1 I N TH E UN I TED STATES COU RT OF APPEA LS

F O R T H E F IF T H C IR C U IT

N os . 08- 10250

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. JESSE B. RO D RI G U EZ, D e fe nda nt

- Appe l l ant

A p p ea lf

rom the U n i tedS tates D i stri ct C ou rt f or th e N ort h ern D i st ri ctof T exas , Sa n A n gel o D ivi si on

B e fo r e H IG G IN B O T H A M , E L R O D , a n dH AY N E S , C ir c u it J u d g e s . JE N N IFE R W

. E L R O D , C i rcui tJu dg e: D efen da n t

- A pp el l an t Jesse B

. R odri gu ez en t ered a cond i t i on algu i l t y pl ea t o coun t s one an d t w o of a three- coun ti n di ct m en tchargi n g h i m w i t h conspi racy t o di st ribu t e an d p o ss e ss w ith i n t en tt o di st ribu t e 50 k i l ogram s orm ore of
m arij u an a an d p osses si on w i t h i n t en tt o di st ribu t e 50 k il ogram s orm ore of
m a rij u a n a . R od ri gu ez rese rv edthe ri gh t t o a p p ea lthe de n ia l o f h i s m oti on to sup press evi den ce sei zed i n t h e t raf f i c st op th at l ed t o h i s arrest
. T h e d istr i ct court sentenced R odri gu ez to tw o concurrent t erm s of 262 m on t h s’ i mp r i s o n me n t , f

o l l o we db ys i xy e a r s o f s u p e rv i s e dr e l e a s e , o n e a c h o f t h e t wo c o u n t s . H e n o w a p p e a l s t h e d e n i a lo f h i s s u p p r e s s i o n mo t i o n . We a f f i r m. United States Court of App eals

Fifth Circuit 

### F I L E D April3, 2009 Cha rl es R. F ulb ru g e II I ClerkUnited States v. Jacq uino t , 2 5 8F .3 d 4 2 3 , 4 2 7( 5 thCir

. 2 0 0 1 ). 1 2

I . F A CT S A ND P ROC E E DI NGS Jes seB

. R odr i guez ent er ed a condi t i onalgui l t y pl ea on t w o c ount s: ( 1) conspir acy t o di st ribu t e an d p osses s w i t h i n t en tt o di stribu t e 50 k i l ogram s or
m o r e o f m ar ij uana , i n v i o l at i o n o f 2 1 U

. S. C. § 846 , and ( 2) po s s e s s i o n wi t h i nt e nt to d is tr ib u te 5 0 k ilo g r a m s o rm o r e o f m a r iju a n a , inv io la tio n o f 2 1 U .S .C

. § § 8 41 ( a) ( 1) & 8 41 (b) ( 1) ( C)

. I n hi s pl e a ag r e e m e nt , Rodr i gue z r e s e rve d the r i ght t o a ppe alt he di s t r i c tc o ur t ’ s o r alo r de rde nyi ng hi s m o t i o n t o s upp r e s s t he evi den ce s e ize d in t h e st op an d search of a veh i cl e he w as drivi n g. R odri gu ez f i l ed a n ot i ce of

app ealp ro se w i t h ou thi s c ou n sel ’ s kn ow l edg e, an d h i s c ou n sel f i l ed an ot h er noti ce of app ealt h e f

ol l ow i n g da y. W e consol i da t ed the ap pea l s f or p u r p o s e s o f a r g u m e n t a n dw e n o w c o n s o lid a te th e m fo rd is p o s itio n . S ee Fe d

