### INTHE UNI TED S TATESCOU RT OFAPPEALS FORTHE FIFTH CIRCU IT

N o. 08- 40403

UN I TE D S TA TE S OF AM ERI CA P l ai n t i f f - A pp el l ee

v. ARI EL M EN CH ACA

- CASTRU I TA D efen d a n t - A p p ell a n t

A pp ealf

rom t h e U n i t ed S t ates D i st ri ctC ou rt f or t h e Sou t h ern D i st ri ctof T exas

B ef ore R E AV L E Y , JO L L Y , an d W IE N E R , C i rcui tJu dg es. W IE N E R , C i rcui tJu dg e: D ef endant

- A ppel l antA r i elM enc haca- C as t r ui ta ( “M enc haca” ) w as convic t ed on one coun tof conspi racy t o possess w i t h i n t en tt o d i st ribu t e m ore than 100 ki l ogr am s of m ar ij uana and one c ount of pos se ss i on w i t h i nt en t t o di s t r ibut e t he sa m e . M e nc hac a no w appe al s hi s c o nvi c t i o n, c o nt e ndi ng t hatt he di st ri ctcou rtcom m i t t ed cl ear err or by den yi n g h i s m ot i on t o sup press evi den ce
r e c o ve r e d f

r o m hi s r e s i de nc e dur i ng a w ar r ant l e s s s e arch. Conv i nc e d t hatno exi gen tci rcum st an ces exi st ed to ju sti f y t h e of f i cers ’fai l u re t o obtai n a searc h
w arran t , w e v acate M en cha ca’ s con vi ct i on a n d rem an d f or f u rt h er proc eedi n gs. United States Court of App eals

Fifth Circuit 

### F I L E D October 29, 2009 Cha rl es R. F ulb ru g e II I ClerkN o. 08- 40403

2 I . F A CT S A ND P ROC E E DI NGS A. FACTS E arl y on a w eekd ay a ft ernoon i n A u gu st200 7, a M cA l l en , T exas poli ce of f i c erw a s d i sp a tched t o t he s c ene of a l andl or d- t enantdi sput e a ta s uburban
r e s i de nc e . W he n the of f i c e ra r r ive d a tt he s c e ne , he o bs e r ve d t w o w o m e n — O fel i a G ar c i a and herni ec e, San Juana San M i guel

— st andi ng i n t he dr ivew ay and cr yi ng. M r s. G ar c i a i ndi c at ed th a t she and herhusband, Tom as G ar c i a,
w ere t h e ow n ers o f a si n gle-fa m i l y re siden ce th a t t h eyh a dbe en ren ti n g to M en cha ca f

or al m ostt h ree m on t h s. M rs. G arci a f u rt h er exp l ai n ed t h at she, her hus b a n d , a n d M s . S a n M i g u e l h a d i n t e n d e d t o c h e c k o n t h e c o n d i t i o n o f t he
r e s i de nc e b e c aus e t he y had no the ar d f r o m M e nc hac a f

o rm o r e t han t w o m o nt hs andha d no tr e c e ive d a ny r e ntpa ym e nt s s i nc e hi s l e as e b e ga n. M r s. G ar c i a t ol d t he o f f i c ert hats he had k noc ked on t he f r ontdoo rs eve r al t i m es, bu t , w h en no on e an sw ered, h er h u sban d had gon e aroun d to t h e si de of t h e bu i l di n g, w h ere he saw M en cha ca throu gh a b edroom w i n dow an d m ot i on ed fo rh im to o p e n t h e f r o n t d o o r . W h e n M e n c h a c a o p e n e dth e d o o r , M r s . G a r c ia dem an ded t o see t h e cond iti on of t h e hou se. R el u ct an tt o l ether enter, M e n ch a ca i n st ead of fered t o payt h e overdu e rent i m m edi atel y i f she, her h u s ba nd, and he r ni e c e w o ul d l e av e w i t ho ut f i r s t i ns pe c t i ng t he ho m e . M rs. G arci a ref

u sed, an d sh e, her hu sban d, an d h er ni ece push ed thei r w ay i n si de. In t h e l ivi n g room , M rs. G arci a an d M s. S an M i gu el i m m edi atel y n ot i ced severall arge bu n dl es of m arij u an a h i dd en un der bl an kets . W h e n M en cha ca t r i ed t o e xpl ai n th a t th e bags of m ar ij uana w er e m er el y pac kages t hathe had i n t en ded t o m ai lt o vari ou s peopl e, M rs. G arci a w al ked ou t si de an d d i rect ed M s. S a n M i gu el t o ca l lthe p o li ce. A t ab ou t t h i s ti m e, M r. G a rcia l eft i n the car toN o. 08- 40403

3 f l ag d ow n a pol ice o ffi ce r w h om he h ad seen pa ssi n g on a nea rby st reet
. M r. G arci a even t u al l y f

ou n d an ot h er of

f i cer w h o w as on p a trolf or t h e M cA l l en S choolD i st ri ctP ol i ce. In t h e m ean t i m e, M en cha ca ha d f ol l ow ed the w om en outsi de an d gott en do w n o n hi s kne e s t o b e g t he m no tt o c al lt he pol i ce, e xp l ai ni ng t hathe ha d a
w i fe a nd fam i l y t hathe nee ded t o suppor t
. M r s. G ar c i a r ef use d, i nsi st i ng t hat
s he h a d t o n o t i f

yt he p o l i c e o f

M e nc ha c a ’ s m a r ij ua na . M e nc ha c a t he n b e c am e vi sibl y u pset an d beg an shou t i n g at t h e t w o w om en not t o cal lt h e pol i ce. W h en t h ey i n f orm ed h i m tha ttheyh ad a l readya l ert ed t h e p ol i ce, M en cha ca w en tback in s i d e th e h ou se, op en ed the ga ra ge do or, a n dstarted h i s tru ck

. A ccord i n g to M r s . G ar c i a, M e nc hac a t he n l e f tt he v e hi cl e w i t h a t i r e i r o n i n hi s ha nd, ap proach ed h er and M s. S an M i gu el , an d t ri ed t o h i t t h em w i t h t h at t ool

. M rs. G ar c i a andM s . Sa n M i gue ls af e l y f l e d t o a pa r ki ng l o ta c r o s s t he s t r e e t , a nd M en cha ca goti n t o hi s t ruck a n d d rove aw ay. Th e fi rstM cA l l en pol i ce of f i cer arrived at abou tt h at t i m e a n d w as j oi n ed sh ort l y t h ereaf t er by t h e sc h ool di st ri ctof

f i cer. A f t er s pea kin gw ith M rs. G arci a an d M s. Sa n M i gu el , t h e pol i ce of f i cer che c ke d t he f

r o nt do o r and no t i c e d t hat i t had be e n l e f t pa r t i al l y open . From
w he r e t he o f

f i cer st ood on t he do o r s t e p, he c o ul d s m e l lt he o do ro f m ar ij uana com i n g f

rom insi de t h e resi den ce bu tcou l d n otsee an y m arij u an a. T h e of f i cer t es t i f i ed t hathe hea r d n o sus pi c i ous noi se s, oranyt hi ng el se t o s ugges tt hat
a n yo n e m i gh t be ins i d e th e h ou se. A ft er a n n ou n cin g h i m self bycall i n g o u t,

