SECOND DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, M ERCI ER and C OOM ER, 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.

https ://w w w

. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

October 23, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A1 21 2

, A2 0 A 1 21 3

. THE STATE v

. BIZZARD; an d v ice vers a.

M E R C I E R , J u dg e.

Kas i b Bi zzard w as i n di ct ed o n ch arg es of p o s s es s io n o f a co n t ro l l ed su b s t an ce

wi t h i nt en t t o d i st ri b u te, p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm d u ri n g t h e co m m i s s i o n o f a fel o n y

,

t h eft b y recei vi ng s t ol en p ro p ert y (t h e fi rearm ), an d p o s s es s i o n o f a fi rearm b y a

co n vi ct ed fel o n d uri n g t h e co m m i s s i o n of a cri m e

. He m o v ed t o s u p p res s ev i d en ce

o f d ru g s an d a fi rearm fo u n d o n o r near h i m d u ri n g h i s arres t

, co n t en di n g t hat o ffi cers

l ack ed reas o n ab l e, art i cu l ab l e s u s p ici o n t o s t o p h i m an d t hat t hey arres t ed h i m

wi t h o u t p ro b ab l e c au s e. Th e St at e co un t ered t h at o ffi cers h ad reas o n ab le s u s p i ci o n

t o tem p o rari l y d et ai n Bi zzard

, s u ch t h at h i s at t em pt t o wal k away an d res i s t d et en t i o n

g av e t h em p ro b ab le cau s e t o arres t h i m fo r o b s t ru ct i o n

.Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e m o t i o n t o s up p res s th e dru g ev i d en ce, bu t d en i ed t h e

m o ti o n as t o th e g u n ev i d en ce. In C a s e N o

. A2 0 A 1 2 1 2

, t h e St at e ap p eal s t h e

s u p p res s i o n o f th e d ru g ev i d en ce. 1 Bi zzard cro ss -ap p eal s i n Cas e No

. A2 0 A1 2 1 3,

ch al l en g i n g th e t ri al co u rt ’ s refu s al t o s u p p res s th e g u n ev i d en ce. Fo r reas o n s t h at

fo l l o w

, we affi rm t h e ju d g m en t i n Cas e No

. A2 0A1 21 2

, an d we rev ers e th e ju d g m en t

i n Cas e No . A2 0 A1 2 13

.

“ In rev i ewi n g a ru li n g o n a m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

, we rev i ew t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

fact ual fi n d i n g s fo r cl ear erro r an d i t s l eg a l c o n c l u si o n s d e n o vo .” Ken n eb r ew v.

S t a t e

, 3 0 4 G a. 4 0 6

, 4 0 9 (8 19 SE2 d 3 7 ) (2 01 8 ); see al s o S t at e v. Un d er wo od

, 2 8 3 Ga.

4 9 8 , 5 0 0 (6 6 1 SE2 d 52 9 ) (2 0 0 8 ).

At a h eari n g o n t h e m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

, t h e St at e cal l ed o n ly o n e wi t n es s

, a

p o l i ce o ffi cer (“ ag en t ”) wi t h t h e Sav an n ah Po l i ce Dep art m en t

. Th e ag en t w as p art o f

a t as k fo rce fo rm ed i n res p on s e t o a ri s e i n v i o l en t cri m es i n t h e ci t y . On Decem b er

2 9

, 2 0 1 8

, h e was wo rk in g u n d erco v er, as s i g ned t o l o o k fo r p o s s i b l e cri m es n ear t wo

ad jacen t h o u s es o n Co l l in s St reet

, wh ere t h ere h ad b een m u l t i p le rep o rt ed i n ci d en t s

o f n arco t i cs an d ot h er cri m i n al act i v i t y o ver th e p rev i o u s t wo y ears

. Th e ag en t h eard

1 See OCGA § 5 -7 -1 (a) (4 ), p erm i t t i n g t h e St at e t o fi l e a d i rect ap p eal fro m an

o rd er s u p p res s in g ev i d en ce.

