Filed 4/17/13 P. v. Zimmerman CA2/7 

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS 

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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA 

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT 

DIVISION SEVEN 

THE PEOPLE, 

 Plaintiff and Respondent, 

 v. 

ERIC MATTHEW ZIMMERMAN, 

 Defendant and Appellant. 

 B237016 

 (Los Angeles County 

 Super. Ct. No. PA067836) 

 APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, 

Cynthia L. Ulfig, Judge. Reversed. 

 Siri Shetty, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and 

Appellant. 

 Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney 

General, Lance E. Winters, Assistant Attorney General, Scott A. Taryle and Stacy S. 

Schwartz, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent. 

___________________________ 
2

 Following the denial of a motion to suppress evidence, Eric Matthew Zimmerman 

was convicted by a jury of transportation of a controlled substance and possession for 

sale of a controlled substance. Zimmerman contends the methamphetamine found in his 

car should have been suppressed as the fruit of an unlawful search. We reverse. 

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND 

 On October 25, 2010 Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies Mark Vencer and 

John McKay stopped Zimmerman for driving over the speed limit. As Deputy McKay 

approached the car, Zimmerman “was highly irate” and “screaming profanities.” McKay 

told Zimmerman to place his hands on the steering wheel, but Zimmerman said with his 

voice raised, “You can’t tell me what to do. You have no right to be stopping me.” The 

deputies placed Zimmerman in the back of the patrol car to ensure officer safety. After it 

was determined Zimmerman’s driver license was suspended, he was arrested. During an 

inventory search of the car, Deputy Vencer found three small, individually wrapped 

packages of methamphetamine inside an empty cigarette box in the trunk. No drug 

paraphernalia, drug packaging materials, scales, excess cash or records regarding drug 

sales were recovered. McKay testified Zimmerman did not appear to be under the 

influence of methamphetamine. 

 At the preliminary hearing Zimmerman moved to suppress the evidence recovered 

during the inventory search and statements he made after the arrest on the ground the 

search was conducted to find incriminating evidence.

1

 Deputy McKay testified the 

inventory search was conducted for Zimmerman’s benefit because the deputies intended 

to tow the car and documenting valuable articles prevents the towing company from 

stealing anything. McKay explained, however, the officers did not complete the 

inventory because they decided not to tow the car, which was in an area where McKay 

believed it would be safe from theft or vandalism: “[B]ased on the fact . . . [Zimmerman] 

had not been notified by the courts yet that his license had been suspended, he had no 

 1 Zimmerman told Deputy McKay he acted as a middleman between drug dealers 

and distributors. On the night of his arrest he was on his way to pick up more “product.” 
3

prior knowledge that his license was suspended, that he was not the registered owner of 

the vehicle, and the fact that he begged me not to tow his vehicle because it belonged to 

his girlfriend, I decided at the last second to not tow his vehicle.” McKay further 

explained Zimmerman had asked to speak with a detective so he could make a deal “to 

work off a case.” According to McKay, the detective asked him not to tow the car 

because Zimmerman “would be released soon and then would immediately start working 

for the detective.”

 The court denied the motion to suppress, finding it was reasonable for the deputies 

to begin inventorying the contents of the car because Zimmerman’s license was 

suspended: “[I]t looks as to count 3, he’s alleged[] to have been driving on a suspended 

license, although there’s testimony that he apparently was not aware at the time. But be 

that as it may, he was on a suspended license. I know officers typically at that time when 

the vehicle is being driven on a suspended license, it’s subject to impound. And it seems 

reasonable to me that the officer would have begun that process of dealing with the 

inventory. So I think that the inventory search justifies the search of the vehicle . . . .” 

 The jury found Zimmerman guilty of transportation of a controlled substance 

(Health & Saf. Code, § 11379, subd. (a)) and possession for sale of a controlled substance 

(Health & Saf. Code, § 11378).

2

 The trial court sentenced Zimmerman to county jail for 

a term of nine years. 

DISCUSSION 

1. Standard of Review

In reviewing the ruling on a motion to suppress, the appellate court defers to the 

trial court’s factual findings, express or implied, when supported by substantial evidence. 

(People v. Redd (2010) 41 Cal.4th 691, 719; People v. Ayala (2000) 23 Cal.4th 225, 255; 

People v. James (1977) 19 Cal.3d 99, 107.) The power to judge credibility, weigh 

evidence and draw factual inferences is vested in the trial court. (James, at p. 107.) 

