FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, GOBEI L and PI PKI N, 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.

P le a s e r e fe r to the S upr e m e C our t of G e or gia Judic ia l

E m e r ge nc y Or de r o f M a r c h 1 4

, 2 0 2 0 for fur the r

infor m a tion a t (https ://w w w

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

June 3, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A0 43 9 . THE STATE v . CARTEE et al

.

G O B E I L

, J u d g e.

In t h i s cas e, t h e St at e ap peal s fro m an o rd er o f t h e Su p eri o r Co u rt o f Lu m p k in

Co u n t y g ran t i n g m o t io n s to s up p res s ev i d en ce fro m a search o f Ro bert Cart ee’ s an d

Tracey Di am on d ’ s res i d en ce. Th e St at e co n t en ds th at t h e tri al co urt erred i n fi n d i n g

t h at th ere was n ot p ro b ab l e cau se to s u pp o rt th e s earch w ar r a n t is s u ed b y t h e

m ag i s t r a t e j u d g e. Fo r t h e reas o n s ex p l ai n ed m o re fu l l y b el o w, we affi rm t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s o rd er.

In a h eari n g o n a m o t i o n t o s up p res s

, w e defer t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s cred i b i l i t y

d et erm i n at i o n s an d wi ll n o t d i st u rb i t s fact u al fi n d i n g s i n t h e ab s en ce o f cl ear erro r.

Gi l b er t v. S t a t e

, 2 4 5 Ga. A p p. 8 09

, 8 1 0 ( 5 3 9 S E2 d 5 0 6 ) (2 0 0 0 ). Ad d it i o n al l y

,

al t h o u g h we d efer t o t h e tri al co u rt ’ s fact -fi nd i ng

, we o we n o d eferen ce t o t h e t ri alc o urt ’ s leg al co ncl u s i o n s

. H u g h es v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 7 4 4

, 7 5 0 (2 ) (7 7 0 S E 2 d 6 3 6 )

(2 0 1 5). In s t ead

, we i n d ep en d en t l y ap p l y t h e l aw t o t h e fact s as fo u n d b y t h e t ri al

co u rt . Id .; s ee al so S t a t e v. Pa l mer , 2 8 5 Ga. 7 5 , 7 9 (6 7 3 SE2 d 2 3 7 ) (2 0 0 9).

Vi ewed i n t h i s l i g h t , t h e reco rd s h o w s t h at In v es t i g at o r Sh an e M urp h y o f t h e

Lu m p k i n Co u n t y Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce recei v ed an an on y m ous c a ll r e por ti n g t hat th ere was

a m ari j u an a g ro w o p erat i o n i n t h e b as em en t o f Cart ee’ s an d D i am o n d ’ s res i d en ce,

l o cat ed at 2 5 85 Cam

p W ah s eg a Ro ad

. Th e an o n y m o u s t i p s ter s t a t e d t h at t h ere was

a s pray d ev i ce at t h e fro n t d o o r o f t h e res i d en ce t hat wo ul d m a s k t h e o d o r o f

m ari ju an a i f p o l i ce were t o i n v es t i g at e, an d Cart ee an d Di am o n d rarel y l eft t h e

res i den ce, as t h ey were b u s y t ak i n g care o f t h e gro w o p erat io n

. Th e t i p s t er rep o rt ed

t h at t he l as t t i m e sh e h ad “ act u al l y p h y s i cal ly s een th e [m ari ju an a] g ro w” was t wo

y ears p ri o r.

Bas ed o n t h e t i p

, M u rp h y d ro ve b y t h e res i den ce at t he rep o rt ed ad d res s an d

co n fi rm ed t h at t he ho u s e had a b as em en t

. M u rp h y t h en d i s co v ered t h at t h e p ro p ert y

o wn er, Cart ee, h ad a t ras h co l l ect i o n acco u n t wi t h ARW t ras h s erv i ce, an d M u rp hy

o b s erv ed an ARW t ras h c a n l o cat ed o n th e pro p ert y

. He co o rd i n at ed wi t h ARW to

c o n d u ct a “ t ras h p u l l ” fo r t h e res i d en ce, wh ere h e w o u l d acco m p an y t h e t r a s h

co l l ect o rs an d co l l ect t h e t ras h hi m s el f fo r ex am i n at i o n

. On th e d ay o f th e t ras h p u l l

,

2M u rp h y s aw a t ras h can o u t o n t h e s t reet

, t o u ch i n g t h e m ai l b o x at 25 8 5 Cam p

W ah s eg a Ro ad , Cart ee’ s an d Di am o n d ’ s res i d en ce. On cro s s -ex am i n at i o n , M u rp hy

c o n c e d ed t h at h e d i d n o t co n du ct an y s u rv ei l l an ce o n t he d ay o f t h e t ras h p u l l

, an d

co u ld no t s p eci fy wh en t h e t ras h can h ad b een p l aced o n t o t h e s t reet

, wh o p u t t h e

t ras h can o ut b y t h e m ai l b ox

, 1 o r wh o p u t an y o f t h e t ras h i n t o th e t ras h can

. M u rp hy

d i d n o t s ee an y o t h er t r as h can s o u t o n t h at p art o f t h e s t reet o n t he d ay o f t h e t ras h

p u l l

.