2o v er t he rad i o t h at a cro wd o f p eo p l e h ad g at h ered i n fro n t o f t h e s p eci fi ed ad d res s es

,

an d h e was as k ed t o d ri v e b y t h e area.

W h en t h e ag en t ap p ro ach ed i n an u n m ark ed v eh i cl e, h e n ot i ced a m an s t an d i n g

i n t h e m id d l e o f Co l l i n s St reet

, “ l o o ki n g u p an d d o wn t h e s t re e t

, w h i c h u s u al l y

i n d i cat es a co u n ters u rv ei ll an ce[.] ” Th e ag en t al so s aw ab o ut ei g h t t o ten p eo p l e i n a

cro wd

. On e pers o n was l ean i n g o v er, “ wh ich i s u s u al l y l i k e t h ey were ro l l i n g d i ce.”

Th e ag en t ad d e d t h a t “ [p ] art o f t he cro wd w as aro un d t h at area” an d, b as ed o n h i s

t r a i n i n g a n d ex p eri en ce, a g ro u p o f p eo p l e ro l li n g d i ce ag ai n st a cu rb i s “ u s u al l y a

s i gn of s o m eo ne g am

b l i ng

. . . . [i ] l l eg al l y

. ” Ab o ut h al f of t h e g ro up was s tan d i n g in

t h e ro ad

. Th e ag en t rep o rt ed h i s o b s erv at i o n s b y rad i o t o t h e t as k fo rce, d ro v e p as t t h e

g ro u p, an d p ark ed a s h o rt d i s tan ce away

.

Th e ag en t h eard o v er t h e rad i o t h at t h e p l an was fo r offi cers d r i v i n g m a r k ed

v eh icl es t o ap pro ach t h e c r o wd

, act i v at e t h ei r veh i cl es ’ b l u e l i g h t s, an d d et ai n t h e

p eo pl e wh o were o n th e scen e. Th e ag en t d ro v e b ack t o t h e area an d

, u p on arri v i n g,

s aw m u lt i p l e m ark ed v eh i cl es

. He al s o o b s erv ed Bi z z a r d b ei n g “ p i ck ed u p ” an d

“ as si s t ed o ff t h e g ro u n d ” b y p ol i ce o ffi cers

, wh o th en es co rt ed Bi zzard t o a p o l i ce car.

Th e ag en t s aw a fi rearm i n “ p ract i cal l y t he s am e s p o t ” wh ere Bi zzard “ was t ak en o ff

t h e g ro u nd .” Th e ag en t “ cam e u p a n d d e t ai n ed [Bi zzard ] o n h i s l eft ” arm

, wh i l e

3an o th er offi cer “ h ad hi m o n on e s i d e.” Th e o t h er o ffi cer s earch ed Bi zzard

, fi n d i n g a

p i l l b o t t l e co n t ai n i n g h e ro i n i n Bi zzard ’ s p o ck et

. Th e ag en t no t ed t h at wh i l e t h e

ev i d en ce was b ei ng reco v ered fro m Bi zzard , h e was “ b ei ng d i so rd erl y .”

As k ed wh ere Bi zzard h ad b een s t an d i n g i n t h e g ro up w h en th e ag en t fi rs t d ro v e

t h ro u g h

, h e t es ti fi ed t hat h e “ co u l d n ’ t p ick ou t an in d i v i d u al ,” as “ [i ] t was ju st a g ro u p

o f p eo p l e d o wn t h ere.” He ad d ed t h at Bi zzard was n o t t h e p ers o n h e s aw s t an d i n g in

t h e m i d d l e o f t h e s t reet

, an d h e d i d n o t i d en t i fy Bi zzard as t he p ers o n h e s aw p o s s i b l y

ro l l i n g d i ce. T h e ag en t fu rt h er t es t i fi ed t h at h e d i d n o t s ee Bi zzard wal ki n g away fro m

p o l i ce v eh i cl es

. Th e St at e i n t ro d u ced v i d eo fo o t ag e fro m t h e b o dy cam era o f an o t h er

o ffi cer wh o arri v ed o n t h e s cen e. Th at fo o t ag e di d no t s h o w an y p ers o n s fl eei n g

, an d

i t d ep i ct ed no ev en t s i n v o lv in g Bi zzard p ri o r t o hi m b ei n g h el d d o wn o r l i ft ed o ff t h e

g ro u nd

. D u ri n g t h i s en co un t er, Bi zzard as sert ed t h at h e “ d id n ’ t d o a n yt h in g ” an d

“ was ju s t wal k i n g u p t h e s t reet .”