. R. A p p . P

. 3 (b )(2). A gen t s C odyR

. H ardi n an d T el ef on so C orona do of

t h e U n i t ed S t ates B ord er P a trol (U S B P ) tes tifiedat th e su p p ress i on h ea ri n g, an dthe i r rep orts f rom t h e i n vest i gati on w ere adm i t t ed i n t o evi den ce. Th e di st ri ctco u rtdi d n ot
s p e c i f yw h i c h e v id e n c e itw a s r e ly in go n w h e n itr u le do n R o d r ig u e z ’s
s upp r e s s i o n m o t i o n. W e c o ns i de rt he e vi de nc e i n t he l i ghtm o s tfav o r ab l e t o t he G ov ern m en t, as th e p rev a i l i n g p a rty in th e d i stri ct cou rt. 1 A. Age ntH ar di n’ s Acc ount A gentH ar di n advi se d t hatatappr oxi m at ely 6: 45 am on Sept em b er 27 , 200 7, he observeda dark m aroon C h evrol et S U V ( C h evy SU V) hea di n g n ort h on H ig h w a y1 0 2 4
. H ig h w a y 1 0 2 4 is in a v e r y r e m o te , r u r a l a r e a . H a r d in liv e din t h e a r e aa n dwa s fa mi l i a rwit h t h e t r a f f i c . He d i dn o tr e c o g n i z e t h e Ch e v yS UV
a s b e in g lo c a l tr a ffic , a n d “k n e w it to b e o f th e ty p e c o m m o n ly u s e dto s m u g g le
a l i en s. ” H a rd i n de cl i n edto f oll ow the ve h i cl e, h ow ev er, d ecidin g to a ssist aA drag road , createdby USBP by churning updirt withtractortires , is 2 designed to pres erve the f ootprints of

suspectedali ens f

or tracking purp oses. 3 d i s a b l e ds c h o o lv a n i n s t e a d

. He r e p o r t e d t o wo r k a t t h e Co m s t o c k , T e x a s US BP st ati on . A roun d 9 a. m . , he receiveda t i p f rom a l ocalr an cher w h o w as al so fam i l i arw i t h t r af

f i co n H i ghway1 02 4. The ran cher inf o r m e d H ar di n t hathe h a dob serv eda m a roo n ve h i cl e, p erh a p s aC h ev rolet S u b u rb a n , trav eli n g n orth and so ut h on H i ghw ay 102 4, and t hatt he r anchers uspec t ed th e vehi c l e t o b e i nvo lve d i n il l e ga la c t ivit y. H ar di n s t at e d thatt he r anc he r ’ s “ de s c ri pti on
m atc he d e xa c t l y w i t h t he de s c r i pt i o n o f t he v e hi c l e I[ H ar di n] ha d obser ved
e ar l i e r . ” H ar di n a nd h i s s upe rvi s o rdr o veup anddo w n H i ghway1 02 4 s e ar c hi ng f or th e C h e v yS U Vbu tdi d n otf i n d i t
. A tapp roxi m ately 9: 45 a
. m . , an ot h er ag e ntdi s c o ve r e d f

o o t pr i nt s of

ro ugh l y f

o ursus pe c t e d i l l e ga la l i e ns c r o s s i ng t he dr agr o ad bo r de r i ng H i ghway 90 w e s t o f Com s t o c k. H ar di n a s s i s t e d thata ge nt

2 i n t r ac ki ng t he s u sp ecte d al i ens , and i nf or m ed hi s supervi so rt hatt he C hevy SU V he hads po t t e d ha d p r o ba bly pi c ke d up t he i ndivi dua l s i n q ue s t i o n. A tth is t i m e, H ardi n f i rstreport ed seei n g a “s m al lsilver col ored F ord
s e da n a he adof

m e [ H ar di n] t r av e l i ng no r t h on H i ghway1 02 4. ” H ar di n no t e d,
w i t h r e s pe c tt o t he s e da n: “ Ther e w e r e t w o o c c upa nt s . . . . Idi d no tr e c o gni ze t hi s vehi c l e a s bei ng ‘ l oc altraf f i c , ’and m ent al l y not ed thatt her e s ee m ed t o b e a gr eatdealof

unu sualt r af

f i ct oday. ” H ar di n c ont i nued se ar c hi ng f ort he C hevy SU V, a nd n e xto bs e rve d itt r av e l i ng s o ut h o n H i ghway1 02 4 pa s thi s l o c at i o n; h e i m m edi ately f

