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 ls .us /r ule s /

June 10, 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 62 0 . THE STATE v . LUCAS.

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

Th e St at e ap p eal s t h e t ri al co urt ’ s g ran t o f a m o t io n t o s u p p res s ev i d en ce s ei zed

i n a s earch i n ci d en t t o arres t . Fo r t h e reas o ns s t at ed b el o w, we rev ers e.

Th e reco rd sh o ws t h at o ffi cers st o p p ed Dat av i o u s Dem o n Lu cas fo r sp eed i n g,

l earn ed t h at L u cas h ad an o u ts t an d i n g warran t fo r h i s a r r e s t

, a r res t ed L ucas

, an d

d i s co v ered co n t rab an d d u ri n g t h e s earch i n ci d en t t o arres t

. Lu cas w as ch arg ed wi th

p o s s es s i o n o f a co n t ro l l ed s u b s t an ce (Al p razo l am ), p o ss es s i o n of les s th an an o u nce

o f m ari ju an a, an d s p eed in g

. Lu cas m o v ed t o s u p p res s t h e e v id en ce o b t ai n ed i n t h e

s earch

, t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e m o t i o n

, an d t h e St at e ap peal s t h at deci s i on

. In t h e

t ri al co u rt

, Lu cas d i d n o t ch al l en g e t h e v al i d i t y o f t h e s t o p o r th at a s earch i sau t h o ri zed i n ci d en t t o an arres t

. 1 Rat h er, h e arg u ed t h at h i s arres t w as i l l eg al b ecau s e

i t was b as ed o n an in val i d arres t warran t

, wh ich was al l eg ed ly is s ued fo r h is p at ern al

t wi n b ro t h er D at rav i o u s Deo n Lu cas

, an d t hat t h e St at e n ev er p ro d u ced an y warran t

fo r t h e d efen d an t d u ri n g d i s co v ery o r at t he h eari ng o n t he m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

.

W h en a d efen d an t m o v es t o s up p res s ev i den ce, “ t h e b urd en o f p ro v i n g t h at t h e

s earch an d s ei zu re were l awfu l sh al l b e o n t h e s t at e.” OCGA § 1 7 -5 -3 0 (b ). W h en t h e

ap p el l at e co u rt s rev i ew a t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n o n a m o t i o n t o s u p p res s ev i d en ce, “ t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s o n d i s p u t ed fact s wi l l b e u ph el d u nl es s cl earl y erro n eo u s

, an d

i t s ap p l icat i o n o f t h e l aw t o u n d i s p u ted fact s i s su b j ect t o d e n o v o r e v i ew.” Ba r ret t

v. S t a t e , 2 8 9 Ga. 1 9 7 , 2 0 0 (1 ) (7 0 9 SE2 d 8 1 6 ) (2 0 11 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Here, i n i t s o rd er g ran t in g t h e m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

, th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h e

fo l l o w i n g fact s :

On J u l y 3

, 2 0 1 3

, Ci t y o f L i l b u rn Po l i ce Offi cer Co dy Bel ch er.

. .

o b s erv ed Offi cer B o wl e s s t o p a v eh i cl e fo r s p eed i n g in si d e t h e ci t y

l i m i t s o f Li l b u rn ; Defen d an t w a s t h e d ri v er. Offi cer Bo wl es as k ed

Defen d an t fo r h i s dr i v e r ’s l i cen s e, b u t h e was u n ab l e t o p ro d u ce i t

.

In s t ead

, Defen d an t g av e t h e o ffi cer h is n am e an d d at e o f b i rt h . Offi cer

1 “ W h en a l awfu l arres t i s effect ed a p eace o ffi cer m ay reas o nab l y

s earch t h e

p ers o n arres t ed an d th e area wi t h in t h e p e r s o n ’s im m ed i at e p res en ce” fo r cert ai n

s p eci fi ed p u rp o s es . OCGA § 1 7 -5 -1 (a).

2Bo wl es ran t h e i n fo rm at i o n o n [t h e Geo rg i a Cri m e In fo rm at i o n Cen t er

(GCIC)] an d l earn ed t h at Defen d an t h ad an o u t st an d i n g warran t fo r h i s

arres t

. Defen d an t s t at ed t h at t h e warran t was act u al l y fo r h i s twi n

b ro t her. Offi cer Bo wl es t h en c a lle d G wi n net t Co u n ty Pro b at i on t o v eri fy

t h e i n f orm at i o n

, an d a p ro b at i o n o ffi cer ad vi s ed t h at Defen d an t h ad a

t at t o o o f a p it bu l l o n h i s ri g h t s h ou l d er. Up o n s eei n g t h e co n fi rm at o ry

t at t o o o n Defen d an t’ s s h o u ld er, t h e o ffi cer p laced Defen d an t i n

h an d cu ffs an d t o l d h im

t o s t an d b y

t h e car.