Th e t ri al co u rt i s s u ed t wo o rd ers o n t h e m o t i on t o s u p p res s

. In t h e fi rs t o rd er,

i t fo u n d

, b as ed o n t h e t o t al i ty o f ci rcu m s t an ces (n am el y

, t h e h i s t o ry o f t h e p ro p ert y

,

t h e i n di v i d u al s t an d i n g i n t h e i n t ers ect i o n

, an d t h e cro wd g at hered aro u n d an

i n d i v i d u al wh o ap p eared to b e ro l l i n g d i ce), t h at t h e o ffi cers h ad r e as o n ab l e,

art i cu l ab l e s u s pi ci o n o f cri m i n al act i v i t y t h at ju s t i fi ed a b ri ef s eco nd -t i er s t o p o f “ t h e

4g ro u p.” Th e c o u rt ad d ed t h at t h e s eco n d -t ier en co u n ter h ad ri sen t o a t h i rd -t i er

en co un t er o r fu l l arres t by t h e t i m e t h e ag en t wi t n es sed o ffi cers p i ck i n g Bi zzard u p

o ff t h e g ro u n d

, aft er wh i ch t h ey fo u n d t h e d ru g s an d g u n

. T h e t ri al co urt d i d n ot

ad d res s wh et h er p ro b ab l e c a u s e a u t h o ri zed t h e arres t, i n st ead as k i n g t h e p art i es to

b ri ef th e m at t er. It fo u nd

, h o wev er, t h at Bi zzard l ack ed s t an d i n g t o co n t es t t h e

ad m i s s i b i l i t y o f th e fi rearm s ei zed i n t h e en co u n t er b ecau se h e had s tat ed at t h e s cen e

t h at t h e g u n was n o t h i s

.

Th ro u g h s u b s eq u en t b ri efi n g

, t h e St at e arg u ed t h at Bi zzard ’ s effo rt t o fl ee fro m

t h e s eco n d t i er st o p an d res i s t d et en t i o n “ co n s t i t u t ed th e o ffen s e o f [o ] bs t ru ct i o n

p ro v id i n g [p ] ro b ab le [c] au s e fo r a t i er t h ree arres t an d a s earch in ci den t t o t h at arres t .”

Th e t ri al co u rt r e

j e c t ed t h i s cl ai m i n i t s s eco n d o rd er, fi n d i n g t h at “ wh i l e p ro b ab l e

cau s e m ay

h av e i n d eed ex i s t ed fo r [Bi zzard ’ s ] arres t [fo r o bs t ru ct i o n]

, t he ev i d en ce

was no t p res en t ed .” Th e co u rt n o t ed t hat t h e t es ti fy i n g ag en t d id n o t arri v e u n t i l

Bi zzard was b ei n g hel d o n t h e g ro u n d

, an d t h e ag en t o ffered n o t es t i m o n y reg ard i n g

Bi zzard ’ s en co u n ter wi t h p o li ce p ri o r t o th at t im e. Co n cl u d i ng t hat t h e St at e h ad n ot

d em o n s t rat ed pro bab l e cau s e fo r t h e a r r e s t

, t h e t ri al co urt s u p p res s ed th e d ru g

ev i d en ce s ei zed fro m

Bi zzard ’ s p o ck et

.

5Ca s e No . A2 0 A1 2 1 2

1

. Th e St at e co n t en ds t h at t h e t ri a l c o u r t erred b y ap pl y i n g a s t an d ard o f

“ b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u bt

, ” rat h er t h an “ p ro b ab l e c a u s e,” i n d eci di n g wh et h er

Bi zzard ’ s arres t fo r o b s t ru ct i o n was l awfu l . Th i s co n t en t i o n i s wi th o u t m eri t

.