 2 Zimmerman had also been charged with driving with a suspended license (Veh. 

Code, § 14601.1, subd. (a)), but the charge was dismissed in furtherance of justice (Pen. 

Code, § 1385, subd. (a)). 
4

However, in determining whether, on the facts found, the search or seizure was 

reasonable under the Fourth Amendment, we exercise our independent judgment. (Redd, 

at p. 719; People v. Glaser (1995) 11 Cal.4th 354, 362.)

2. Governing Law

3

The Fourth Amendment’s prohibition of “unreasonable searches and seizures” 

generally precludes warrantless searches of an individual and his possessions, including 

an automobile. (See In re Arturo D. (2002) 27 Cal.4th 60, 68.)

4

 However, the Supreme 

Court has recognized that police officers have a legitimate interest in taking an inventory 

of the contents of vehicles they legally tow and impound “to protect an owner’s property 

while it is in the custody of the police, to insure against claims of lost, stolen, or 

vandalized property, and to guard the police from danger.” (See Colorado v. Bertine

(1987) 479 U.S. 367, 372 [107 S.Ct. 738, 93 L.Ed.2d 739].) Such “inventory searches” 

are now considered “a well-defined exception to the warrant requirement of the Fourth 

Amendment.” (Id. at p. 371.) To ensure it is not merely used as a pretext or ruse to 

search vehicles for contraband or other incriminating evidence, a warrantless inventory 

search must be conducted “pursuant to standard police procedures” (South Dakota v. 

Opperman (1976) 428 U.S. 364, 372 [96 S.Ct. 3092, 49 L.Ed.2d 1000] and be 

 3 Whether relevant evidence obtained by assertedly unlawful means must be 

excluded is determined exclusively by deciding whether its suppression is mandated by 

the federal Constitution. (Cal. Const., art. I, § 28, subd. (f)(2) [formerly subd. (d)]; 

People v. Lenart (2004) 32 Cal.4th 1107, 1118.) 

4 A search of an automobile incident to the arrest of the driver or a passenger is 

valid “only if the arrestee is within reaching distance of the passenger compartment [or 

other area searched] at the time of the search or it is reasonable to believe the vehicle 

contains evidence of the offense of arrest.” (Arizona v. Gant (2009) 556 U.S. 332, 351 

[129 S.Ct. 1710, 173 L.Ed.2d 485].) Here, Zimmerman was secured inside the patrol car 

at the time of his arrest for driving on a suspended license. Although a warrantless search 

of an automobile is also lawful if there is probable cause to believe it contains evidence 

of criminal activity (see United States v. Ross (1982) 456 U.S. 798, 820-821 [102 S.Ct. 

2157, 72 L.Ed.2d 572]; Gant, at p. 347), there is no claim in this case the deputies 

suspected Zimmerman was engaged in criminal activity other than speeding and driving 

on a suspended license prior to searching the car. 
5

“sufficiently regulated” to avoid wholly unfettered police discretion. (Florida v. Wells

(1990) 495 U.S. 1, 4 [110 S.Ct. 1632, 109 L.Ed.2d 1]; see also Opperman, at p. 384.)

5

 

A defendant meets his or her initial burden of challenging the constitutionality of a 

warrantless search or seizure by “simply assert[ing] the absence of a warrant and 

mak[ing] a prima facie showing to support that assertion.” (People v. Williams (1999) 

20 Cal.4th 119, 130.) The People then bear the burden of proving that both the 

impoundment and search were constitutionally reasonable under all the circumstances. 

(Ibid.; People v. Williams (2006) 145 Cal.App.4th 756, 762.) Reasonableness is “the 

touchstone of the Fourth Amendment.” (Florida v. Jimeno (1991) 500 U.S. 248, 250 

[111 S.Ct. 1801, 114 L.Ed.2d 297].) 