A p o l i ce un i t l at er arri v ed wi t h a rap id i d en t i fi cat i o n [d ev i ce]

, wh ich

t ak es a n i m ag e o f a p ers o n ’ s fi ng erp ri n t an d d et erm i n es wh et h er th e

p ers on h as an y ou t s t an d i n g warran t s. Up o n s can n i n g Defen d an t ’ s

fi ng ers

, t h e t e s t c o n fi rm ed an o u t s t an d i ng warran t fo r th e n am e

D e f en d an t pro v id ed an d p ro d u ced a p h o to g rap h o f Defen d an t

, wh ich

m at ch ed Defen d an t’ s ap p earan ce. Co n s eq u en t l y

, t h e o ffi cers arres ted

Defen d an t

, an d a s earch i n c i d en t to h is arres t rev eal ed t he s u b ject

co n t rab an d

.

Th e co u rt al s o n o t ed t h at th e St at e di d n o t p ro d u ce an arres t warran t fo r Lu cas ei t h er

i n d i s co v ery o r i n res p o ns e t o t h e m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

.

Bas ed o n t h es e fact u al fi n d i n g s

, t h e t ri al co u rt co n cl u d ed as a m at t er o f l aw t h at

“ t h e St at e’ s fai l u re t o p ro du ce t h e arres t warran t du ri n g t he m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

h eari n g i s a fat al d efect .” Th e co u rt t h erefo re co n cl u ded t h at t h e St at e h ad fai l ed to

s u s t ai n i t s b u rd en o f p ro v i n g t he l awfu l n es s o f t he arres t th at l ed to t h e d i s co v ery o f

3co n trab an d

. Th e co u rt ad d ed t h at “ [t ] h e fact th at th e o ffi cer m ay h av e act ed p ro p erl y

at t h e ti m e o f t h e arres t d o es n ot o b v i at e t h e St at e’ s b urd en o f p ro d u ci ng su ffi ci en t

ev i d en ce t o p ro v e t h e v ery ex i s t en ce o f t h e arres t warran t .”

1

. Th e St at e arg u es t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred b ecau s e Lu cas ’ s m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

was n o t t i m el y fi l ed

. Bu t th e St at e d id n o t rai s e t h i s arg u m en t b el o w an d i t t h erefo re

i s wai v ed

. See Bo wd

en v. St a t e

, 3 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. 8 9 6

, 8 9 9

, n

. 1 (6 98 SE2 d 37 2 ) (2 0 1 0 )

(arg um en t s n ot rai s ed b y t he St at e i n t h e t ri al co u rt wi l l n o t b e co ns i d ered fo r t h e fi rs t

t i m e o n ap p eal ); S t at e v. Eva ns

, 1 8 7 Ga. Ap p . 6 4 9

, 6 5 1 (2 ) (3 7 1 SE2 d 4 3 2 ) (1 9 8 8 ),

o v erru l ed o n o t h er g ro u nd s

, S t at e v. S mi t h

, 2 6 8 Ga. 7 5 (4 8 5 SE2 d 4 9 1) (1 99 7 ).

2

. Th e St at e d o es n o t c o n t en d t h at th e t ri al co u rt cl earl y erred reg ard i n g t h e

fi nd i ng s o f fact

. An d o u r rev i ew o f t h e t es t i m o n y at t h e h e a r i n g o n t h e m o t i o n to

s u p p res s s h o ws t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n gs were n o t cl earl y erro n eo u s

.

3

. Th e n ex t q u es t i on i s w het h er t h e offi cers were au t h o ri zed to arres t Lu cas an d

t h erefo re au t h o ri zed t o s earch h i m i n ci den t t o h is arres t

.

As t h e t ri al co u rt n o ted

, n o ev i d en ce w as p res en t ed to s ho w t h at Lu cas was

arres t ed p u rs u an t t o a warran t ; t h u s

, h i s arres t an d s u b s eq u en t s earch were n ot

a u th o ri zed b y a v al i d arres t warran t

. Ha r vey v. S t a te

, 2 6 6 Ga. 6 71

, 6 7 2 (4 6 9 SE2 d

1 7 6 ) (1 9 9 6 ) (b ecau se b en ch warran t h ad b een recal l ed b efo re s u s p ect was arres t ed

,

4s u s p ect w as n o t l awfu l l y arres t ed p urs u an t t o t h e b en ch warran t i t s el f). “ Ho wev er, t h e

v al i d i t y o f an arres t i s n ot n eces s ari l y d ep en d en t up o n t h e ex i st en ce o f a val i d arres t

warran t b ecau s e i f t h e p ers o n d et ai n ed i s o u t s id e o f h i s h o m e an d p ro b ab l e cau s e to

arres t ex i s t s at t h e t i m e o f det en t i o n

, a warran t i s no t req u i red .” Id

. (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Ou r Su p rem e Co u rt h as h el d t hat p r o b ab l e cau s e t o arres t ari s es o n ce an arres t i n g

o ffi cer l earn s o f th e ex i s ten ce o f an arres t warran t an d t h at “ [w] h et h er o r n o t t h e

i n fo rm at i o n ab o u t t h e warran t l at er p ro v e[s ] i n co rrect or i n v al i d i s i m m at eri al .”