ol l ow ed i t
. H e observed as t h e C h evy S U Vst opp ed ab rup t l y on t he hi ghway ; t hr e e i ndivi dua l s r an f r o m t he b r us h t o w ar ds t he Chev y SU V and
e nt e r e d it ; a nd the n its pe d o f f s o ut hw ar d. H ar di n r e l ay e d hi s o bs e rva t i o ns t o o t he r U SBP ag e nt s , a nd a no t he ra ge nt
w ho w as dr ivi ng a m ar ke d pat r o luni t( H ar di n’ s w as unm ar ke d) st o ppe d it
. The4

driver of

t h e C h evy S U V w as i den t i f i ed as Ju an G oi t i a, a U

. S

. cit i zen; t h e t h ree ot heroc c upants w er e M exi c an nat i onal s w ho w er e i n t he U ni t ed St at es il l egall y. T h e fa c tt h a tt h e i n d iv i d u a l s l a c k e d f o o d , w a t e r , o re x t r ac l o t h e s , a n dt h a ts o me had sc r at c h- m ar ks and c hafed ski n on t hei r sho ul der s, l ed t he agent s t o b eli eve th a t t h e yw e r e in v o lv e d i n d r u g -s m u g g lin g . H a r d in re p o r te dth a t G o itia ad m i t t e d t o U SBP Age ntBud K i m z e y t hatG o i t i a andt he a l i e ns w i t h whom he
w a s tr a v e li n gh a dlo a d e dth e d r u g s in t o ag r a yo rs ilv e rF o r dT e m p o . G o it ia ’s
w al l et contai n ed a pi ece of pa per i den t i f yi n g a car. T h e sl i p of pap er c on t ai n ed
w hatappear ed t o b e ac ar ’ s V ehi c l e I dent i f i c at i on N um ber(V I N ) , t he w or ds “ ‘ 92 F ord T em po” an d “ 4D ” ( shorthan d perhap s f or “f ou r doors” ) , an d w h at appea red t o be t w o l i cense pl ate nu m bers. Al t ho ughRod r i gue z w as dr ivi ng a s i lve ro rg r ayf o ur - do o rFo r d Te m po
w h en he w as stopped , itw as n otthe F ord T em po i den t i f i ed onthe sl i p of

pap er; R odri gu ez’ s Tem po contai n ed a com pl et el y di f ferent V IN nu m ber an d l i cense pl at e, and w as a 19 91 m ode l

. H ar di n at t em pt ed t o expl ai n t hi s i nco nsi st enc y at t he s upp res s i o n he ar i ng. H e t e s t i f i e d thathe ha d a s ke d Goit i a w he t he rt he
v e h ic le id e n tifie do n th e p ie c e o f p a p e rw a s th e lo a dv e h ic le fo rth e d r u g s . G o itia had r es ponded t hati tw as not , butt hatitw as i n fac ta s e c o nd gray F ord T em po. H ardi n st ated he h ad“f [ ou ] n d i tha rd t o bel i eve t h at w e’ re— w e saw a gray F ord T em po tr aveli n g n ort h on 10 24 ea rli er an d th at t h at’ s t h e l oad veh i cl e, an d n ow y o u [G o itia ] h a v e th e v e h ic le ’s V IN n u m b e ra n dlice n s e p la te s iny o u rw a lle t.” H e f urt hers t at ed thathe “ di dn’ tbe l i evehi m [G oi t i a] att he t i m e” he w as q u e s tio n in gh im

. H a r d in s ta te d , h o w e v e r , t h a t G o itia “ s w o r e t o m e . . . t h a t t h is is ad iffe r e n t F o r dT e m p o . H e s a id , it lo o k s ju s t t h e s a m e .” H ardi n st ated tha th e w as inf orm ed (h e d i d n otsay by w h om ) t h at one of th e a l i en s i n cu stod y h a dcon fessedh i s i n vo lve m en t i n n a rcotics t r a ffickin g to K i m zey, an d that “t h e contr aba n d h ada l readyb een l oad ed i n t o a l i t t l e grey F ordHardin’s reportsugge sts theTempo wa s he aded towards SanAngelo, butis not 3 completelyclear on the point. 5 car. ” H a rd inre p o rte dth a t “[t]h is d e sc rip tion m a tch e dth e v e h icle I h a dob served t r aveli ng nor t h on 1024 ear l i er . ” Based on t he fac tt hatt he dr iverof the C hevy SU V had a San Ange l o , Te xa s a ddr e s s , a nd thatt he dir e c t i o n o f t r av e lm i ght h a v e b e e n to w a r d s S a n A n g e lo , H a r d in co n c lu d e dth a t t h e F o r d ’ s lik e ly 3 d e s tin a ti o n w a s S a n A n g e lo

