t an da rd su ch th at "a pe rs on can ren de r a se arch le ga l by be ha vi ng in a way th a t

wou ld c a u s e a reas on ab le pe rs on to be li ev e th at he or sh e ha s kn owi ng ly an d

vo lu n t a r i l y c o ns en te d, whe th er or no t th e pe rs on act ua ll y in te nd s to co ns en t." Id

.

at 68 4– 85

.

Farn el l cl ai m s t h a t W il m on t "fo rced [h im ] to pe rm it a se arch of hi s ve hi cl e

wit ho ut ev en pr ov id in g th e m os t ba si c rig ht s an d pa ram et ers , a nd [d id ] so whi le he

was al read y in th e m id st of en te rin g th e ve hi cl e." The di st ric t co ur t, ho wev er, fo un d

th at W il m on t, pr io r to en te rin g th e va n, as ke d Farn el l fo r pe rm is si on to se arch th e va n

an d it s co nt en ts

, an d th at Farn el l or al ly co ns en te d ab se nt an y th reat s or pr om is es fro m

-9

-W il m on t an d wit ho ut be in g un de r th e in flu en ce of an y dr ug s or al co ho l. Thi s co ns en t

cam e aft er W il m on t ex pl ai ne d hi s reas on s fo r st op pi ng Farn el l an d th e sp eci fic it em s

th at he was l oo ki ng for in co nn ect io n wi th th e ro bb ery.

Farn el l al so in di cat ed hi s co ns en t to th e se arch of hi s va n th ro ug h hi s act io ns

. W he n W il m on t an d Farn el l walk ed to th e pa ss en ge r s i de of th e va n, Farn el l

vo lu nt ari ly op en ed th e sl id in g do or , ex p o s i n g t h e in te rio r of th e va n to W il m on t's

pl ai n vi ew. Add it io na ll y , whe n a s k e d whe th er an y of th e it em s th at W il m on t

de sc rib ed as b ei ng rel at ed to th e ro bb ery were in th e va n, Farn el l t ol d Wil m on t t ha t

he ha d a gu n in th e cen te r co ns ol e. Farn el l al so sm il ed to rev eal th at he was m is si ng

hi s fro nt le ft to ot h up on he ari ng ov er W il m on t's rad io th at th e Cu ba ro bb ery su sp ect

ha d a ch ip pe d rig ht fro nt to ot h. A reas on ab le pe rs on in W il m on t's po si ti on wou ld

ha ve co nc lu de d th at

, un de r th e to ta li ty of th e ci rcu m st an ces , Farn el l co ns en te d to th e

se arch of hi s va n. See Uni te d St at es v. Men do za, 67 7 F.3 d 82 2, 82 9 (8 th Ci r. 20 12 )

(fi nd in g th at th e de fen da nt 's "g es tu res an d bo dy la ng ua ge in di cat ed hi s co ns en t" an d

th at hi s "b eh av io r le ad in g up to an d du rin g th e se arch were co ns is te nt wit h co ns en t" );

Uni te d St at es v. Jo ne s, 25 4 F.3 d 69 2, 69 5 (8 th Ci r. 20 01 ) (d ecl in in g to fin d cl ear erro r

in di st ric t co ur t's de te rm in at io n t h a t th e de fen da nt 's co ns en t "was im pl ie d by hi s

act io ns an d s ta te m en ts " (i nt ern al qu ot at io n m ark s o m it te d) ).

In vi ew of th e ab ov e, th e di st ric t co ur t di d no t cl earl y err in de te rm in in g th at

Farn el l h ad co ns en te d t o Wil m on t's sea rch of h is va n.

3.

Thi rd

, Farn el l arg ue s th at W il m on t fai le d to ob ta in co ns en t whe n he se arch ed

hi s va n aft er ph o t o g r a p hi ng th e gu n an d th e va n's ex te rio r. Sp eci fic al ly, Farn el l

cl ai m s th at W il m on t's su bs eq ue nt se arch was a ne w an d se pa rat e se arch —as op po se d

to a co nt in ua ti on o f hi s in it ia l se arch —fo r whi ch W il m on t ne ed ed to ag ai n ob ta in

-1 0-Farn el l's co ns en t. The go ve rn m en t, on th e ot he r ha nd

, cl ai m s th at W il m on t's se co nd

en try an d se arch of th e va n was m erel y a c o n t i n u a ti on of hi s earl ie r se arch

, an d

be c a u s e Farn el l di d no t ob ject or wit hd raw hi s co ns en t, th ere was no Fo ur th

Am en dm en t v io la ti on

.

Eve n if we were to acce pt Farn el l's arg um en t th at W il m on t's se co nd en try an d

se arch of th e va n is a se pa rat e se arch

, "[t ]he so -cal le d 'au to m ob il e ex cep ti on ' pe rm it s

po li ce to co nd uc t a warra nt le ss se arch of an au to m ob il e if, at the ti m e of th e se arch

, th ey h a v e p r o b a bl e cau se to be li ev e th at th e ve hi cl e co nt ai ns co nt rab an d or ot he r

ev id en ce o f a cri m e." Un it ed Sta te s v. Ken ne dy, 4 27 F.3 d 11 36 , 1 14 0– 41 (8 th Ci r.