Th e Fo u rt h Am en d m en t p ro tect s a p ers o n ’ s ri g h t t o b e s ecu re

ag ai ns t u n reas on ab l e s earch es an d s ei zu res . W hen a d efen d an t rai s es a

Fo u rt h A m en d m en t cl ai m

, we m u s t b e m i n dfu l th at th ere are t h ree t i ers

o f p o li ce-ci t i zen en co u n t ers : (1 ) co m m un i c a t i on b et ween p o li ce an d

ci t i zen s i n v o l v i n g n o co erci o n o r det en t i o n an d t h erefo re wi t h o u t th e

co m p as s of t h e Fo u rt h Am en d m en t

, (2 ) bri ef s ei zu res t h at m u s t be

s u p p o rt ed b y reas o n ab l e s u s p i c i o n

, an d (3 ) fu l l -s cal e arres t s t h at m u s t

b e s u p p o rt ed b y

p ro b ab l e cau s e.

Lewi s v. S t a t e

, 3 0 7 Ga. Ap p

. 5 9 3

, 5 94 (7 0 5 SE2 d 6 93 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Th e St at e h as t h e b u rd en o f p ro v i n g t h e l awfu ln es s o f a s earch

an d s ei zu re. OCGA § 1 7 -5 -3 0 (b ).

In i t s o rd er, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d no t s t a t e t h at i t was ap p l y i n g a “ b ey o nd a

reas on ab l e d o u b t ” s t an d ard t o t h e m o t i o n to su p pres s

. Rat her, i t co n cl u d ed t h at t h e

St at e fai led t o p res en t ev i d en ce t h at p ro bab l e cau s e ex i s t ed t o arres t Bi zzard

. Th e

p ro p er s t an d ard was ap p l i ed

.

6M o reo v er, th e reco rd s u p p o rt s t h e t ri al co urt ’ s co n cl us i o n

. T h e co n cep t o f

p ro b ab l e cau s e req u ires t h at p o l i ce “ po s ses s k n o wl ed g e o f o b ject i v e fact s an d

ci rcu m s t an ces t hat w o ul d l ead a reas o nab l e o ffi cer t o b el i ev e th at t h e s us p ect h as

co m m i t t ed o r i s co m

m it t in g a cri m e.” S t at e v. Ca rr

, 3 2 2 Ga. Ap p

. 13 2

, 13 4 -1 3 5 (7 4 4

SE2 d 3 4 1 ) (2 0 1 3 ). Th e St at e cl ai m s t h at p ro b ab l e cau s e e x i st ed b ecau s e Bi zzard

res i st ed o ffi cers wh o were d et ai n i n g h i m d u ri n g t h e seco n d t ier s t o p

. See OCGA § 1 6

-

1 0 -2 4 (a) (t h e cri m e o f o b s t ru ct i o n res u l ts wh en a p ers o n “ k n o w i n g l y an d wi l l fu l l y

o b s t ru ct s o r h i nd ers an y l aw en fo rcem en t offi cer

. . . i n t h e l awfu l di s ch arg e o f h i s o r

h er o ffi ci al d u t i es [.] ”). A k ey i s s u e, h o w e v er, i s wh en Bi zzard was arres t ed

. In

a n a l y zi n g th e t i m i ng o f an arres t

, a co u rt co n s i d ers “ wh et h er th e i n d iv i d u al w a s

fo rm al l y arres t ed o r res t rai n ed t o a d eg ree as so ci at ed w i t h a fo rm al arres t [.] ” Ga l i n d o

Er i z a v. S t a t e

, 3 0 6 Ga

. Ap p

. 1 9

, 2 3 -2 4 (1 ) (7 0 1 SE2 d 51 6 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (ci tat i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n om it t ed ). Th e q u es t i o n “ i s wh et her a reas o nab l e pers o n in t h e s u s p ect ’ s

p o s i t i on wo u l d h av e t h o u gh t th e d et en t i o n wo u l d n o t b e t e m p o rary .” Id

. at 2 4 (1 )

(ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ).