. H a r d in re la y e dth is in fo r m a tio n to S a n A n g e lo U S B P ag en ts an dto a l oca lsh erif f’ s off i ce in th e form of a“be-on -th e-l oo k ou t” al ert , or B O L O

. H ardi n t est i f i ed that t h e B O L O w as f or a “li t t l e gray or s i lver fou r-do orFor d Tem po w i t h t w o o c c upants i n i t
. D r iverhas on a s t r aw h a t, h ead i n g n ort h

. ” Itis u n cl ear fr om the record w h et h er th e B O L O al so c on t ai n ed th e inco n sist en t i n form a ti on f rom the sl i p of p a p er re ga rd i n g a F ordT em p o w i th a dif ferent V IN nu m ber, l i cense pl ate, an d m odelyear. B. Age ntCor ona do’ s Acc ount C orona do ad vi sed t h at th e “l ocalt raf f i c patt ern” f

or H i gh w ay 16 3, one of th e h ig h w a y s w h e r e th e a g e n ts s p o tt e d th e F o r d T e m p o , w a s “b a s ic a llyo il-fie ld
w orkers, ranch ers, an d sem i

- t rucks. ” H e a d dedt h at itw as a good rou t e f or s m u g g li n g ali en s a n d n a rcotics b eca u se t h ere i s ve ry l i ttl e l a w en forcem en t in t h e area, an d n o i m m i grati on checkp oi n t s. H e f u rt h er sta t ed that sm u ggl ers
w o u ld c o m m o n ly s w itc h fr o m H ig h w a y 1 0 2 4 to H ig h w a y 1 6 3 to c o n t i n u e t h e ir
sm uggl i ng. C o r o n a d o s ta te dth a th e h a dre c e iv e daB O L O fo ra n “o ld e rm o d e l,”

“f ou r- door gray Ford Tem po” w i t h t w o H i span i c m al e occ u pa n t s, l i kely head ed t o San Ange l o and c o nt ai ni ng m ar ij uana . Bas e d o n t he BO LO , he b e l i e ve d the
car w ou l d be tr aveli n g on H i gh w ay 16 3 an d th e n 6 7 to w ards S an A n gel o. C o r o n a d o st a te dth a t t h e T e m p o w a s n o t t h e ty p e o f v e h ic le h e ty p ic a llys a w in6

t he t r af f i che o bs erved on H i ghw ay 163
. Cor o nad o f

ur t he rs t at e d thatt he “ gr e y For d Te m po o bs e rve d byAge nt H ar di n t r aveli ng nor t h on H i ghw ay 102 4, j ustbe f or e the [ C hevy S U V] w as observed tr aveli n g south, w as suspected as t h e possibl e l oadveh i cl e, w h i ch contai n ed th e contr aba n d. C om st ock [U S B P ] A gen t s r el ayed t h i s i n f orm ati on t o t h e Sa n A n gel o A gen t s w h o cond u ct ed s u rvei l l an ce on road com m on l y u sed f or al i en /n arcot i cs sm u ggl i n g n ort h f rom t h e C om st ock regi on . ” C orona do speci f i ed t hat“j us tb e i ng a gr ayo r s i lve rFo r d woul d no t[i n it s e l f ] m ak e av e hi c l e uni que o rd is tin c tiv e .” Ata bo ut2 : 30 p. m . t hatda y, C o r o nad o ob s e rve d a gr e y 19 91 F o r d Te m po
n ort h bou n d at H i ghway1 63 a nd H i gh w ay 19 0. (Itw as subseq u en t l y determ i n ed t hatRod r i gue z w as t he dr ive ro f t hatTe m po . ) Cor on ad o a dv i s e d thatt he T em po’ s oc cup an t s l ooked at C orona do as they pa ssed h i s veh i cl e, an un m arked For d p i c kup. Af