“M cA l l en P ol i ce, a n ybod y h om e?” a n d n otreceivi n g an y response, t h e of f i cer
— w i t ho utf

i r s to bt ai ni ng a s e ar c h war r ant— pus he d o pe n t he f r o ntdo o ra nd
en t ered t h e res i den ce. O n ce i n si de, he d i scovered m ore t h an 700 pou n ds ofN o. 08- 40403

4 m ar ij uanas t as hed i n p l asti c b ag s i n t he l ivi ng r o o m a nd b e dr o o m a r e as . The of f i cer t h en n ot i f

i ed pol i ce h ead qu art ers an d r eported w h at he ha d f ou n d. W h en po l i c e of

f i c e r s l a t e rc h e c k e d t h e g a r a g e , t h e yf o u n da t i r e i r o n mat c h i n gt he des c r i pt i on given byM r s. G ar c i a. L atert h at af

t ern o on , M s. Sa n M i gu elcal l ed the M cA l l en P ol i ce D epa rt m en tt o reportt h at M en cha ca ha d contact ed h er and t h at he w ou l d soon be ret u rni n g t o t h e res i den ce t o col l ecthi s personal bel on gi n gs. P ol i ce arr est ed M en cha ca as he w as l eaving the res i den ce. B. P ROC E E DI NGS 1 . I ndi c t m e nt M en ch a ca w a s ch a rg ed b y i n d i ctm en t w i th ( 1 ) on e cou n t of con sp i ra cyto p o s s e s s w ith in t e n t t o d is tr ib u te m o r e th a n 1 0 0 k ilo g r a m s o f m a r iju a n a in vi o l at i o n o f

21 U

. S. C. §§ 841 ( a) ( 1) , (b) ( 1) ( B) , and 84 6 ( “ CountO ne ” ) ; a nd ( 2) o ne coun tof

possess i on w i t h i n t en tt o di st ribu t e m ore t h an 100 ki l ogram s of
m a riju a n a in v iola tion of 2 1 U .S .C

. § 8 4 1 (a )(1) a n d(b)(1 )(B ) (“C o u n t T w o "). 2. M o ti o n to S u p p ress M e n c h a c a file d a m o tio n to s u p p r e s s a ll ite m s fo u n din o rs e iz e dfr o m h is
r es i denc e on gr ounds t hat t he o f f i c er s’w ar r ant l es s se ar c h w as unco nst i t ut i onal und ert he Fourt h A m endm ent
. The di st r i c tc our thel d a s uppres si on hear i ng, atw hi c h t he g o ve r nm e ntc al l e d as w i t n esse s s e ve r alo f t he l aw enf

o r c e m e nt
o f f i c e r s w ho w e r e i nvo lve d i n t he s e ar c h a tt he r e s i de nc e , t he i nve s t i ga t i o n, a nd t h e subsequ en tarres t
. A tt h e hea ri n g, t h e M cA l l en pol i ce of f i cer w h o ha d f

i rst
ar r ive d o n t he s cene t e s t i f i e d a s t o hi s t ho ugh tpr o c e s s w he n he e nt e r e d t he h ou se w i th ou t f

i rst ob tain i n g a sea rch w a rra n t: Q : [Y] o u wer e i nf o r m e d t he r e w as pot en t i alo f m ar ij uanab e i ng i n the h ou se, i s th a t correct?N o. 08- 40403

5 A : Y es. Q : O ka y, a nd i n y o ur e xp e r i e nc e as a po l i c e o f f i c e rw hata r e t he t oo l s of t he t r ade o f

m ar ij uana deal i ng? A : G u n s and peop l e prot ect i n g t h ei r drugs. Q : A n d w ere you aw are, ha d an yon e i n f orm ed you of

w h et h er t h ere w ere anypeop l e i n si de the h ou se att h e t i m e? A : W e w ere not aw are. Q : A nd t hatw as one of t he r eas ons f

oryo ur c oncern , i s t hat corre ct? A : Y es. Q : As y o u s ai d e ar l i e r , f o ry o urs af

e t y andt h e safet y o f t he peop l e t h at w ere t h ere? A : Y es. Q : Bec aus e t he r e ’ s po t e nt i alf o rf i r e ar m s b e i ng i n t he r e a tt he t i m e? A : Y es. Q : N o w , t h e o t h e rc o n c e r n s th a ty o u a ls o h a d , y o u ju s td id n ’t k n ow w h ere an yb od y e l se w a s at th e ti m e, i s th a t correct? A : Y es. Q : Y ou w ere i n f

orm ed that M r. M en cha ca k n ew tha tthere w ere po l i c e o f

f i c e r s t hatw e r e r e s po ndi ng t o t hatl o c at i o n? A : Y es. Q : A n d b e c a u s e y o u h a ds o m e civ ilia n s th e r e , b o t h M s . G a r c ia an d M s. S a n M i gu elan d M r. G arci a, you w an t ed to protec t th em as w ell , i s th a t correct? A : Y es. Q : And yo u t o o k a l lt he s e fac t o r s i nt o c o ns i de r at i o n? A : Y es. Q : And as w e l la s t he a gg r av at e d a s s aul tt hatha d j us to c c ur r e d? A : Y es. Q : And t hatw as pa r to f t he b as i s as t o w h y yo u e nt e r e d t he h ou se? A : Y es, si r. Q : A n y ot h er bases w h y you entered t h e hou se? A : Myp r i o r i t yw a s mys a fe t ya n dt h e i rs a fe t y . T h a tw a s my m ai n c o nc e r n.N o. 08- 40403

6 O n cr oss- exam i n ati on , t h e of f i cer conceded t h at t h ere had not been
an ythi n g t o sugg esttha ta n yon e w as insi de the h ou se ort h at t h ere w as an y ri sk t hatt he e vi de nc e m i ghtb e l o s to rde s t r o ye d: Q : [Y] ou ’ d been t ol d that M r. M en cha ca ha d l ef tt h e res i den ce? A : Y es.

. . . Q : [M rs. G arci a an d M s. S an M i gu el] n ever t ol d you t h at they he ar d s o m e bo dye l s e r unni ng ar o und o rdo i ng any t hi ng i ns i de t h e hou se? A : N o. Q: Th ey ne v e rg a v e y o u a nyi nd i c a t i o n t ha ts o m e b o d ye l s e w as i n si de the h ou se? A : N o.

. . . Q : [T ]h e r e a r e a lo t o f ju d g e s in H id a lg o C o u n tyth a t a r e ca p a b le of i ssui n g search w arran t s? A : Y es.

. . . Q : O ka y. N o w w hi l e yo u w e r e t he r e yo u di dn ’ t hea r anybo dy ru n n i n g in side th e h ou se, ri gh t? A : N o. Q : Y ou did n ’ t he a r an yb od y fl u sh i n g th e toil et? A : N o. Q: You d i d n ’ ts e e a n yf i r e a r m s wh e n e v e ry o u l o o k e di n s i d e t he h ou se? A : N o. Q : A n d this i s n ot a re m ote a rea or a n yth i n g li k e th a t, i s i t? A : N o. Q : I t ’ s notouti n t he c ount r y, i t ’ s i n t he c i t y? A : Y es. Q : I t ’ s a r es i dent i alar ea? A : Y es. Q : It ’ s a subd ivi si on w i t h a l otof ot h er hom es? A : Y es.