In s i d e t h e t ras h can

, Mu rp h y fo u n d t wo larg e wh i t e b ag s

, wh i ch co n t ai n ed 4 1

s m al l er gro cery -s ized W al m art b ag s fu ll o f m ari ju an a cl ip p i n g s

, s t em s

, s eed s

, a n d

l eav es in d icat i v e o f a m ari ju an a g ro w o p erat io n

. Th e m ari ju an a cl i p p i n g s t es t ed

p o s i t i ve fo r T HC. M u rp h y d i d n o t fi n d an y m ai l wi t h i n t h e t ras h can co n tai n i n g an y

n am es o r ad dres s es t h at wo ul d i d en t i fy t o wh o m t he t ras h b el o n g ed

.

M u rp h y t o o k t h e i n fo rm at i o n fro m t h e an o n y m o u s t i p st er an d t he t ras h p u l l an d

co m p l et ed a s e arch w arran t affi d av i t s eek i n g t o s earch Cart ee’ s an d D i am o n d ’ s

1 No t ab l y

, o n Cam

p W ah s eg a Ro ad

, t h ere are d ri v eway s u s ed b y m o re t h an o n e

res i den ce. M u rp h y t es t i fi ed th at at leas t o n e n ei g h bo r o f Cart ee an d D i am o n d u t i l i zed

t h ei r d ri veway at 2 5 8 5 Cam p W ah s eg a Ro ad t o p ark a v eh i cl e. Ad d i t io n al l y

, t h ere are

a t l eas t fo u r o t her h ou s es o n t h e st reet n ear wh ere t h e tras h can was o b s erv ed

. Becau s e t h e Cart ee/ Di am o n d res i den ce h as a l o n g d ri v eway

, s o m e o f t h o s e

n ei g h b o ri n g ho u s es are cl o ser i n p ro x i m i t y t o t h e m ai l b o x wh ere t h e tras h can was

l o cat ed t h an t h e Cart ee/ Di am o n d h o u se.

3res i den ce. Sp eci fi cal ly

, co n cern i n g t h e t ras h p u l l

, M u rp hy av erred t hat t h e t ras h can

co n tai n i n g t h e m ari

ju an a was “ o n t h e s t reet n ex t t o t h e cu rb o u t s i d e o f [Cart ee’ s an d

Di a m o n d ’ s ] res i d en ce

. . . t o u ch i n g t h e m ai lb o x of 2 58 5 [Cam p W ah s eg a Ro ad ] .”

M u rp h y p res en t ed t h e s earch warran t ap p l i cat i on t o a m ag i s t rat e ju d g e, an d d i d n ot

p ro v id e an y ad d it i o n al tes ti m o n y i n s u p p or t o f t he warran t

. Th e s earch warran t i s s u ed

,

an d o ffi cers s earch ed t h e res i d en ce.

Offi cers d i s co v ered a m ari ju an a g r o w o p e rat i o n in a s ecret ro o m i n t h e

b as em en t o f t h e res id en ce. T h ere were m ari ju an a p l an t s

, a d eh y d rat o r, an d “ fi n i s h ed

p ro d uct ” l o cat ed o n rack s

. M o re m ari ju an a p lan t s an d g ro w l i g h t s were fo u n d in

an o th er ro o m

. W al m art bag s fu l l o f m ari ju an a cl i p pi n g s

, li k e t h e o nes fo u n d d u ri n g

t h e t ras h p u l l

, w ere d i s co v ered in t h e ro o m w i t h t h e deh y d rat o r. Sev eral fi rearm s were

al s o fo u n d an d s ei zed d u ri n g t h e s earch

.

Bas ed o n th i s ev i d en ce, C art ee an d Di am o n d were i n d ict ed fo r t raffi ck i n g in

m ari ju an a (Co u n t 1 ), p os s es s i o n o f m ari ju an a wi t h in t en t t o d i s t ri bu t e (Co u nt 2 ), an d

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 on y (Co u nt 3 ). Di am o n d fi l ed

a m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

, w h i ch as am en d ed arg u ed th at t he s earch warran t was n ot

s u p p ort ed b y

p ro b ab l e cau s e. Cart ee fi led a s im il ar m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

.