t e rl o o ki ng atCor o nad o , t he Te m po p as s e nge rt ur ne d t o t he dr ive r , t he n s l o uc he d i n hi s s e at
. Cor o nad o s t at e d thatt he dr ive ro f t he Te m po
w as nervous athi s pre se nce (t hough hi s vehi c l e w as unm ar ked, C or onado w as inau n iform a n dC o ro n a d o sta te dh e w o u ldh a v e b e e n v isib le fro m th e T e m p o ). A s C orona do p u l l ed i n beh i n d the T em po t o run i t s pl ates, t h e veh i cl e sped
u p. W h en C orona do cl osed t h e di st an ce on t h e T em po, t h e T em po m ovedover t o t h e shou l der of

t h e roa d a n d s low ed d ow n . Th e T em po rem ai n ed at a sl ow speedon the shou l der f or s ev e ra l m il es ( C orona do ran t h e l i cense pl ate bef ore t h e T em po m ovedt o t h e shou l der)

. T h e driver w as l ooking i n hi s r earvi ew m i rror f requ en t l y. H e sw erved over t h e y el l ow d ivi di n g l i n e in the road severalt i m es; C or onado beli eve d thatw as be c ause he w as l oo ki ng bac kw ar d r at hert han f orw ard. C orona do cal l ed f or backu p b e ca u se h e w as i n an un m arked sensor p ic k u p w ith n o e m e r g e n c ye q u ip m e n t. Th e r ec or d c hec k of

t he Tem po’ s l i c ens e pl at e r ef l ec t ed thatt he ve hi c l e w as7

ow ned by a B et t y A. M unoz o f San A n ge l o, Texas

. C or onado f ound t hat
sus pi c i ous be c ause bo t h oc c upants of t he Tem po w er e m al es and the ow nerw as a w o m an; i n hi s e xp e r i e nc e , e duc at i o n, a nd t rai n i n g, itw as c o m m o n f o rdr ug t raf f i ckers t o use veh i cl es regi st ered i n ot h er peopl e’ s nam es. C orona do f ol l ow ed t he Tem po nor t hbound o n H i ghw ay 163 until i t t urned nor t heas t on H i gh w ay 67. Th e T em po abru ptly t u rnedi n t o a conven i en ce s t ore andpark ed. Th e driver en t ered t h e st ore and returned tw o or t h ree m i n u t es l ater ; t h e passen ger never ex i tedthe ve h i cl e. T h e T em p o th en b a ck edou t of the pa rk i n g lot an dpu l l edon to H ig h w a y6 7 . T h e t w o m a le o c c u p a n ts a p p e a r e dto b e v is ib lyn e rv o u s a n dw o u ld notm ake eye cont ac tw i t h C or onado. Coro nado f oll ow ed the Tem po f

orabo ut50
m ile s into ta l. D u ri n g th i s ti m e, C oro n a d o w a s i n ra d i o con tact w ithoth er U S B P ag en ts i n t he a r e a, s pe c i f

i c all y Age nt Cor e y H o dg e s , w ho w as i n Sa n Ange l o t r av e l i ng on H i gh w ay 67 t ow ards C orona do. C orona do r equ est ed ass i st an ce f rom H odg es i n st opp i n g t h e T em po becau se H odg es w as in a m arked u n i ta n d h adem ergency l i ght s . The Tem po c o nt i nue d no r t he as t o n H i ghway 67 unt i l i t pa ssed A ge nt H od ge s’l oca ti on f

ive m i l es sou th w est of M ertzo n , T ex a s. C oro n a d o sta tedtha t,
o n t he basi s of

w hathe ha d o bs e rve d a nd whatH ar di n ha d r e l ay e d, Cor o nad o an d H odg es i n i t i ated a t raf f i c st op of t h e T em po. T h e T em po c on t i n u ed t o t ravel sl ow l y f or a m i l e or a m i l e an d a h a lf a ft er H odg es t u rnedon h i s em ergency l i ght s bef