. . .N o. 08- 40403

7 Q : And at t he t i m e t hat yo u m ad e e nt r y i nt o t he ho us e anda tt he t i m e t h at you deci ded t o sei ze t h e m arij u an a you ha d n ever se en anybo d y e l se i nsi de and yo u had no ev i denc e t hat som ebod y el se w as i n si de? A : N o. Q : O k a y, so tha t’ s corre ct, am I ri gh t? A : Y es. A tt he c onc l usi on o f

t he s uppres si on hear i ng, t he di st r i c tc our thel d t hat exi gentc i r c um s t anc e s ha d j us t i f i e d t he o f

f i c e r s ’w ar r ant l e s s s e ar c h of M en cha ca’ s r esi den ce. Th e courtexpl ai n ed i t s r eason i n g as f ol l ow s: [ T] hi s i s a s t as h house , a l ar ge am ou ntof m ar ij uana, ov er700 pou n ds. I w ou l d n otexpect an yb o d y to a n sw er t h e door w h en so m ebo dy c om es knocki ng w hen you have a hous e f ul lof m ar ij uana. T o m e th a t’s n o in d ic a tio n th a t t h e r e ’ s o n lyo n e p e r s o n th e r e . I m e a n if a n y th in gth a t’s co n s is te n t t h a t t h e r e m a yb e o th e rp e o p le th e r e w h e n n o b o d ya n s w e r e dth e d o o ru n til M r . M e n c h a c a fin a lly ca m e ou t. [ T h e of f i cer] t est i f

i ed that i n hi s experi en ce w i t h l arge am ou n ts of d r u g[s], a s h a d b ee n rep orted to h i m h ere , th a t typ i ca l l y t h a t is as so c i at ed w i t h w eapo ns a n d/orot herper so ns and w hen t hatw as r e po r t e d t o hi m he fe l ta ne e d f o rhi s s af

e t y an d t h e s af

e t y o f t he ot h er i n di vi du al s atthe scene that he n eeded t o sec u re t h e prem i ses i m m e di at e l y. And s o tha t ’ s w h athe di d. As he a ppr o ac he d, t he do o rw as a l r e ad y o pe n. Aga i n, t he Cour t has no i nf o r m at i o n o n who op en ed the do or a n d I m a k e n o fin d i n gs i n tha t rega rd

. I’ m l eft to spe c ul at e. I do c onc l ude i tw as nott he pol i c e o f f i c er , t hough, t hat o p e n e d t h e d o o r . He r e p o r t e dt h a ti tw a s o p e n w h e n h e a r r iv e d

. H e th en sm ell ed the m a rij u a n a an dthe rea ft er en tered the p rem i ses to s e c ur e i ta nd t o s e c ur e t he e vi de nc e . I t hi nk t ho s e a r e e xi ge nt , I f i nd t h ose are exi gen tci rcum st an ces. 3. Tri al Im m ed i a tel y foll ow i n g th e sup p ress i on h ea ri n g, b oth p a rti es stipu l a ted to th e fa c ts in tr o d u c e d th e r e in a n ds u b m itt e dth e ca s e to th e c o u r t a s a b e n c h tr ia l,N o. 08- 40403

United States v. Rico , 5 1 F .3 d 4 9 5 , 5 0 0( 5 thC ir

. 1 9 9 5). 1 8 w i th M en ch a ca rese rv i n g th e righ t t o a p p ea lthe de n i a lof h i s m oti on to sup press. Th e courtf ou n d M en cha ca gu i l t y on both coun t s. 4 . Se nt e nc i ng T h e probati on of

f i cer w h o com pi l ed M e n cha ca’ s Pre- S en t en ce R eport ( “ P S R ” ) cal cul ated M en cha ca’ s base of fen se l evelat 26. B ecau se t h e probati on of f i cer di d n otrec om m en d an y adj u st m en t s, M en cha ca’ s s u ggested t ot alof fen se l evelw as al so 26, w i t h a cr i m i n alhi st ory cat egory of I , in d ica ting a n adv i sory gu i d eli n es ra n ge of 6 3 to 78 m on th s’i m p ri son m en t. Ats e nt e nc i ng, t he di s t r i c tco ur tado pt e d t he fac t s and f i ndi ngs of

t he PSR b u t a w a r d e d M e n c h a c a a t w o -le v e l r e d u c tio n fo ra c c e p ta n c e o f r e s p o n s ib ility , a t w o- l evel “ safet y- valve” redu ct i on , an d a t w o- l evel redu ct i on f or bei n g a m i n or pa rt i ci pa n t , res u l t i n g i n a t ot alof fen se l evelof

2 0 andacor respond i n g gu i del i n es
r ange of 33 t o 41 m ont hs’ i m pri so nm ent
. Th e c our ts ent enc ed M enc haca t o 3 3
mo n t h s ’i mp r i s o n me n to n b o t h c o u n t s t o b e s e r v e dc o n c u r r e n t l y , f o l l o we db yt wo th ree -yea r term s of su p erv is e d r e lea se a l so to b e se rv ed con cu rren tl y. In ad di t i o n, t he c o urtreco m m e nde d t hatM e nc hac a’ s i ns t ants e nt e nc e r un concu rrently w i t h an y sentence resul t i n g f rom hi s aggrava t ed assau l tcha rg es (rel a ted to t h e a l l eg ed ti re iron i n ci d en t) pe n d i n g a t t h e ti m e in sta te cou rt. II. L AWA N D A N A L Y S IS A. S TA NDARD OF RE VI EW W h en w e revi ew a d i st ri ctcou rt ’ s d en i alof a m ot i on to supp ress , w e vi ew t h e fact s i n the l i gh tm ostfavorabl e to the preva i l i n g pa rt y, accept i n g t h e di st ri ct court’ s fact u alfi n di n gs un l ess cl earl y erroneou s and consi deri n g al lqu est i on s of la w d e n o v o . “A fa c tu a l fin d in gis n o t c le a r lye r r o n e o u s a s lo n ga s it is p la u s ib le 1N o. 08- 40403

Un ited States v. Jacq uino t , 2 5 8F .3 d 4 2 3 , 4 2 7( 5 thC ir

. 2 0 0 1 ). 2 Rico , 5 1 F .3 d at 5 0 4
. 3 United States v. Richard , 9 9 4F .2 d 2 4 4 , 2 4 7( 5 thC ir

. 1 9 9 3). 4 United States v. Rodea , 10 2F. 3 d 14 0 1 , 14 0 4(5thCir. 1 9 9 6) (intern al quot ationmark s 5 an d citationo mitt ed).