4Th e part i es ap p eared at a h eari n g

, at wh i ch In v es t ig at or M u rp h y t es t i fi ed t o t h e

fact s as s t at ed ab o v e

. N o tab l y

, o n cro s s -ex am i n at io n

, M u rp h y ex p l ai n ed th at t h ere

was ad d i t i o n al i n fo rm at i o n p ro v i ded b y t h e t i p s t er t h a t h e d i d no t i ncl u d e i n t h e

s earch warran t affi d av i t

. F or e xam p l e, t h e t i ps t er t o ld M u rp h y t h at t h e m ari ju an a g ro w

g en erat ed $ 3 0 ,0 00 i n s al es p er m o n t h

. M u rp hy st at ed t h at h e di d n o t i n cl u d e t h i s an d

o t h er u n s p eci fi ed i n fo rm at io n i n t h e affi d av i t b ecau s e h e b el iev ed i t t o be u n rel i ab l e

o r u n n eces s ary t o e s t a b l i s h p ro b ab l e cau s e. M u rp hy al s o ex p l ai n ed t hat no s p ray

d ev ice as rel ay ed b y t h e t i p s t er was fo un d in t h e h o u se, n o r d i d h e d i s co v er ev i d en ce

co rro b o rat in g t h e t i ps t er’ s cl ai m t h at Cart ee an d Di am o n d were m ak in g $ 3 0 ,0 0 0 p er

m o nt h i n s al es

. Mu rp h y t es t i fi ed t h at p o li ce fo u n d n o m o n ey or t ran s act i o n reco rd s

at t he res i d en ce.

Reg ard i n g h is i nv es t ig a t i o n aft er recei vi n g t he t i p

, M u rp h y t es ti fi ed t h at t h e

t i ps t er p ro v i d ed t he n am e o f “ a d au g h t er” wh o was i n v o l v ed in th e m ari ju an a g ro w

o p erat i o n

, b ut h e di d n o t s eek to co n t act t h e d au g h ter t o co rro bo rat e t h e ti p

. M u rp hy

al s o t es t i fi ed t h at h e d i d no t co n d u ct ad d i t i o nal s u rv ei l lan ce o f t h e res i d en ce b ecau s e

h e b el i ev ed t h ere were t o o m an y h o u s es n earb y

. Th u s

, h e n ev er s aw an y fo o t o r

v eh icl e t r a f

f ic tha t wo u l d h av e i nd i cat ed a s i g n i fi can t m ari j u an a t raffi ck i n g o p erat i o n.

Al t h o u g h t h e t i p s t er d i d n o t p ro v i de a n am e, M u rp h y was ab l e to us e h er t el ep h o n e

5n u m

b er t o d et erm i n e t he l i k el y i d en t i t y an d res i d en ce o f t h e t ip s t er. M urp h y ran t h e

t i ps t er’ s cri m i nal h is t o ry

, an d d i s co v ered t h at sh e h ad m i s d em ean o r t h eft an d t raffi c

co n vi ct i o n s

.

Fro m t he b en ch

, t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t he m o t i on s to s u p p res s

. Th e t ri al co u rt

t h en i s s u ed a w ri t t en o rd er o u t l i n i n g i t s fi nd i n g s o f fact an d co n cl u s i o n s o f l aw. At

t h e o u t s et

, t h e tri al co u rt fo un d t h at “ u p o n heari ng t h e t es t i m o n y an d ex am i n i n g t h e

ev i d en ce p res en ted [,] m an y o f t h e fact s s t at ed in t h e [s earch warran t ] affi d av i t were

n o t cred i b l e[.] ” Co n cern i n g t h e an o n y m ou s t i p, t h e co u rt fo u nd t h at i t was n o t rel i ab l e

b as ed o n : (1 ) t h e t ip st er’ s h i s t o ry i n v o lv i n g cri m es o f m o ral t u rp i tu d e; (2 ) t h e fact t h at

t h i s t i p s t er h ad n ev er b efo re p ro v i d ed rel i ab l e i n fo rm at io n t o t h e p o l ice; an d (3 ) o t h er

i n fo rm at i o n p ro v i d ed b y th e t ip s t er t h at Mu rp h y b el iev ed to be u nrel i ab le. Fu rt h er,

t h e co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e t i p was b as ed o n s t al e k n owl ed g e, as t h e t i p s t er t o l d M u rp hy

t h at s h e h ad no t b een i n si d e t h e h o u s e fo r t wo y ears

. Fi n al l y

, th e co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e

i n fo rm at i o n p ro vi d ed b y t h e ti p s t er w as no t i n d ep en den t l y co rro b o rat ed b y M u rp hy

b efo re s eek i n g t h e s earch warran t

, as Mu rp h y d id n o t at t em p t t o co n t act o th ers wh o

wo u l d h av e h ad rel ev an t i n fo rm at i o n

, co n du ct a co n t ro ll ed b u y o f m ari ju an a fro m t h e

res i den ce, o r co n d u ct s u rv ei l l an ce o f t h e h o m e.