or e it st opped. O n t he bas i s of hi s expe r i enc e, educ at i on, and t r ai ni ng, Cor o nad o s t at e d heb e l i e ve d thatt he o c c upa nt s o f t he Tem po ha d b e e n “ ge t t i ng
r e a d yto b a il o u t o f th e v e h ic le o rl o o k i n gfo ras id e ro a dto ta k e .” U p o n h is ap proach t o t h e T em po’ s driver’ s- si de d oor, H odg es observed a la rge bu n dl e of
w h at he bel i evedt o be m a rijuan a on t h e rear f l oorboard beh i n d the pa ssenger se at
. R odr i guez w as pl ac ed underar r es tand handcuf fed, and C or onado r ead h i m hi s Mi r anda ri gh t s. R odri gu ez t h en consented to a search of t h e veh i cl e,8

whi c h y i e l d e d 1 7 6
. 5 p o un d s o f m a r ij ua na . Onl y t he l e g a l i t y o f t he s t o p i s at i ssu e h ere ; R od ri gu ez do es n ot ch a l l en ge the va l i d i ty of h i s con sen t. I I . S TA NDARD OF RE VI EW W e revi ew th e d e n ia l of a m ot i on t o sup press evi den ce acc ordi n g t o a bi f u rcat ed st an da rd: w e revi ew f i n di n gs of

factf or c l ear err or and concl u si on s of l a w de no vo . Un itedS ta tes v. In o ce n cio , 40 F

. 3 d71 6 , 72 1 ( 5 th C ir . 19 9 4 ). “A fac t ualf

i ndi ng i s no tc l e ar l y e r r o ne o us a s l o ng as i ti s pl ausibl e in l i ghto f t he
r e c o r d a s aw ho l e . Fur t he r , t he e vi de nc e pr e s e nt e d a ta p re - t r i alhe ar i ng o n a
m o tio n to s u p p r e s s is v ie w e dint h e lig h t m o s t fa v o r a b le to th e p r e v a ilin gp a r ty .” Un i t ed S t ate s v. Ja cqu i n ot , 2 5 8 F. 3 d4 2 3 , 4 2 7 ( 5 t h Ci r . 2 001) (citati on s, quo t at i o n m ar ks , a nd p unc t uat i o n o m i t t e d)

. The di s t r i c tc o ur t ’ s o ve r allf i ndi ng t h a tr e a s o n a b l e s u s p i c i o n e x i s t e df o rt h e s t o p i s a c o nc l us i o n o f l a w t h a twe
r e v i e w de no vo . In o ce n cio , 40 F. 3d at721. I I I . DI S CU S S I ON A . R eason ab l e Su spi ci on Stan da rd T em porary, w arran t l ess detenti on s of i n divi du al s con st i t u t e sei zures f or Fourt h A m endm entpurpo se s and m ustbe j ust i f i ed byr eas onabl e s uspi c i on t hat i l l egal act ivi t y h as or i s t ak i n g pl ace; ot h erw i se, evi den ce obtai n ed th rough such
ad e te n tio n m a yb e e x c lu d e d

. T er ry v. O h io , 392 U

. S. 1 ( 19 68 )

. “ [ I ] n j us t i f yi ng t he pa r t i c ul ari nt r us i o n t he po l i c e o f f i c e rm us tb e a bl e t o po i ntt o s pe c i f i ca nd art i cul able fact s w h i ch, t ak en t ogether w i t h rat i on ali n ferences f rom t h ose fact s, rea so n a b lyw a r r a n t th a t i n tru sion

. ” I d. a t 2 1 ; seeJa cqu i n ot , 258 F. 3d at427. Reas o nab l e s us pi c i o n “req ui r e s m o r e t han m e r e l y an unpa r t i c ul ar i z e d hu nc h, butcons i de r ab l y l e s s t han pr o o f o f w r o ngd o i ng byapr e po nde r anc e o f t he
ev i d en ce.” Un i t ed S t ate s v. G on zalez , 19 0 F

. 3 d6 6 8 , 67 1 ( 5 thC i r. 19 9 9 ). C ou rts determ i n e w h et h er th e s to p w as reasonab l e by cond u ct i n g a fact