Id

. at14 05. 6 United States v. Blou nt , 1 2 3F .3 d 8 3 1 , 8 3 7( 5 thC ir

. 1 9 9 7) (e nb anc)

. 7 9 i n l i ghto f

t he r e c o r d a s a w ho l e . ” I n r e vi e w i ng t he di s t r i c tc o ur t ’ s de ni alo f t he 2
m ot ion , w e m ay con si der not onl y evi den ce i n t rodu ced du ri n g t h e sup pressi on h e a r in gb u t a ls o a n ya d d itio n a l e v id e n c e p r e s e n te dd u r in gth e tr ia l. 3 B. S UPPRE S S I ON OF E VI DENCE 1. A ppl i cabl e Law A l t hough pre sum pt ivel y un r e a s o n a b le , a n o ffic e r ’ s w a r r a n tle s s e n tr yw ill
s u r v iv e co n s tit u tio n a l s c r u tin yif, in tera lia , “exige n t ci rcu m stan ces e xist t o j us t i f y t he i nt r us i o n. ” The e xi ge nt

- c i r c um s t anc e s e xc e pt i o n a ppl i e s “ w he r e t he 4 soci et alc ost s of

obtai n i n g a w arran t , such a s dan ger t o l aw of f i cers or t h e ri sk
o f lo ss o r d est ructi on of evi den ce, outw ei gh t h e reasons f or pri or r ecourse t o a
n eu t ralm agis t rat e. ” Th e governm en tbears t h e bu rden of provi n g t h e exi st en ce 5 of exi gen tci rcum st an ces. 6 “B e c a u s e itis e s s e n tia llya fa c tu a l d e te r m in a tio n , t h e r e is n o s e t fo r m u la fo rd e te r m in in gw h e n e x ig e n t cir c u m s ta n c e s m a y ju s tify a w a r r a n tle s s e n tr y .” 7 A s a ge ner alr ul e, ex i gentc i r c um st ance s exi stw hen t her e i s a genui ne r i sk t hat of f i cers or i n n ocent byst an ders w i l lbe en da n gered, tha tsuspects w i l lesc ap e, or t hatev i denc e w i l lbe des t r oye d i f ent r y i s del a ye d u n ti la w ar r antc an beN o. 08- 40403

Id

. ; seeUnitedStates v. Mendoza -Burci aga , 9 8 1 F. 2d 192, 196 ( 5 thC ir

. 1 9 9 2), cert 8 den ied , 51 0 U .S. 93 7 (1 993) (explainingthat exi ge nt circu mstance s are pre sent in situation s in which“officers reason ably fear for their safety, where firearms arepre sent, or where there isaris k of acri min al su sp ect’ s e sc apin gor fe ar of des tructionof evidence”)

. United States v. Rico , 5 1 F .3 d 4 9 5 , 5 0 1 ( 5 thC ir

. 1 9 9 5). 9 Blou nt , 12 3 F .3d at 8 38. 10 Id

. 11 10 obt ai ned. I n ev a l u a t i ng w het herex i gentc i r c um st ance s ar e pr es ent , w e have

8 of t en ref erred t o t h e f

ol l ow i n g n on - exh au st ive l i stof fact ors: (1) th e d eg ree of u rg en cyi n vo lve dan d a m ou n t of ti m e n ece ssa ryto ob tain a w a rra n t; ( 2) t he r e as o nab l e b e l i e f t hatc o nt r ab andi s a bo utt o b e r e m o ve d; (3) th e p oss ib i l i ty of da n ge r to the po l i ce office r s g u a rd i n g th e sit e of con trab a n d w h i l e a sea rch w a rra n t i s sou gh t; ( 4) i n f orm ati on i n di cat i n g t h e possess ors of t h e contr aba n d are awar e t hatt he po l i c e a r e o n t he i rt r ai l ; a nd ( 5) t he r eady des t r uct ibi l i t y o f t he c ont r aband and th e know l edge th a t e ffo r ts to d is p o s e o f n a r c o tic s a n dto e s c a p e a r e ch a r a c te r is tic beh aviorof

persons eng aged i n t h e na rcot i cs t raf f i c. 9 “I n e v a lu a tin g e x ig e n c y , it m u s t b e b o r n e in m in d th a t [co u r t s ] s h o u ld consi der t h e app earan ce of t h e sc en e of

t h e searc h i n th e ci rcum st an ces pr esent e d a s i tw o ul d a ppe art o r e as o nab l e a nd p r ude ntm e n s t and i ng i n t he
s ho e s o f t he o f f i c e r s . ” “ O urpur po s e i s no tt o e xa m i ne e ac h a c ti n i s o l at i o n a nd

10 in q u ire w h e th e r th e office rs co u ldh a v e a cte dd if fer e n tly .” R a th e r, “[i]f

11

‘ reasona bl e m i n ds m ay d i f fer, ’[w e w i l l] not s econd gu ess t h e j u d g e m en tofN o. 08- 40403

Id

. (c itin g U

nited States v. Howard , 10 6 F .3d 7 0, 7 6 (5 th Cir. 1 997)) (emph asis in 12 origin al)

. Rico , 51 F .3d at 5 03.

13 11 expe ri en ced l aw enf or c em entof

f i c er s c onc er ni ng t he r i sks of a par t i c ul ar
s i t uat i o n. ” As w e pr e vi o us l y e xp l ai ne d i n Un i t ed S t ate s v. R i co :

12 [ I ] f w e c o nc l ude t hatt he o f f i c e r ’ s b e l i e fs [t hats us pe c t s w e r e a bo ut t o dep artw i t h evi den ce] w ere re a so n a b le , based on hi s experi en ce, kn ow led ge, an d observati on s att h e t i m e, t h en ci rcum st an ces e xi s t e d t hatj u st i f

i e d o re ve n r e qui r e d i m m e di at e a c t i o n. On t he o th e rh a n d , if w e co n c lu d e th a t [t h e o ffic e r ] w a s u n r e a s o n a b le in b eli ev i n g, ba sed on tho se sa m e circu m stan ces, t h a t t h e su sp ects w er e pr epar i ng t o de par tw i t h co nt r aban d , t hen t her e w oul d have b e e n n o re a s o n a b le ju s tific a tio n o r n e e d fo r th e a g e n ts [to e n g a g e in a w a rr a n tles s s e a rc h ]. 13 2 . A n a ly s is The go vernm entc o nt e nds t hate xi ge ntc i r c um s t anc e s w e r e pr e s e nt b e c a u s e (1 ) th e o ffic e r w a s a w a r e th a t a n a s s a u lt h a do c c u r r e ds h o r tlyb e fo r e h is
ar r iva lo n t he s c e ne ; ( 2) he had r e as o n t o be l i e ve t hat t he r e w as m ar ij uanai ns i de t he r e s i de nc e ; ( 3) he w as uns ur e w he t he ra ddi t i o nalpe r s o ns w e r e pr e s e nti ns i de t he r e s i de nc e ; ( 4) he kne w f r o m e xp e r i en c e t hatpe r s o ns w ho e nga ge i n dr ug t r af f i c ki ng of

t en c ar r y f

i r ear m s; an d ( 5) h e w as c onc er ned f orhi s ow n saf

et y as
w e l la s t he s af

e t y o f t he by s t and e r s . The go ve r nm e nt do e s no t c o nt e nd t hatt he
o f f i c e r ’ s w ar r ant l e s s e nt r y w as e ve n pa r t i al l y m o t iva t e d b y c o nc e r n f o ra ny possibl e dest ructi on of ev i den ce. A ccor di n g t o t h e governm en t , t h e of f i cer act ed
r e a s o n a b lyu n d e r t h e c ir c u m s t a n c e s w h e n h e e n t e r e da n ds e a r c h e dM e n c h a c a ’s resid en ce w i th ou t w a i ti n g to ob tain a se a rch w a rra n t.N o. 08- 40403