6Nex t

, c o n cern i n g t h e t ras h p u l l

, t h e co u rt fo u n d t h at i t “ d i d n o t p ro v i d e

p ro b ab l e cau s e b ecau s e i t d id n o t h av e an y co rro b o rat i ng fact ors .” Im p ort an t t o t h e

co u rt was M u rp h y ’ s t es t i m o n y t h at

, b ecau se h e d i d n o t s u r v ei l t he h o u s e b efo re

p u l l i ng t h e t ras h

, h e d i d n o t k n o w wh en o r b y wh o m t h e t ras h can was p l aced o n t o t h e

s t reet

, n o r d i d h e k n o w n wh o s e t ras h was i n t h e t ras h can – i t co u l d h a v e b een a

n ei g h b o r’ s t ras h

. A d di t i o n al l y

, n o t ras h co n t ai ni n g Cart ee’ s o r Di am o n d ’ s n am es o r

t h ei r ad d res s was fo u nd in t h e t ras h can

, am o n g t h e m ari j u an a cl i p p in g s o r ot h erwi s e.

Th e co u r t co nced ed t h at a tras h pu l l i n so m e ci rcu m s t an ces can ad d to o r p ro v i d e

p r o b ab l e cau s e fo r a s earch warran t, b u t co n cl u d ed t h at “ g rav e co n cern s ab o u t t h e

cred i b i l i t y o f t h e ev i d en [c] e an d t es ti m o n y o ffered o f th i s p a r t i cu lar t ras h p u l l ”

ren d ered i t i n s u ffi ci en t t o reach p ro b ab l e cau s e i n t h i s cas e.

Acco rd i ng l y, bas ed o n t h e t o t al i t y o f t h e ci rcu m st an ces

, an d n o t i n g i t s

res p o n s i b i l i t y

t o gi ve g reat d eferen ce to t h e m ag i st rat e ju d g e’ s d eci s i o n t o i s s u e t h e

s ear c h w a r r a n t

, t h e co u rt g ran t ed Cart ee’ s an d Di am o n d ’ s m o t i o n s t o s u p p res s

ev i d en ce reco v ered d u ri n g t h e s earch o f t hei r res i d en ce. Th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

On ap p eal

, th e St at e arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erro n eo u s l y co ncl u d ed t h at t h e

s earch w arran t w as n o t s up p o rt ed b y p ro b ab l e cau s e. M o re s p eci fi cal l y

, t h e S t a t e

arg u es t h at t h e an o ny m o u s t i p

, s u p p o rt ed b y an d co m b i n ed wi t h t h e res u l t s o f t h e

7t ras h p u l l

, p ro vi d ed s u ffi ci en t ev i den ce t o su p p o rt t h e s earch w arran t

. Un d er t h e

t o t al i t y o f t h e fact s i n t h is cas e, we affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er.

In Geo rg i a, a s earch warran t s hal l o nl y i ss u e u p o n fact s s u f f i c i en t t o s h o w

p ro b ab l e cau s e t h at a cri m e i s b ei n g co m m i t t ed or has b een co m

m it t ed

. O CGA § 1 7

-

5 -2 1 (a).

Th e m ag i s t rat e’ s t as k i n d et erm i ni n g i f p ro b ab le cau se ex i s t s to i s s u e a

s earch warran t i s s i m

p l y t o m ak e a p ract i c a l

, c o m m o n -s en s e d eci s i o n

wh et h er, g i v en al l t h e ci rcu m s t an ces s et fo rt h i n t h e affi dav it b efo re h i m

,

i n cl u d i n g t h e “ v eraci ty ” an d “ b as is o f k n owl ed g e” o f p ers o n s s u pp l y i n g

h ears ay i n fo rm at i o n

, t h ere i s a fai r p r o b a b i l i t y th at co n t rab an d o r

ev i d en ce o f a cri m e wi l l b e fo u n d i n a p art i cu l ar p l ace.

P a l m er

, 2 8 5 G a. at 7 7 (ci t at io n o m i t t ed ). T h e t ri al co u rt t h en ex am i n es t h e i s s u e as

a f i rs t l ev el o f rev i ew, g ui d ed b y t h e Fo u rt h Am en dm en t an d “ t h e p ri n ci p l e t h a t

s u b s t an t i al d eferen ce m

u s t b e acco rd ed a m ag i st rat e’ s d e c i s i on to i s su e a s earch

warran t b as ed o n a fi n d in g o f p ro b ab l e cau se.” Id . at 7 8 (ci t at io n o m i tt ed ).