20 05 ) (ci ta ti on s om it te d) ; Ch am be rs v. Mar on ey , 39 9 U.S. 42

, 48 (1 97 5)

("[ A] ut om ob il es

. . . m ay be se arch ed wit ho ut a warra nt in ci rcu m st an ces th at wou ld

no t jus ti fy th e se arch wit ho ut a warra nt of a ho us e or an of fic e, pr ov id ed th at th ere is

pr ob ab le cau se to be li ev e th at th e car co nt ai ns art ic le s th at th e of fic ers are en ti tl ed to

se iz e." (s um m ari zi ng th e Co ur t's ho ld in g in Carr ol l v

. U n it ed St at es , 2 67 U.S. 1 32

, 15 3– 56 (1 92 5)

, an d ci ti ng ap pr ov in g cas es )). "In de te rm in in g whe th er an of fic er ha d

pr ob ab le cau se to s e a r ch

, co ur ts ap pl y a co m m on se ns e ap pr oa ch an d co ns id er al l

rel ev an t ci rcu m st an ces ." Ken ne dy, 427 F.3d at 1 14 1.

Here, W il m on t's di sc ov ery of th e g u n, al on g wit h th e ci rcu m st an ces of hi s

en co un te r wit h Farn el l an d hi s kn owl ed ge of th e ba nk ro bb ery su sp ect

, s e e s u p r a

Part I.A, am ou nt to pr ob ab le cau se to be li ev e th at ad di ti on al e v id en ce of th e ba nk

ro bb ery wou ld be fo un d in si de th e va n. See Ill in oi s v. Gate s, 46 2 U.S. 21 3, 23 8– 39

(1 98 3) (p ro ba bl e cau se req ui res on ly th at " a f a ir pr ob ab il it y th at co nt rab an d or

ev id en ce of a cri m e wil l b e fo un d i n a pa rti cu la r pl ace" ). W il m on t t hu s did not n eed

to ob ta in Farn el l's co ns en t, or a warra nt

, whe n he se arch ed th e va n fo r a se co nd ti m e. 6

Thi s rem ai ns tru e ev en aft er Ariz on a v. Gan t, in whi ch th e Su pr em e Co ur t he ld 6

th at "[p ]oli ce m ay se arch a ve hi cl e in ci de nt to a rece n t o c c u p a n t 's arre st on ly i f th e

arre st ee is with in reac hi ng di st an ce of the pa ss en ge r co m pa rtment at the ti m e of th e

-1 1-In vi ew of th e ab ov e, we affi rm th e di st ric t c o u r t ' s d e c i si on to de ny Fa rn el l's

m ot io n to su pp res s th e ph y si cal ev id en ce ob ta in ed fro m W il m on t's se co nd en try in to

th e v an

. 7

III.

Fo r th e reas on s se t fo rth ab ov e, we affi rm th e di st ric t co ur t's de ni al of Farn el l's

m ot io n t o s up pr es s t he ph y si cal ev id en ce o bt ai ne d fr om hi s v an

.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

se arch or it is reas on ab le to be li ev e th e ve hi cl e co nt ai ns ev i d e n c e of th e of fen se of

arre st ." 55 6 U.S. 3 32 , 3 51 (2 00 9)

. Alt ho ug h Farn el l ha d be en h a n d c u f f e d an d no t
yet arre st ed whe n W il m on t se arch ed hi s va n fo r a se co nd ti m e, "[w]arran tl e s s

se arch es ne ed on ly be jus ti fie d b y on e ex cep ti on to th e Fo ur th Am en dm en t war ran t

req ui rem en t[.]" Uni te d St at es v. W eb st er, 62 5 F.3 d 43 9, 44 5 (8 th Ci r. 20 12 ); Uni te d

St at es v. Gro om s, 60 2 F.3 d. 93 9, 94 2– 43 (8 th Ci r. 20 10 ) ("[ B]ecau se we co nc lu de th e

se arch of [ th e de fen da nt 's] v eh ic le was su pp or te d b y pro ba bl e cau se , it is no lo ng er

ne ces sa ry to jus ti fy th e warra nt le ss na tu re of th e se arch a s o n e i n c i de nt to arre st ;

rat he r th e warra nt le ss sea rch can be jus ti fie d u nd er t he au to m ob il e ex cep ti on .”).

W e no te th at W il m on t's se arch of th e cl os ed gr een ba g whe re h e f o u n d th e 7

bl ack ba se ba ll cap , bl ack t-s hi rt, bl ue de ni m lo ng -s le ev ed t-s hi rt, an d $4 56 2.0 0 was

pr op er fo r at le as t th e reas on th at th e gr e e n ba g was in th e va n whe n W il m on t

co nd uc te d th e se co nd sea rch

. See Uni te d St at es v. Ro ss , 4 56 U.S. 7 98 , 8 25 (1 98 2) ("I f pr ob ab le cau se jus ti fie s th e se arch of a lawf ul ly s to pp ed ve hi cl e, it jus ti fie s th e

se arch of ev ery pa rt of th e ve hi cl e an d it s co nt en ts th at m ay co nc eal th e ob ject of th e

se arch .").

-1 2-