4 1 0F .3 d 1 5 4 , 1 5 9( 5 thC ir

. 2 0 0 5). 14 Id

. at15 7-58 15 12 In response, M en cha ca con t en ds t h at there w ere no exi gen tci rcum st an ces com p ell i n g th e of

fi cer t o sear ch h i s reside n ce w i th ou t f i rst secu ri n g a w a rra n t. Specif i c al l y, M enc haca not es th a t( 1) ev en i f t he al l ege d t i r e- i r on as sa ul thad t ak en pl ace, t h e of

f i cer kn ew t h at t h e w eap on w as not a f i rearm , t h e assaultt ook p l a ce out si de t he r es i denc e, and M enc haca, t he o nl y s uspec t , w as no l ongerat t h e sc en e, m u ch l ess i n t h e h ou se; ( 2) no on e ha d been i nj u red; ( 3) t h e sc en e of t he c r i m e wa s s e c u r e , a s t h e r e we r e s e v e r a l p o l i c e o f f i c e r s s u r r o u n d i n gt he suburban r es i denc e i n br oad day l i ghton a w ee kday af t er noon, i n an ar ea t hat
w as n o t k n o w n f

or a hi gh i n ci den ce of cr i m e; ( 4) t h ere w as nothing to sug gest t hat any o ne w as i ns i de t he r e s i de nc e ; ( 5) t he r e w as no t hi ng t o s ugg e s tt hatt he
e vi de nc e w as at r i s k o f de s t r uc t i o n; and ( 6) t he o f f i c e r c o ul d hav e qui c kl y and
e as i l y o bt ai ne d a w arran t , a s t he i nc i de ntt o o k p l ac e i n am uni c i pa l i t y o n a
w e e k d a ya fte r n o o n . M e n c h a c a th u s co n te n d s th a t t h e o ffic e r s ’fa ilu r e to o b ta in
a w ar r antr equi r es t hatt he e vi denc e ob tained f r om t he unl aw f

uls ear c h be
s u p p r e s s e d

. I n s upp o r t o f i t s ar gum e nt , t he go ve r nm e ntr e l i e s o n Un i t e dSt a t e s v . De Jesus- B atr es , i n w hi c h t he c our t f ound t hatex i gentc i r c um st ance s j ust i f i ed an of f i cer’ s w arran t l ess search of a res i den ce used t o d et ai n il l egal i m m i gran t s f or
r a n s o m . I n D e Jesus- B atr es , as m a ll g r o u p o f p e o p le h a da g r e e dto s m u g g le

14 i l l e ga li m m i gr ant s a c r o s s t he b o r de rfo r$12 00 perper s o n. But , a f t e rc o l l e c t i ng 15 t he i ni t i al $ 120 0 fe e s a nd b r i ngi ng t he i m m i gr ant s a c r o s s t he b o r de r , t he
sm uggl er s t hen hel d t he i m m i gr ant s c apt ive and dem anded an addi t i onal$300N o. 08- 40403

Id

. at15 8. 16 Id

. 17 Id

. 18 Id

. 19 Id

. 20 Id

. 21 Id

. 22 13 f rom each of

t h e im m i gran t s’fam i l i es i n excha n ge f or t h e i m m i gran t s’rel ease. 16 O ne o f t he i m m i gr ant s m anaged t o es c ape f r om t he hous e a nd ran t o anearby fir e s ta tio n , w h e r e h e a le r te d tw o p o lic e o ffic e r s th a t o th e rim m ig r a n ts w e r e s till bei n g h el d cap t ive i n t h e hou se. Th e of f i cers m ett h e ow n er of t h e hou se 17
s t and i ng o ut s i de t he r e s i de nc e, a n d she ag r e e d t o l e tt he m s e ar c h i ns i de b ut cl ai m ed to h ave l osther key

. A f t er f orci n g open t h e door, the of f i cers 18 di scovered t h ree i m m i gran t s boun d toget h er on t h e ki t chen f l oor. T h ese 19 i m m i gr ant s t ol d t he o f f i c er s t hatt hey w er e u n su re w het hert her e m i ghtbe ad di t i on alcaptives hel d el sew h ere i n t h e ho u se . A pp roxi m atel y 45 m i n u t es 20 l at e r , o n e of the o f

f i c e r s — w i t ho utf

i r s to bt ai ni ng a w ar r ant— c o nduc t e d a pr o t e c t ive s w e e p o f

a det ac he d ga r ag e uni tl o c at e d ab o ut20 t o 30 fe e tf r o m t he h o u se . W h il e se a rc h in gth e u n it, th e office r d isco v e re da g u n inth e b e dof a

21 pi c kup t r uc k. 22 In af f i rm i n g t h e di st ri ctcourt ’ s r u l i n g t h at exi gen tci rcum st an ces j u st i f i ed t he o f f i c e r ’ s w ar r ant l e s s s e ar c h o f t he g ar ag e , t he c o ur ti n D e Jesus- B atr es c o nc e nt r at e d i t s an al ys i s o n ( 1) t he o f f i c e r s ’dut y t o e ns ur e t he s af e t y o f a ny o t he ri m m i gr ant s w ho m i ghtha ve b e e n de t ai ne d e l s e w he r e i n t he r e s i de nc e , a ndN o. 08- 40403

Id

. at15 9. 23 Id

. 24 14 ( 2) t he o f

f i c e r s’unc e r t ai nt y as t o t he s c o pe o f t he r ans o m o pe r at i o n o rt he
n u m b e ro f a c c o m p lic e s in v o lv e d

. A s th e co u r t e x p la in e d , 23 W he n t he o f

f i c e r s a r r ive d att he ho us e , t he y w e r e t o l d b y t he [ i m m i gran t s] th e y r el eased that t h ey w ere not sure i f an yon e el se w as aroun d. A f

t er r el easi n g t h e t h ree r em ai n i n g [i m m i gran t s] f rom t h e hou se and searc h i n g t h e hou se and att i c, [one of f i cer] searc h ed t h e garage becau se he di d n otkn ow i f add i t i on al[im m igrants] or su sp e cts w ere hi di n g t h ere. Th e [i m m i gran t s] coul d h ave been i nj ur e d o rs i c k a nd any ad di t i o nals us pe c t s c o ul d ha ve po s e d a safet y ri sk to t h e of

f i cers . 24 The go ve r nm e nt ’ s r e l i anc e o n D e Jesus- B atr es i s no tpe r s uas ive , t ho ugh , as t hatc as e i s c l e ar l y di s t i ngu i s hab l e f r o m t he i ns t antc as e . I n D e Jesus- B atr es , th e o ffic e r s , a fte rca tc h in gth e s m u g g le r s b ys u r p r is e in th e m id s t o f th e ir
r anso m ope r at i ons , w er e r easo n abl y c onc er ned notonl y abo utaddi t i onal
ac c o m pl i c e s , b utal s o abo utot he rca pt ive s w ho m i ghtbe i n dang e r . I nde e d, t he f r ee d i m m i gr ant s had spe c i f i c al l y t ol d t he of

f i c er s t hat t her e m i ghtbe addi t i onal i m m i gr ant s b e i ng he l d c ap t ive e l s e w he r e i n t he ho us e . By c o nt r as t , i n t he i n st an t ca s e , ne i t he rM r s . G ar c i a no rM s . Sa n M i gue le ve rs ugg e s t e d t o t he off i cers tha t t h ere m i gh t b e ad d i ti on a l a ccom p l i ces i n M en ch a ca ’ s reside n ce. If
a n y th in g , t h e c ir c u m s ta n c e s s u g g e s te dju s t t h e o p p o s ite , viz. , th a t n o o n e w a s in t he r e s i de nc e a nd t hatt he r e w as no r i s k t hat t he e vi de nc e m i ghtb e de s t r o ye d: ( 1) W he n M e nc hac a f l e d i n hi s t r uc k, he kne w t hatM r s . G ar c i a hadc al l e d t he p o lic e , so h e co u ld h a v e , a n d a lm o s t c e r ta in lyw o u ldh a v e , a le r te da n yo f h is
accom pl i ces t o f

l ee w i t h hi m ; ( 2) t h e of f i cers kn ew t h at M r. G arci a ha d p eered i n t o t h e si de w i n dow s of t h e h ou se an d had seen onl y M en cha ca t h ere; ( 3) M rs.N o. 08- 40403