W e t h en rev i ew t h e s earch warran t “ t o d et erm i n e t h e ex i st en ce o f p r o b a b l e

cau s e u s i n g t he t o t al i ty o f t h e ci rcu m st an ces an al y s i s [

. ] ” Pa lmer

, 2 8 5 G a. at 7 8

(ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). “ Th e d u t y o f t h e ap p el l at e co u rt s i s t o d et erm i n e i f t h e m ag i s t rat e

8h ad a ‘ su b s t an ti al b as i s ’ fo r co n cl u d i n g t h at p ro bab l e cau s e ex i s t ed t o i ss u e th e s earch

warran t .” Id . (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

In rev iewi n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s gran t o r d en i al o f a m o t i o n t o su p p res s

, we

ap p l y t h e wel l -es t ab l i s h ed p ri n ci p l es t hat th e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n di n gs as t o

d i s p u t ed fact s wi l l b e u p h e l d u n l es s cl earl y erro n eo u s an d t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s ap p l i cat i o n o f t h e l aw t o un d i s p u ted fact s is su b j ect t o d e n o v o

rev i ew, k eep in g i n m i n d t h a t a m ag i s t rat e’ s d eci s i o n t o i s s u e a s earch

warran t bas e d o n a f

i n di n g o f p ro b ab le cau s e i s en t it l ed t o s u b s tan t i al

d eferen ce b y a rev i ewi n g co u rt

.

Id . (ci t at i o ns an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

W h en co n s i d eri n g wh et h e r t h e m ag i s t rat e h ad a s u b s t an t i al b as i s t o fi n d

p ro b ab l e cau s e, w e lo o k at t he ci rcu m s t an ces as t h ey ex i s t ed wh en t h e s earch warran t

was i s su ed

, an d t h e fact t h at t h e defen d an t s were u l t im at el y fo u n d to h av e b een

en g a g i n g i n cri m i n al act i v i t y “ i s u l t i m at el y o f no co ns eq u en ce fo r p u rp o s es o f o u r

an al y s i s, wh i ch is g ro un ded i n t h e s afeg u ard s affo rd ed b y t h e Fo u rt h Am en d m en t .”

W i g gi n s v. S t at e

, 3 31 Ga. Ap p

. 4 4 7

, 4 5 4 (7 7 1 SE2 d 1 3 5 ) (2 0 15 ) (p h y s i cal p reced en t

o n l y ); s ee al s o Wi l l i s v

. S ta t e

, 1 2 2 Ga. Ap p

. 4 5 5

, 4 57 (1 7 7 SE2 d 4 8 7 ) (1 9 7 0 ) (“ [I] f

o n e i s u n l awfu l l y search ed

, t h e fact t h at i n cri m in at o ry m at t er i s fo u n d o n h im wi l l n ot

ren d er t h e s earch l eg al .”).

9Here, In v es t ig at o r M u rp h y s o u g h t t o e s t a b l i s h p ro b ab l e cau se fo r h i s s earch

warran t b y av erri ng t o th e m ag i s t rat e ju d ge t h at (1 ) an an o n y m o u s t i p s t er rep o rt e d

t h at Cart ee an d Di am o n d were c u l t i v at i n g m ari ju an a i n a secret ro o m i n t h ei r

b as em en t ; (2 ) M u rp h y ’ s o bs erv at i o n o f t h e res id en ce co n fi rm ed t h at i t d i d h av e a

b as em en t an d th e res i d en ce was n o t s u it ab l e fo r ad d i t i o n a l s u rv ei l l an ce; 2 an d (3 ) a

t ras h p u ll fro m a t ras h can fo u n d at t h e cu rb n ex t to t he res id en ce’ s m ai lb o x res u l t ed

i n t h e d i s co v ery o f m a ri

ju an a cl i p p i n g s

, leav es

, an d o t h er rem n an ts co n s is t en t wi th

a m ari ju a n a g ro w o p erat i o n

. Ho wev er, aft er h eari n g M u rp h y ’ s tes t i m on y

, t h e t ri al

co u rt m ad e t h e ex p li ci t fi n d in g t h at “ m an y o f th e fact s s t at ed i n t h e [s earch warran t ]

affi d av i t were n o t cred ib l e[.] ” Th i s cred i b il i ty d et erm i n at i o n i s n o t cl earl y erro n eo u s

,

g i v en t h at M urp hy

t es ti fi ed t o fact s t hat were o m i tt ed fro m t h e affi d av i t, i n cl u d i n g:

(1 ) h i s l ack o f b el ief i n th e rel i a b i l i t y o f t h e t i p s ter’ s rep o rt ; an d (2 ) h i s u n cert ai n t y

ab o ut t h e o ri g i n s o f t h e t ras h reco v ered fro m t h e t ras h p u l l

.

Th u s

, as th e t r i a l co u rt d et erm i n ed t h at t h e “ affi d av i t su b m i tt ed co n t ai n [ed ]

m at eri a l m i s rep res en tat i o n s o r o m is s i o n s

, . . . t h e o m it t ed t ru t h fu l m at eri al m u s t b e

i n cl u d ed

, an d t h e affi d av i t m u s t b e reex am i n ed t o d et erm i n e wh et her p ro b ab l e cau s e

2 M u rp h y t es t i fi ed th at t h ere were t o o m an y o t h er h o us es n e a r b y t o co n d u ct

s u rv ei l l an ce.