W h en t h e t es t i fy i ng ag en t arri v ed o n t h e s cen e, Bi zzard was b ei ng res t rai n ed

b y o ffi c e r s a n d m o v ed t o a p o l i ce car. Th e t ri al co u rt d et erm i n ed t h at Bi zzard was

al read y u n d er arres t fo r ob s tru ct i o n at t h at p o i n t

, an d we fi nd n o erro r. A reas o n ab l e

7p ers o n i n Bi zzard ’ s po s it i o n wo u l d h av e th o u g h t t h at t h e det en t i o n was n ot

t em p o rary

. See Ga l i nd

o -Er i z a

, s u p ra. Th e St a t e

, t h erefo re, m u s t d em o n s t rat e t h at

p r o b a b le cau s e to arres t ex is t ed b ef or e t h e ag en t arri v ed

. Bu t o t her th an Bi zzard ’ s

s t at em en t t h at h e was “

ju s t wal k i n g u p t h e s t reet ,” t h e reco rd i s d ev o id o f an y fact s

r e g a r d i ng Bi zzard ’ s p re-arres t co n d u ct or th e o ffi cers ’ i n t eract i o n s wi th h i m

. Th e

v i d eo d o e s n o t sh ed l i g h t o n t h i s i nq u i ry

, an d n o o n e o t h er t h an th e ag en t t es t i fi ed

.

W e s i m p l y d o n o t k n o w wh at o ccu rred b efo re t h e ag en t ’ s arri v al

. It i s u n cl ear wh at

Bi zzard was d o i n g w h en o ffi cers fi rs t en t ered th e area, h o w Bi zzard res p o nd ed t o t h e

o ffi cers

, o r wh et h er t h o s e o ffi cers h ad reas o n ab l e g ro un d s t o b el i ev e t h at Bi zzard was

en g ag i n g i n o b s tru ct i o n

.

On ap p eal

, t h e St at e n o t es t h at t h e t es ti fy i n g ag en t ob s erv ed Bi zzard s t ru g g l i n g

wi t h o f f i c e rs s aft er th e ag en t arri v ed

. Th i s p o s t -arres t co n d u ct

, h o wev er, can n ot

s u p p ort a fi n d i n g of ob s tr u c t i o n wh ere t h e in i t i al arres t l ack ed p ro b ab l e cau s e. See

Ba co n v. S t a t e

, 3 4 7 Ga. Ap p

. 6 8 9 , 6 90 (8 20 SE2 d 5 0 3 ) (2 0 1 8 ) (“ A p o li ce o ffi cer i s

n o t d i s ch arg i n g h i s lawfu l d ut i es wh en h e i s m ak i n g an u n l awfu l arres t, an d a p ers o n

wh o res i st s an u n l awfu l arres t d o es n o t h i n d er t h e o ffi cer i n t h e l awfu l d is ch arg e o f

h i s o ffi ci al d ut i es .”). Acco rd i n g l y

, Bi zza r d ’ s effo rt t o res is t t h e i ni t i al arres t co u l d n o t

,

i t sel f, gi v e p o l ice o ffi cers p ro b ab l e cau s e t o arres t h i m

. See Ewu mi v. St a t e

, 3 1 5 Ga.

8Ap p

. 6 5 6, 6 6 3 (1 ) (b ) (7 2 7 SE2 d 2 5 7 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (o ffi cer l ack ed p ro b ab l e cau s e t o arres t

d efen d an t fo r b at t ery al l eg ed l y co m m i t t ed wh en defen d an t res i st ed u n l awfu l arres t ;

“ b ecau s e t h at arres t w as u n l awfu l

, [d efen dan t ] w as ju s ti fi ed i n res i s t in g t h e at t em p t ed

arres t ”); S ta t e v. Du kes

, 27 9 Ga. A p p

. 24 7

, 2 5 1 (6 3 0 SE2 d 8 4 7 ) (2 0 06 ) (o ffi cers

l ack ed p ro b ab le cau se t o arres t d e f e n d an t fo r o bs t ru ct i o n b as ed u p o n fl i gh t wh ere

d efen d an t h ad t h e ri g h t t o fl ee fro m fi rs t t i er en co u n ter).