1 2 3F .3 d 8 3 1 , 8 3 2 -3 3( 5 thC ir

. 1 9 9 7) (e nb anc)

. 25 Id

. at83 2. 26 Id

. 27 Id

. 28 Id

. 29 Id

. at83 3. 30 15 G arci a n ever m en t i on ed an acc om pl i ce, an d t h e t est i m on y a t th e sup pressi on hear i ng atl eas ts ugges t ed t hatM s. San M i guelm i ghthave t ol d t he o f f i c er s t hat t h ere w ere no accom pl i ces in side the h ou se; ( 4) t h e f ront door t o t h e res i den ce h ad been l ef

topen , i n di cat i n g a h asty r et reata s w el las an u n secured prem i ses, i nc o ns i s t e ntw i t h t he pr o ba bi l i t y o f addi t i o naloc c upa nt s ; and ( 5) t he r e w e r e no so und s c om i ng f

r om i nsi de t he r es i denc e t o sugge st t hat so m eon e m i gh t have
r e m ai ne d b e hi nd. The go ve r nm e nt ’ s r e fe r e nc e s t o o ure n b ancde c i s i o n i n Uni t e d S t at e s v. Bl o unt ar e s i m i l ar l y unpe r s uas ive . I n Bl o unt , w e a ff ir m e dth e d is t r ic tc o u r t ’s 25 rul i n g t h at exi gen tci rcum st an ces h ad j us t if i e d aw arr antl ess search i n t h e m i dst
o f t he pur s ui to f

a n a r m e d f

ugi t ive . I nve s t i ga t i ng a vi o l e ntdr ug- t r af f i c ki ng 26
r i ng, t he o f

f i c e r s i n Bl o untha d e xe c ut e d as e ar c h war r anta to ne r e s i de nc e a nd f ou n d drugs an d a f

i rearm , bu t h ad na rrow l y m i ssed t h ei r pri m e suspect. A f t er 27
r e c e ivi ng a t i p f

r o m a l o c alr e s i de ntt hatt he s us pe c tha d f l ed t o a ne i ghb o r i ng ho m e , o f

f i c e r s k no c ke d o n t he do o ro f t hatho m e a nd i m m e di at e l y he ar d t he
s o und o f

pe o pl e i ns i de m o vi ng ar o und qui c kl y. The o f f i c e r s c o nt i nue d t o kno c k, 28 andt hr e e m e n e ve nt ual l y c am e t o t he do o r . The o f f i c e r s de t ai ne d t he m e n, b ut 29 t h e f u gi t ive, w h o w as kn ow n t o be arm ed, w as not am on g t h em . W i t h ou tf i rst 30N o. 08- 40403

Id

. at83 4. 31 Id

. 32 Id

. 33 Id

. at83 8. 34 Id

. 35 16 securi n g a w arran tor obtai n i n g consen tf rom t h e res i den t s, t h e of f i cers entered t he ho m e t hr o ugh t he f r o ntdo o ra nd “ m ad e a pr o t e ct i ve s w e e p t o de t e r m i ne
w he t he r[t he f

ugi t ive ] o ra nyo ne e l s e w as hi di ng [i ns i de ]

. ” Al t ho ugh t he 31
o ffic e r s d id n o t fin d th e fu g itiv e , th e y d id o b s e r v e a q u a n tit y o f c o c a in e in p la in vi ew . Pri or t o tri al , t h e defen da n t s f i l ed a m ot i on t o sup press t h e coc ai n e, 32
w h i ch the di st ri ctcourtden i ed ba sed on a f i n di n g of

exi gen tci rcum st an ces. 33 I n a f f i r m i n gt h e d i s t r i c tc o u r t ’ s d e n i a lo f t h e mo t i o n t o s u p p r e s s , t he Bl ou ntcourtf

ocused i t s ana l ysi s pri m ari l y on t h e dan ger posed byt h e arm ed f ugi t ive and t he vol at i l e nat ure of t he o f f i c er s’i nves t i gat i on i nt o avi ol entdr ugtr a ffic k in g r in g in a h ig h -c r im e n e ig h b o r h o o d

. A s th e co u r t e x p la in e d , “[t] h is 34 fas t

- m ovi ng and unp r edi c t abl e s c ene i n a tou gh nei ghbor hood i nfec t ed bya
v io le n t d r u g -tr a ff

i c k in gg a n gw a s s im p lyn o t a ca s e w h e r e th e o ffic e r s co u ld safel y set u p s u rvei l l an ce w h i l e t h ey aw ai t ed a search w arran t
. ” Th e court 35 t h en described t h e fact ors i tf ou n d m ostpersua sive: Fi r s t , t he o f

f i c e r s w e r e c o nt i nui ng an i m m e di at e s e ar c h f o ra f l e e i ng fel on w h o h ad al ready escaped on ce f rom a l arge group o f officers. The o f f i c e r s h a d c o n f

i r m e d t h a t [ t h e f

u g i t iv e ] wa s e n g a g e di n t he sa l e o f c r ac k c oc ai ne, and he w as a su sp ect i n an ar m ed s exual as sa ul t
. The of

f i c er s r eas onabl y be l i eve d t ha t [t he f ugi t ive] w as a rm ed an d da n ge rou s, an dw ou l da tt e m p t to ev a d e ca p tu re. It w ou l d h ave been vi rt u al l y i m possibl e t o c o v er tlys e c ur e [t he re sid e n ce ] ag a in st [th e fu g itiv e s].N o. 08- 40403

Id

. at 838-39(emphasis in original). Chief Judge Politz dissente d from the hol ding 36 and note d th at the officers, who ha d surroun ded the residence prior to conductin g the search , had no reli able informationsugge sting th at anyonemight stillbe inside or thatany evidence mi ght b e at ri sk of

los s or de struction . Id

. at 8 4 0

- 4 3 (Polit z , C

. J

. , di s s e ntin g)

. Accordingto C hief Ju dge Politz, “ [t]he of ficerswereinap os itionto callinreinforc em entsan d se eka warra nt while k eep ing the hous e unders u rv eilla nce, a mark edly safe r and, incid entally, constitutional courseof action whichwoul d h ave obviate d the need to bra zenly confront the unknown in [the reside nce].” Id

. at84 2. 17 M o r e o ve r , [t he f

u gi t ive ] w as no tt he o f f i c e r s ’s o l e c o nc e r n. The of f i cer s r e a so n a b ly b e li e v e dth a t [th e re sid e n ce w a s] b e in gem pl oyed by a viol en tcr i m i n al st reet gan g i n i t s c ocai n e t raf f i cki n g operati on

... .