10ex i s t s t o i s s u e a warran t.” S ul li va n v. S t a t e

, 28 4 Ga. 3 5 8

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

(ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Aft er reex am i n i n g t h e affi d av it i n l i g h t o f

a d d i t i o n al i n fo rm at io n t h at was o m i t t ed fro m t h e affi d av i t, we ag ree wi t h t h e tri al

co u rt th at p ro b ab l e cau s e was n o t es t ab li s hed

. See H er r er a v. S t a t e

, 2 8 8 Ga. 2 3 1

, 2 3 3

(1 ) (7 0 2 SE2 d 8 54 ) (2 01 0 ) (wh ere s earch w arran t affi d av i t o m i t t ed fact s t h at were

rel ev an t t o t h e cred i b il i t y of o t h er fact s in cl u d ed i n affi d av i t

, w e co n s i d ered wh et h er

t h e o m i t t ed m at eri al wo u l d “ el i m i n at e t he ex i s t en ce o f p ro b ab l e cau s e”).

Reg ard i n g t h e an o n y

m o u s t i p

, a n “ u n co rro b orat ed t el ep h o n e cal l fro m an

an o ny m o u s ti p s t er i s n ot al o n e su ffi ci en t t o b as e a fi nd i n g o f p ro b ab l e cau s e.” McRa e

v

. S t a te

, 2 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. 2 3 4, 2 3 5 (1 ) (4 1 8 SE2 d 7 9 6 ) (1 9 9 2). “ W e m u s t d et erm i n e

,

am on g o t h er t h i n g s

, wh et h er th e h ears ay in fo rm at i on su p pl i ed to t h e affi an t

, co u p l ed

wi t h t h e affi an t ’ s pers on al o b s erv at i o n s, p res en t ed a fai r p ro bab i l i t y t h at co n t rab an d

wo u l d b e fo u n d at t h e s u s p ect ’ s res i d en ce.” Id . (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Here t h e reco rd au th o ri zed t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d et erm i n at i o n t h at t h e t i p s t er’ s

rep o rt was n o t s u ffi ci en t fo r th e m ag i s t rat e ju dg e t o fi n d p ro b ab l e cau s e, es p eci al l y

wh ere M u rp h y ad m i t ted l y h ad d o u b t s ab o u t t h e rel i ab i l i t y of s om e o f t h e i n fo rm at i o n

p ro v id ed b y t h e t ip st er. A s t h e tri al co u rt n o t ed

, M u rp h y d i d n o t s u rv ei l t h e h o u s e to

d et erm i n e i f t h ere were ex ces s i v e v i s i t o rs t o s u p p o rt a th ri vi n g m ari ju an a t raffi ck i n g

11o p erat i o n o r o t h er s u sp i ci ou s act i v i t y

, n o r d i d h e s eek o ut t h e d au g h t er m en t i o n ed by

t h e t i ps t er t o as k ab o u t h er p art i ci p at i o n in t h e m ari j u an a g ro w. Ad d i t i o nal l y

, M u rp hy

p ro v id ed n o i n fo rm at i o n as t o t h e t i p s t er’ s i d en t it y

, h o w s he was aware of t he cri m i n al

act i vi t y

, o r wh at h er m ot i v es fo r rep o rt i n g th e cri m e were. Th u s, t he an o ny m o u s t ip

d i d n o t sh o w s u ffi ci en t rel i ab i l it y t o es t ab l i sh pro b ab l e cau se o n i t s o w n

. See McRa e

,

2 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 23 5 (1 ) (l ack o f i n fo rm at i o n ab o ut an an o n y m o u s i n fo rm an t an d t h e

b as i s o f t h e i nfo rm an t ’ s k no wl ed g e rel eg at ed t h e i nfo rm at i o n s u p p li ed t o t h e s t at u s

o f m ere r u m o r ) ; Lyo n s v. S ta t e

, 2 5 8 Ga. Ap p

. 9

, 1 1 (1 ) (5 7 2 SE2 d 6 3 2 ) (2 00 2 )

(an o n y m ou s t i p t h at dru gs were s een i n a h o m e t h a t al s o p ro v i d ed d et ai l s s h o wi n g

t h at t h e t i p s t er k n ew t h e s u s p ect was n o t s u ffi ci en t t o p ro v e t h e t i p st er’s r e l i ab i l i t y

wi t h o u t ad d it i o n al co rro b o rat i o n ); S t a t e v. LeJeu n e

, 2 7 6 Ga. 1 7 9, 1 81 -1 8 2 (1 ) (5 7 6

SE2 d 8 8 8 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (i n det erm i n i n g w h e t h e r p ro b ab l e cau s e ex i s ts to i s s u e a s earch

warran t

, a m ag is t rat e s h o u l d co n s i der al l t h e ci rcu m st an ces s et fo rt h i n th e affi d av i t

,

i n cl u d i n g t h e v eraci t y

an d b as i s o f k n o wl ed g e o f an an o ny m o u s t i ps t er).