Gi v en t h e r e c o r d b e f

o re u s

, we m

u s t co n cl ud e t hat t h e St at e fai l ed to

d em o n s t rat e p ro b ab l e cau s e fo r Bi zzard ’ s arres t

. An d b ecau s e o f t h is fai l u re, we m u s t

fi nd t h at t h e s earch o f Bi zzard ’ s p ers on fo l l o wi ng th e arres t was u n l awfu l

. See Du kes

,

s u p ra. A cco rd i n g ly

, t h e t ri al co u rt p ro p erl y s u p p r e s s ed t h e ev i d en ce d i s co v ered

d u ri n g t h e s earch

. See Ewu mi

, s u p ra at 6 6 4 (1 ) (b ); Ca r r

, s u p ra at 1 3 6 -1 3 7; Du kes

,

s u p ra.

2

. In a s ep arat e c l a i m o f erro r, t h e St at e co nt en d s th at t h e ev i den ce “ s at i s fi es

t h e h i g h er [reas o n ab l e d o u b t ] s t an d ard ap p li ed b y ” t h e t ri al co u rt

. As n o t ed ab o v e, t h e

t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ap p l y a “ b ey on d a reas o n ab l e d o ub t s t an d ard ”; i t p ro p erl y an al y zed

wh et h er pro bab l e cau s e ex i s t ed fo r Bi zzard ’ s arres t

. A n d we ag ree wi t h t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s co n cl us i on t h at n o p ro b ab l e cau se ex i st ed h ere. Th e ju d g m en t i n Ca s e N o

.

A2 0 A1 21 2 i s affi rm ed

.

9Ca s e No . A2 0 A1 2 1 3

3

. Bi zzard c o n t e n d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt i m p ro p erl y d en i ed h i s m o t i o n to

s u p p res s ev i d en ce o f t h e fi rearm b as ed o n s t an d i ng . W e ag ree.

“ Th e in di rect fru i ts of an i l l eg al search o r a r res t s h o u l d b e s up p res sed wh en

t h ey b ear a s i gn i f

i can t ly cl o s e rel at i on s hi p t o t h e u n d erl y i n g i l l eg al i t y .” S t a t e v.

Gr a vi t t

, 2 89 Ga. Ap p

. 8 6 8

, 8 7 1 (2 ) (b ) (6 5 8 SE2 d 4 2 4 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (ci tat i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Ev en “ as s u m i n g arg u en d o [Bi zzard ] h ad l ack ed s t an d i n g to

co n tes t t h e l eg al i t y o f t h e s ei zu re, h e n ev ert h el es s was s u b ject ed t o an u n l awfu l arres t

wh i ch res u l t ed i n an d t a i n t e d t h e s ei zu re o f t h e [fi rearm ]

, an d t h e s an ct i o n i n s u ch

ci rcu m s t an ces

. . . i s t h at o f ev i d en ce s u p p res s i o n.” St a t e v. Br o wn

, 2 0 1 Ga. Ap p

. 7 7 1,

7 7 3 (3 ) (4 1 2 SE2 d 5 83 ) (1 9 9 1 ) (em ph as i s an d p u n ct u at i on o m i tt ed ). Th e t ri al co u rt

erre d b y n o t s u p p res si n g ev id en ce o f t he fi rearm fo un d d u ri ng an arres t t h at

,

acco rd i n g t o t h e reco rd b efo re u s , was n o t s u p po rt ed b y p ro b ab l e cau s e.

Ju d g men t a ff i rmed i n Ca s e No

. A 2 0 A1 2 1 2 a n d r ever

s ed i n Ca s e No

.

A2 0 A 1 2 1 3

. Mi l l er

, P. J., a n d Co o mer

, J., co n cu r

.

10