. . . [ Th e of

f i c er s] w er e l oo ki ng f

or[ t he f ugi t ive] w ho m i ghtw el lhave b e e n in th e h o u s e . T h e yh a db e e n t o ldb ya n e ig h b o rt h a t it w a s h is r es i denc e, and t hatats om e po i nthe w oul d l and t he re. T hey had been t ol d byt h at nei gh bor t h at drugs w ere s ol d there. Th ey kn ew t hat [ t he f

ugi t ive] so l d drugs

. Th ey had r eas on t o b eli ev e t hat m em b ers o f a viol en t ga n g w ere a l so i n vo lve d

. T h ey h a d rea son to be l i e ve t hat[t he r e s i de nc e ] w as t he ‘ s t as h h ou s e ’f o rt he dr ug op era ti on the y h a d e a r li er u n cov ere d

. T h e fact tha t t h e res i d en ts r e f us e d t o c o m e t o t he doo rort o co m m uni c at e w i t h t he o f f i c e r s b ut w ere heard m ovi n g arou n d w i t h i n t h e hou se ad ded t o an i n t en se a n d v ol at i l e s i t uat i on and — i m por t ant l y — t o t he l i kel i hood t hat s ig n ific a n t e v id e n c e w a s b e in gd e s tr o y e d

... . T h e si t u ati on a l so rem ai n ed potenti al l y exp l osive f rom t h e of

f i cers ’ reasona bl e poi n tof

vi ew . N otonl y are f i rearm s ‘t ool s of

t h e t rade’ i n il l e ga ldr ug t r af

f i c ki ng, b utt he f

ugi t ive m e m be ro f

t he dr ug c o ns pi r ac y hadpr e vi o us l y be e n ob serv e d wi t h a ha ndg un, a nd a f i rearm ha d been f

ou n d i n t h e rai d on t h e f i rsthou se. 36 H ere, t h ere does not ap pea r t o be an y si m i l ar exi gen cy. U n l i ke the of f i cers i n Bl o unt , t h e pol i ce of f i cers i n t h e i n st an tcase ( 1) w ere n otpu rsui n g a f u gi t ive,
m uch l es s o ne kn o wn t o b e a r m e d ; ( 2 ) wer e no t i nv e s t i g a t i ng a v i o l e ntdr ugt raf f i cki n g ri n g; ( 3) ha d n othea rd or s een an ythi n g t o s u g g estt h at M en cha caN o. 08- 40403

Id

. at 8 4 8(ma

j orityopinion). 37 Un ited

States v. Rico , 51 F.3d495 , 501 (5th Cir. 1995) . At the sup pr es sio n hearing, 38 the officer co ncede d th at therew ere several j udges in Hidalgo Countycapable of issuing the warrant. 18 w as c ar r yi ng a f

i r ear m ( i ndeed, the c i r c um st ance s sugge st ed o t her w i se ) ; and ( 4) h a d n o th e a r do rs e e n a n y t h in gto s u g g e s tth a ta n y o n e w a s in s id e M e n c h a c a ’s resi den ce ort h at t h e evi den ce m i gh t be at ri sk of l oss or dest ructi on . Fu rt h er, t h e o ff ic e r ’s te s t im o n yd u r in gth e su p p re ss ion h e a rin gin d ic a t e s th a tM e n c h a c a ’s resi den ce, unl i ke t he r e s i de nc e i n Bl o unt , w a s n o t loc a te dinth e m id d le o f a

“ t ough nei ghbor hood i nfec t ed by a vi ol entdrug tr af f i c ki ng gang, ” butr at herw as ap pa rentl y si t u ated in t h e m i dst of a q u i etresi den t i aln ei gh borh ood “w i t h a l ot
o f o th e rh o m e s .” 37 Se ve ralfac t o r s l e nd a ddi t i o nals upp o r tt o o urc o nc l us i o n t hate xi ge nt
c i r c u ms t a n c e s w e r e n o tp r e s e n th e r e . F o re x a mp l e , “ t h e a mo u n t o f t i me ne c e s s ar y t o o bt ai n a w ar r ant” l i ke l y w o ul d ha ve b e e n m i ni m al , a s t he i nc i de nt t ook p l ace earl y on a w eekd ay aft ernoon — as opposed t o l ate i n t h e even i n g or on a w eeken d w h en off i cers m i gh tn oth ave h ad read y access t o a m agis t rat e. 38 And, de s pi t e t he o f

f i c e r ’ s t e s t i m o ny t hathe w as c o nc e r ned fo rhi s a nd t he bystand ers’safet y, t h e governm en tfai l ed t o p resent an y evi den ce that the poli ce eve rs ear c hed t he r es i denc e i n a m anner c ons i st entw i t h a pr ot ec t ive sw ee p ( as o p p o s e d to m e r e l y l o o k i n gfo rth e co n tr a b a n dth e yk n e w w a s p r e s e n t), e . g. , by l ooking exp edi t i ou sl y, w i t h gu n s draw n , i n cl oset s, bathroom s, an d other spaces
w her e a c c om pl i c es m i ghtbe hi di ng. W e th u s a r e left w ith a n office r w h o a rr ive don th e sc e n e of a l and l o r d/t e nanta l t e r c at i o n a f t er t he s us pe c t e d a s s aul t e rha d a l r e ad y f l e d a nd had re as on t o b el i eve , based on the ass aul tvi c t i m s’repo r t s, thatther e m i ghtbeN o. 08- 40403

United States v. Watson , 273 F.3d59 9 , 6 0 3( 5 thC ir

. 2 0 0 1 ); see Un ited Statesv . 39 Howard , 10 6 F .3d 7 0, 7 4 (5 th Cir . 1997) (“[T]he presence of drugs alo ne does not giveri se to exigent circu mst ance s j u stif yingawarr antles s entryan d se arch .”). 3 6 0F .3 d 1 2 3 5( 1 0 thC ir

. 2 0 0 4). 40 Id

. at12 38. 41 Id

. 42 Id

. 43 Id

. 44 19 se ver all ar ge bundl es of m a rij u ana j usti nsi de t he aj arf r ontdoo rof

an ap pa rentl y em pty resi den ce. B u t , as w e h ave p revi ou sl y exp l ai n ed, “ [ t ] h e m ere p r e s e n c e o f ille g a l d r u g s a n d w e a p o n s d o e s n o t ju s tifya p r o te c tiv e s w e e p .” 39 Un i t ed S t ate s v. Cart er , a ca s e f r o m t he T e nt h C i r c ui t , i s i ns t r uc t ive . The Cart erc o ur the l d t hatt he di s t r i c tc o ur tha d c l e arl y erred i n f i ndi ng e xi ge nt ci rcum st an ces w h en t h e onl y susp ect s i n a d rug i n vest i gati on ha d alr ead y been arrest ed an d there w as no evidence th at anyon e el se w as i n si de the sub j ect
r e s i de nc e . The po l i c e i n Cart erhad be e n fo l l o w i ng up o n a t i p of dr ug us e a nd 40 st ol en property w h en t h ey ap proach ed t h e su spect ’ s h om e, i n t en di n g t o “ kn ock andt al k” w i t h a nyo ne w ho a ns w e r e d t he do o r . As t he o f f i c e r s a ppr o ac he d t he 41 resi den ce, how ever, t h e defen da n t , surveyi n g t h e drivew ay f rom a vi deo syst em i n stall ed i n a re m ote g a ra ge u n i t, m i stook th e off i cers f or th i ev es a ttem p ti n g to
s t e a lh i s c a r , a n d b o t h h e a n dh i s f r i e n dr u s h e do u t s i d e t o c o n f r o n tt h e m. 42 W h en t h e of

f i cers i den t i f

i ed them selves, t h e defen da n t d ro p p ed a sm al lbag of
m arij u an a f

rom hi s pock et on t o t h e groun d. Th e of f i cers i m m edi atel y ret ri eved 43 th e m a r iju a n a a n d d e ta in e d b o th th e d e fe n d a n t a n dh i s f r ie n d