Fu rt her, i nfo rm at io n us ed t o creat e p ro b ab l e cau s e t o is su e a warran t m ay

b eco m e s t al e b y t h e pa s s ag e o f t i m e b et ween w h en a co n di t i o n was o b s erv ed an d

wh en t h e s earch wa r r an t i s i s s u ed

. Tu z ma n v. St at e

, 1 45 Ga. Ap p. 7 6 1

, 7 6 4 (2 ) (A)

(2 4 4 SE2 d 8 82 ) (1 9 7 8). “ Th e q u es t i on i s on e o f reas o nab i l it y : Is t h e l ap s e of t i m e s o

12l o n g t h at i t i s no l on g er reas o n ab l e t o b el i ev e t h at t h e s am e co nd i t i o ns d es cri b ed in

t h e affi d av i t rem ai n at t h e ti m e a w a r r a n t i s i s s ued ? ” Id

. Here, wh ere t h e affi d av i t

s t a t e d t h at t h e t i p s t er had wi tn es s ed t h e m ari ju an a g ro w o p erat i o n “ wi t h i n t h e pas t

t wo y ears [,] ” an d M u rp h y cl ari fi ed at t h e h eari n g th at t h e t i p s t er rep o rt ed i t h ad b een

at l eas t t wo y ears s i n ce s h e h ad b een i n s i d e t h e h o u s e, t he t ri al co u rt d id n o t err in

co n cl u d in g t hat t h e i nfo rm at i o n p ro v i ded was s t al e, t hu s reaffi rm i n g t h e co n cl u s i o n

t h at t h e an o n y m o u s t ip d i d n o t pro v i d e p ro b ab l e cau s e wi t h o u t ad d i ti o n al s u p p o rt i n g

ev i d en ce. See Ea to n v. S t a t e

, 2 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. 2 7 3

, 2 7 4 (1 ) (4 3 5 SE2 d 75 6 ) (1 9 9 3 )

(an o n y m ou s t ip s co n tai n i n g i n f o rm at i on t hat was o n e t o t h ree y ears o l d was

co n si d ere d s o s t a l e as t o be u n rel i ab l e fo r p u rp o ses o f p ro b ab l e cau s e t o s u p p o rt a

s earch warran t ).

Nev ert h el es s

, al t h o u g h t h e an o n y m o u s t i p i n th i s cas e d i d n o t s u p p o rt a fi n d i n g

o f p ro b ab l e cau s e on it s o wn

, “ t h i s i n fo rm at io n can n o t b e vi ew ed i n a v acu u m .”

Co p el a n d v. S t a te

, 2 7 3 G a

. A p p

. 8 5 0

, 8 5 1 (1 ) (6 16 SE2 d 18 9 ) (2 0 0 5 ). Rat h er, t h e

l o wer co u rt s an d t h i s Co u rt l o o k t o t h e “ t o t al i ty o f t h e ci rcu m st an ces .” Id

. ; s ee al s o

Ea t o n , 2 1 0 Ga. Ap p. at 2 7 4 (1 ) (p o l i ce m ay u nd ert ak e i n d ep en d en t i n v es ti g at i o n t o

co rro b o rat e t h e det ai l s o f an a n o n y m o u s t i p). Th e St at e co n t en ds t h at t he t ras h p u l l

13p ro v id ed ad d i t i o n al in fo rm at i o n t h at su p po rt ed th e pro b ab l e cau s e fi n d i n g u n d er a

t o t al i t y o f t h e ci rcu m s tan ces

.

Ho wev er, i n t hi s cas e, M u rp h y t es t i fi ed t h at h e co n d u ct ed n o s urv ei l l an ce

b efo re t he t ras h p u l l

, an d was n o t s u re h o w l o n g th e t ras h can h ad been o ut o n t h e

s t reet

, wh o p u t t h e t ras h can o u t o n t o t h e s t reet

, o r w h o h ad act ual l y p u t t h e W al m art

b ag s fu l l o f m ari

ju an a cl i p p in g s i n t o t h e t ras h can

. Ad d i t i on al l y

, t h e un i q u e l ay o u t o f

Cart ee’ s an d Di a m o n d’ s s t reet fu rt h er u n d erm i n ed co nfi d en ce t h at t he t ras h cam e

s p eci fi cal l y fro m Cart ee, Di am o n d

, o r t h ei r res i d en ce, as (1 ) s o m e o f t h e d ri v eway s

o n Cam p W a s e g a R o ad s erv e m o re t h an o n e res i d en ce, (2 ) at l eas t o n e nei g h b o r o f