- i n t en sive, to ta lity -o f-t h e cir c u m s ta n c e s in q u ir y . J acqu i n ot , 2 5 8F

. 3 da t4 27
. A “ divi de

- and

-9

c o n q u e r” a p p r o a c h t o t h is a n a ly s is is n o t p e r m itt e d

. Un i t ed Stat es v. A rvizu , 534 U

. S. 266, 274 ( 2002) (f i ndi ng t hat“ [ a] l th ou gh ea c h of t he s er i es of

ac t s w as

‘ pe r hap s i nno c e nti n it s e l f, ’w e he l d [i n Te r ry ] t h at, t ak en t ogether, t h ey

‘ w a rr a n te dfu rth e r in v e stig a tion .’”). F act ors t h at m ay be con si dered i n ana n a lysi s of reasonab l e suspi ci on i n cl u de: ( 1) proxi m i t y t o t he bor der ; ( 2) chara c t er i st i c s of t he ar ea; ( 3) usual t r af f i cpat t er ns; ( 4) age nt ’ s pre vi ous ex per i enc e i n det ec t i ng i l l egal act iv i t y; ( 5) beh aviorof t h e driver; ( 6) parti cul ar aspect s or c harac t er i st i c s of

t he ve hi c l e; ( 7) i nf

or m at i on abo utr ec entil l egal t raff i cki n g i n al i en s orna rcot i cs i n t h e area; an d ( 8) t h e nu m ber, ap pea ran ce, an d beh aviorof t h e passen gers. Jacqu i n ot , 258 F

. 3d at 427
. N o si n gl e fact or i s di sposi t ive, an d each case m u st be exam i ned based on the to t al i t y of t he c i r c um st ance s know n t o the age nt s at t h e t i m e of

th e st op an d thei r experi en ce i n eval u ati n g such circum st an ces. Uni t e d St at e s v . G ue r r e ro - Bar aj as , 2 4 0 F .3d4 2 8 , 4 3 2 (5t h C ir. 2 0 0 1 ). B . R eas onabl e Suspi ci on A n a ly s is A s st at ed ab ove , t he o nly i ss ue i n t hi s c as e i s w het hert he age nt s had
r e as o nab l e s us pi c i o n f o rt he s t o p. R odr i gue z c o nt e nds t hatf ivea s pe c t s o f

t he
e x c h a n g e a m o n gth e a g e n ts b e lie th e d is tr ic t c o u r t’s fin d in go f r e a s o n a b le susp i ci on . Th ese are: 1. The “r e l at ive l y no ns pe c i f i c ” na t ur e o f

t he BO LO r e po r tm ad e by H ardi n an d rel i ed u pon by C orona do; 2. Th e l on g peri od of t i m e betw een w h en H ardi n f i rstsaw t h e F ord T em po an d w h en C orona do beg an t o f ol l ow it , given t h e short ph ysi caldi st an ce; 3. Th e observati on t h at R odri gu ez’ s passeng er c rouch ed i n hi s seat an d that R odri gu ez fai l ed to l ook at C orona do; 4. Th e observati on t h at R odri gu ez gl an ced f requ en t l y i n hi s r earvi ew m i r r orand dr i f t ed f r om hi s l ane o f

t r af f i c , i ncl udi ng m o vi ng o ve rt o t he s ho ul de ra nd s l o w i ng do w n; a nd10

5. The obs ervat i on t hatR odr i guez “ abr upt l y” pul l ed i nt o a c o nve ni e nc e s t o r e a f t e rb e i ng f

o l l o w e d. In re s p o n s e , th e G o v e r n m e n t c la im s th a t e le v e n “fa c ts a n dre a s o n a b le i n ferences supp ort ed the i n vest i gatory s t op. ” Th ese are: 1. The age nt s’ex t ens ive expe r i enc e a nd t r ai ni ng; 2. Th e agen t s’ext en sive exp eri en ce patr ol l i n g t h e rel evan tareas; 3. Th e st atus of