. S h o r tly

44 th ere a ft er, th e d efen d a n t’ s m oth er a n dh er b oy fri en dcam e ou t of the h ou se toN o. 08- 40403

Id

. 45 Id

. 46 Id

. 47 Id

. 48 Id

. 49 Id

. 50 Id

. at 1 2 4 1 (em ph a si s a dded). 51 20 se e w hat w as happeni ng. A l t hough t her e w as no e vi denc e t hatanyone el se w as 45 i n t h e hou se ort h e garage, t h e of f i cers proceeded to cond u cta p rot ect ive sw eep of t h e property w i t h ou tf i rstobtai n i n g a search w arran t
. D u ri n g t h ei r s w eep 46 of t h e garage, t h e of

f i cers di scovered a sho tgu n barrelan d a sm al lbag of
m e t h a m p h e t a m in e . P r io rto tr ia l, t h e d is t r ic tc o u r td e n ie dth e d e fe n d a n t ’s 47
m ot i on t o sup press t h e evi den ce. 48 I n ho l di ng t hatt he di s t r i c tc o ur tha d c l e ar l y e r r e d by f i ndi ng t hate xi ge nt ci rcum st an ces j u st i f

i ed t h e w arran t l ess search, t h e T en t h C i rcui tackn ow l edg ed th a t “ [o] ff

i cers w i th i n the h om e of an arre stee m a y b e p a rti cu l a rl y vu l n era b l e to
a da nge r o us c o nfe de r at e o uto f s i ghtw i t hi n the ho m e . ” As t he c o ur tno t e d, 49 ho w e ver , “[ t ] he r i s k i s s ubs t ant i al l y di m i ni s he d when t he o f f i c e r s e f fe c tt he
ar r e s to ut s i de t he ho m e . ” As t he c o ur te xp l ai ne d: 50 Th er e w as s i m p l y no evi denc e t hatdes t r uct i on o f ev i denc e w as l ik e ly

. In d e e d , t hego v e r nm e ntpo i nt s t o no r e as o n t o b e l i e v et hat ot h er peoplew erei n t h e garage, or even t h e hou se . Al li ndi c at i o ns w e r e t o t he c o nt r ar y. Def e nda nta nd h i s f

r i e nd c har ge d o utof t he ga r ag e . Def

e nda nt ’ s m o t he ra nd h e rb o yf ri en d c am e o uto f

t he ho us e s ho r t l y t he r e af t e r . W ho w as l e f

tt o t am pe r w i t h t he evi den ce? 51N o. 08- 40403

21 Li ke t he de fe nda nt s i n Ca rt er , w h o ha d i n i t i al l y ap proach ed the of f i cers i n a “com b a tive m a n n er,” M en ch a ca m i gh t ha ve po sed a th rea t w h en , pr i or to th e o ffic e r s ’a r r iv a l, h e a tt e m p te dto a s s a u lt M r s . G a r c ia a n dM s . S a n M ig u e l in t he dr ive w ayo f

t he r e s i de nc e . But , a s i n Cart er , an y potenti alt h reatt o of f i cers or byst an ders — or t o t h e i n t egri t y of t h e evi den ce
— ha d eva porated w el lbef ore t he o f f i c e r s ’a r r iva l , e ve n l o nge rb e f o r e theirw ar r ant l e s s s e ar c h. W he n t he p o lic e in th e in s ta n t c a s e a r r iv e do n t h e s c e n e , th e b y s ta n d e r s w e r e s ta n d in gin t he dr ive w ay , uni nj ur e d, a nd M e nc hac a hadl o ng si n ce f l e d. And, l i ke t he
o f f i c e rs i n Cart er , t he o f f i c e r s i n t he i ns t antc as e w e r e s af e l y o ut s i de o f

t he
s ubj e c tr e s i denc e a nd a l lb ys t and e r s e ve n f ur t he rr e m o ve d. I f

a nyt hi ng, t he of f i cers i n creased t h e p ot en t i ald an ger t o t h em selves an d the bystand ers w h en t h ey proceeded t o enter t h e res i den ce. I n sum , t he M cA l l en pol i c e o f f i c erhad no ar t i c ul abl e r eas on t o b el i eve t hat
som eon e el se m i gh tbe insi de M en cha ca’ s resi den ce p osi n g a t h reatto the of f i cer o rth e b y s ta n d e r s , o rth a t a n ye v id e n c e w a s a t r is k o f d e s tr u c tio n o rre m o v a l. The go ve r nm e ntw o ul d ha ve us a f f i r m t he di s t r i c tc o ur t ’ s f i ndi ng o f

e xi ge nt
c i r c um st ance s bec ause ( 1) t he of f i c erreas onabl y be l i eve d t hatt her e w er e dr ugs i n t he hom e; ( 2) t her e w as atl eas ta po ssib i l i t y t hats om eo ne e l se m i ghtbe in sid e ; a n d ( 3) f

i rearm s are of

t en t h e “t ool s of

t h e t rade” f

or drug tr af

f i ckers. B u t , i n asm u ch as t h ese c i rcum st an ces w i l lbe present i n vi rt u al l y every case i nvo lvi ng a r e s i de nc e s us pe c t e d o f c o nt ai ni ng dr ugs , i tb e ar s e m pha s i s t hatt he exi gent

- c i r c um st ance s exc ept i on i s j ustt hat

— an exc ept i on. Th er e w i l lal w ays be som e p o ss ib ili ty t hat an unkno w n pe r s o n m i ght be hi di ng s o m e w he r e i ns i de
a reside n ce, w a i ti n g for a n op p ortu n i ty to a ttack l a w en forcem en t of fi cers or to destr oy evi den ce. Af i n di n g of

exi gen tci rcum st an ces, how ever, m u stbe basedN o. 08- 40403

22 on m ore t h an a m ere possibi l i t y; itm u stb e b ased on an of f i cer’ s r eason able bel i ef t h at t h e del ay n ecess ary t o obtai n a w arran tw i l lfaci l i t ate t h e dest ructi on or rem o v a l o f ev i d en ce orpu t of fi cers or b ys tan d ers in da n ge r. H ere , the totali ty of t h e ci rcum st a n ce s fa l l s w el lshortof an y reasona bl e f

ou n da t i on f

or s u ch
s pe c ul at i o n. I I I . C ONC L US I ON W e hol d that t h e di st ri ctcourtcl earl y erred by f i n di n g t h at t h ere w ere exi gen tcir c um s t anc e s j us t if yi ng t he w arr antl e s s s e ar c h o f M e n cha ca’ s r esi den ce. W e t h eref

ore VA C A T E M en cha ca’ s c on vi ct i on an d R E M A N D f or f u rt h er pr o c e e di ngs c o ns i s t e ntw i t h t hi s o pi ni o n.