Cart ee’ s an d Di am on d ’ s u s ed th ei r d ri v eway t o p ark a v eh i cl e, (3 ) t h ere are at l eas t

fo u r o t her h o u s es t h at were lo c a t e d c l o s er t o wh ere th e t ras h can was fo u n d t h an

Cart ee’ s an d Di am o n d ’ s h o u s e

, a n d (4 ) th e tras h can ex am i ned b y M urp h y was t h e

o n l y o ne o u t o n th e s t reet o n t h e d ay of t h e t ras h p u ll

, an d i t was u n cl ear i f n ei g h b o rs

m i g h t s h are t h e t ras h can

. Fi n al ly

, t here w as n o i den t i fy i n g i nfo rm at i o n fo u n d am o n g

t h e m ari ju an a t ras h t h at wo u ld i d en ti fy s p eci fi cal l y fro m wh at p ers on o r ad d res s i t

o ri g i nat ed

. Un d er t h es e f a c t s a s fo u n d b y

t h e t ri al co urt

, i t w as reas o n ab l y p o s s i b l e

t h at t h e m ari

j uan a t ras h cam e fro m an o t h er n earb y p ers on o r ad d res s

. Cf. S t a t e v.

Da vi s

, 2 88 Ga. Ap p

. 16 4

, 1 6 5

- 1 6 6 (6 5 3 SE2 d 3 1 1 ) (2 00 7 ) (t ras h pu l l co n t ai n i n g

14s m al l am ou n t s o f m ari ju an a was s u ffi ci en t t o s h o w p ro b ab le cau s e to s earch s u s p ect ’ s

res i den ce, wh ere d o cu m en t s co n t ai n i n g s us p ect ’ s n am e an d ad d r e s s “ l i nk ed t h e

co n ten t s o f t h e t ras h b ag ” t o s u s p ect

, an d recen t d at es o n tras h

, co m b in ed wi th

s u rv ei l l an ce b y p o l i ce, s erv ed as ev i d en ce t h at t h e co n t en t s o f t h e t ras h were recen t l y

i n s u sp ect ’ s p o ss es s i on ); Co n r a d v. S t at e

, 3 1 6 Ga. A p p

. 1 46

, 1 4 9 -1 5 0 (1 ) (7 3 0 SE2 d

7 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (p ro bab l e cau s e fo r s earch warran t was s at i s fi ed aft er p o l i ce recei v ed t wo

rep o rt s t h at d efen d an t was recen t l y s el l i n g d ru g s an d p o l i ce co n d u ct ed at l eas t t h ree

t ras h p ul l s at th e res i d en ce, wh i ch al l y i e l d e d n a r c o t i cs an d rel at ed p arap h ern al i a);

Ma r t i n ez -Va r

ga s v. S t a t e

, 3 1 7 Ga. Ap p . 2 3 2, 2 3 7 (7 3 0 SE2 d 6 3 3 ) (2 0 12 ) (p ro b ab l e

cau s e fo r s earch warran t was s at i s fi ed b y t ras h p u l l at res i d en ce y i el di n g m ari ju an a

b u d

, co m b i n ed wi t h sm el l of raw m ari ju an a co m i ng fro m res i d e n ce’ s g arag e),

d i s ap p ro v ed o f on o t h er g ro u nd s b y S t a te v. Ka z mi er cz a k

, 3 3 1 G a

. A p p

. 8 1 7

, 8 2 2

(7 7 1 SE2 d 4 7 3 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

Th u s

, b as ed o n t h e co m

b i n at i on o f u n i qu e fact s p res en t ed i n t hi s cas e, t h e t ri al

co u rt was au t h o ri zed t o co n cl u d e t h at t h e res ul t s o f t h e t ras h pu l l co n d u ct ed h ere d id

n o t creat e a s uffi ci en t n e x u s b e t ween t h e ev i d en ce d i sco v ered an d Cart ee’ s an d

D i a m o n d ’ s s p eci fi c res i d en ce. See S t a t e v. Br a n t l ey

, 26 4 Ga. Ap p

. 1 5 2

, 1 5 4 (5 8 9

SE2 d 7 1 6) (2 0 0 3 ) (t h e St at e m us t es t ab l i s h a l i n k b et ween t h e ev i d en ce s o u g h t an d

15t h e s p eci fi c ad dres s t o b e s earch ed ). An d

, gi v en t h e d efi ci en ci es o f t h e an o n y m ou s

t i p des cri b ed ab o v e, t h e m ag i s t rat e d i d n o t h av e a s u b s t an t i al b as is fo r co n cl u d i n g t h at

m ari ju an a an d i t em s u sed fo r g ro wi n g an d d i s tri b ut i n g m ari ju an a wo u l d be fo u n d at

t h e res i den ce. Th u s

, we affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er g ran t i n g Cart ee’ s an d D i am o n d ’ s

m o ti o n s t o s u p p res s

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ba r nes , P. J., a n d

Pi p ki n , J., co n cu r

.

16