3. The People Failed To Satisfy Their Burden of Establishing the Search of 

Zimmerman’s Car Was Conducted Pursuant to a Standardized Inventory 

Procedure

In Florida v. Wells, supra, 495 U.S. 1 the Supreme Court held the trial court 

should have suppressed marijuana found when officers opened a locked suitcase while 

inventorying a vehicle. (Id. at p. 2.) Reiterating the limitation on inventory searches it 

had announced in Colorado v. Bertine, supra, 479 U.S. 367, the Court explained 

“standardized criteria [citation] or established routine [citation] must regulate the opening 

 

5 Evidence discovered in an inventory search conducted pursuant to clear police 

department guidelines must nonetheless be excluded if the decision to impound the 

vehicle violated the Fourth Amendment. (See People v. Aguilar (1991) 228 Cal.App.3d 

1049, 1053.) Whether an impound here would have been proper is far from clear. The 

Court of Appeal in People v. Williams (2006) 145 Cal.App.4th 756 held a decision to 

impound a vehicle must be based on a valid community caretaker or public safety 

function, not simply statutory authorization. In contrast, this court in People v. Green

(1996) 46 Cal.App.4th 367 suggested the authority to impound under the Vehicle Code is 

all that is required for a valid impoundment, explaining, because the “officers acted 

pursuant to standard impound procedures provided by Vehicle Code section 22651, 

subdivision (p), [they] acted well within their authority to impound defendant’s car.” 

(Green, at p. 373.) Because we hold the inventory search itself was unreasonable under 

governing Fourth Amendment principles, we need not attempt to reconcile Williams and 

Green or determine whether any community caretaker function, if required, would have 

justified an impoundment in this case. 
6

of containers found during inventory searches” to safeguard the “principle that an 

inventory search must not be a ruse for a general rummaging in order to discover 

incriminating evidence.” (Wells, at p. 4.) “The policy or practice governing inventory 

searches should be designed to produce an inventory. The individual police officer must 

not be allowed so much latitude that inventory searches are turned into ‘a purposeful and 

general means of discovering evidence of crime.’” (Ibid.) Because the record in Wells

contained no evidence of any policy of the law enforcement agency whose officers had 

conducted the search regarding the opening of closed containers during inventory 

searches, the Supreme Court concluded the marijuana found in the suitcase should have 

been suppressed: “[A]bsent such a policy, the . . . search was not sufficiently regulated to 

satisfy the Fourth Amendment . . . .” (Id. at p. 5.) 

In People v. Williams, supra, 20 Cal.4th 119 the California Supreme Court 

reinforced the Bertine and Wells standard, emphasizing the “prosecution must always 

prove the existence of a policy supporting an inventory search . . . .” (Williams, at

p. 138.) “Because of the risk that an inventory search will be ‘a ruse for a general 

rummaging,’ a risk that this case particularly exemplifies, a valid inventory search must 

adhere to a preexisting policy or practice. [Citation.] This rule may require the 

prosecution to prove more than the existence of some general policy authorizing 

inventory searches; when relevant, the prosecution must also prove a policy or practice 

governing the opening of closed containers encountered during an inventory search.” 

(Ibid.; see Florida v. Wells, supra, 495 U.S. at pp. 4-5.) The officers in Williams found 

methamphetamine in closed leather bags inside the defendant’s truck during the 

inventory search. Because the prosecution did not prove the leather bags had been 

opened “pursuant to a policy or practice,” the Court held the warrantless search was 

unlawful. (Williams, at p. 138.) 

 As in Florida v. Wells, supra, 495 U.S. and People v. Williams, supra, 20 Cal.4th 

119, the People failed to prove the existence of any general policy of the Los Angeles 

County Sheriff’s Department authorizing inventory searches, let alone a policy or 

practice governing searches of packages or container where drugs may be concealed. 
7

The only testimony that even hinted at the existence of a policy was Deputy McKay’s 

testimony they conducted an inventory search to protect Zimmerman from theft because 

they intended to have the vehicle towed. This testimony suggests, at most, that 

inventorying a vehicle is standard department procedure whenever someone is arrested 

for driving with a suspended license. However, as emphasized in Williams an inference 

such a policy exists is not enough. The People must prove the actual existence of a 

policy, including “the specifics” that govern those areas actually searched, albeit the 

policy need not be in writing. (Williams, at p. 138; see id. at p. 127 [“Wells does not 

require a written policy governing closed containers or a policy that leaves no room for 

police discretion, but the record must at least indicate that police were following some 

‘standardized criteria’ or ‘established routine’ when they elected to open the 

containers”].) The prosecution did not present evidence of any policy whatsoever and 

therefore failed to meet its burden of justifying the warrantless search. 

DISPOSITION 

The judgment of conviction is reversed. On remand the trial court is directed to 

vacate its order denying Zimmerman’s motion to suppress evidence and to enter a new 

order granting the motion. 

 PERLUSS, P. J. 

 We concur: 

 WOODS, J. 

 JACKSON, J.