Bu ch a n a n v. S t a t e

, 2 5 9 Ga. Ap p

. 2 7 2

, 2 7 4 (5 76 SE2 d 5 5 6 ) (2 0 0 2 ), ci t i n g H ar vey

, 2 6 6

Ga. at 6 7 2 -6 7 3

. In Ha r vey

, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt u p h el d an arres t ev en th o u g h a b en ch

warran t was n o l o n g er v al i d b ecau s e pri o r t o th e arres t, th e o ffi cer had l earn ed fro m

a co m p u t er ch eck th at t h ere w as a b en ch w arran t fo r Harv ey an d h ad co n fi rm ed

t h ro u g h hi s d i s p at ch er t h at t h e warran t was s t i l l o u t st an d i n g an d v al i d

. Ha r vey

, 2 6 6

Ga. at 6 7 1

. Th e Su p rem e Co u rt h el d t h at pro b ab l e cau se, wh i ch i s b as ed o n t h e fact s

an d ci rcu m s t an ces k no wn t o th e arres t i n g o ffi cer, i n cl u d ed t he o ffi cer’ s k n o wl ed g e

t h at a v al i d b en ch warran t h ad b een i ss u ed fo r Harv ey ’ s arres t, an d th at i n fo rm at i o n

o b t ai n ed fro m t h e Geo r g i a a n d Nat i on al Cri m e In fo rm at io n Cen t ers was rel i ab l e

5en o ug h to es tab l i s h p ro b ab l e cau s e fo r arres t

. 2 Id

. at 6 7 3

. See al s o Bu ch a n a n

, 2 5 9 Ga.

Ap p

. at 27 3 (p ro b ab l e cau s e t o arres t ex i st ed w h ere o ffi cer arres t ed Bu ch an an b as ed

o n a s t a t e co m

pu t er ch eck t h at rev eal ed an o u t s t an d i ng warran t fo r h i s arres t

reg ard l es s o f wh et h er t h e warran t l at er p ro v ed t o b e i n co rrect o r i n v al i d ).

Si m i l arl y

, h ere

, t h e o f

f i cers l earn ed fro m th e GCIC t h at Lu cas h ad an

o u t s t an d i n g w arran t f

o r h i s arres t ; v eri fi ed t h ro u g h a p ro bat i on o ffi cer Lu cas ’ s

i d en t i t y bas ed o n a t a t t o o; an d v eri fi ed th ro u g h a fi n g erp ri n t rap i d i d en t i fi cat i o n

d ev ice t h at Lu cas was th e s u b ject o f t h e warran t

. Th i s i n fo rm at i o n p ro vi d ed a rel i ab l e

b as i s fo r a d et erm i n at io n o f p ro b ab l e cau s e t o arres t

, an d t h e t ri a l c o u r t erred by

co n cl u d in g t h at t h e fai l u re o f t h e St at e to p ro d u ce a v al i d arres t warran t i n v al i d at ed

t h e arres t. See, e.g

. , S t a te v. Ed wa r d s

, 30 7 Ga. Ap p

. 2 6 7

, 2 7 3 (1 ) (7 0 4 SE2 d 8 1 6 )

(2 0 1 0) (p h y s i cal p reced en t o n l y ) (s up p res si o n rev ers ed b ecau s e d is p at ch er’ s

s t at em en t t o o ffi cer t h at the r e w a s an o u t s tan d i n g arres t warran t p ro v i d ed t h e p ro b ab l e

cau s e n eces s ary

t o arres t ).

Ju d g men t r ever sed . An d r ews , P. J., a n d Mi l ler

, J., co n cu r

.

2 Th e Su p rem e Co u rt d i s t i n g u i sh ed S t a t e v. S t r i n ger , 2 5 8 Ga. 6 05 (3 7 2 SE2 d

4 2 6 (1 9 8 8 ), u p o n wh i ch Lu cas rel i e s : “ Th e o ffi cer in t h at cas e o b tai n ed n o rel i ab l e

i n fo rm at i o n fro m th e NCIC o r an y o t h er s ou rce t h at th e b en ch warran t was s t i l l v al id

an d

, as p rev i o u s l y n o ted

, t h e St at e s t i p ul at ed t h at p ro b ab l e cau s e fo r t he arres t d i d n ot

ex i s t

. ” Ha r vey

, 2 6 6 Ga. at 6 7 3 -6 7 4

.

6