t h e routesi n volvedas kn ow n na rcot i cs sm u ggl i n g routes; 4. The pr i orappr ehens i ons of nar c ot i c s sm uggl er s on H i ghw ay 1024; 5. Th at R odri gu ez’ s vehi cl e di d n otf i tt h e usu alt raf

f i c patt erns; 6
. T h a t t h e a g e n ts d idn o t r e c o g n iz e R o d r ig u e z a s alo c a l resid en t; 7. Tha tRod r i gue z ’ s v e hi c l e w as i ni t i all y e nc o unt e r e d l e s s t han 10 m i l es f

rom t h e border; 8. Tha tt he f

r o nts e atpa s s e nge rm o ve d b ac k i n hi s s e ata nd crou ch eddo w n u p on sp otti n g law en forcem en t; 9. Tha tRod r i gue z w as t r av e l i ng w e l lb e l o w t he po s t e d s pe e d l i m i t; 10. Th at R odri gu ez conti n u ou sly l ooked i n hi s r ear- vi ew m i rror ands w e rve d o ve rt he y e l l o w hi ghwaydivi di ng l i ne ; a nd 1 1
. T h a t th e a ge n ts receive dsp ecif i c i n form a ti on ab ou t R od ri gu ez ’ s i l l eg a lactivi ti es, w h i ch w a s corro b ora tedbyeigh t dif fe r e nta s pe c t s o f

t he a ge nt s ’i nt e r ac t i o n wi t h Rod r i gue z a nd t h e o c c u p a n t s o f

t h e Ch e v yS UV. Rodr i gue z ’ s c l ai m s w i l lb e a s s e s s e d i n t ur n. 1. T h e B O L OR eport “[A] n al ertor B O L O reportm ay p rovi de the reasona bl e suspi ci on
n ece ssa ryto j u stify an i n ve sti ga torystop
. ” G on zalez , 190 F. 3d at672. W h e th e rap a r tic u la rt ip o rB O L O re p o r t p r o v id e s as u ffic ie n t b a s is f o ra n i nve s t i gatory st o p m ayde pe nd u po n [ 1] t he c r e dibil i t y and rel i abili t y of

t h e i n f orm an t , [ 2] th e specif i cit y of t h e i n f orm ati on c o nt ai ne d i n the t i p o rr e po r t , [ 3] t he e xt e ntt o w hi c h t he i nf o r m at i o n i n t he t i p o rr e po r tc an bev e r i f i e d b y o f

f i c e r s i n t he f i e l d, a nd [ 4] w he t he rt he t i p o rr e po r tc o nc e r ns a c t iveo rr e c e nt11

act ivi t y, or h as i n st eadgon e st al e. I d. (“ G on zalez fa c to r s ”). R o d r ig u e z cla im s th e B O L O r e p o r t w a s n o t s p e c ific
e n o u g h t o s u p p o r t t h e s t o p a n d a r g u e s t h a t it fa il e d t o s p e c if y t h e v e h ic le ’s lic e ns epl at e nu m ber, st ate of regi st rat i on , an d other di st i n gu i shi ng i nf o r m ati o n. R evi ew of

t h i s m i xedqu est i on of l aw an d facti s de no vo . A s noted above, i ti s not cl ear w h et h er th e B O L O di d co n ta in a l i cense pl at e num ber , albeitone t hat di d not m at c h R odr i guez ’ s c ar . M or e i m por t ant l y, t h e F ou rt h A m en dm en tdoes not r equ i re th at a B O L O specif i cal l y i n clu d e a veh i cl e’ s li cense pl ate nu m ber or regi st rat i on i n f orm ati on . Th e B O L O contai n ed
ag re a t d e a l of d e ta il , e v e n th o u g h it w a s b rie f. T h e B O L O ’ s i d e n tifi ca tion of a car by i t s m ak e, m odel , body st yl e, an d by t h e n u m ber, et h n i cit y, sex, an d att i re o f its o c c u p a n ts , o n s u c h as p a r s e ly tr a v e le d r o a d , m ig h t h a v e b e e n s u ffic ie n t in its e lf to s u p p o r t a s to p . B u t R o d r ig u e z fa ils to a c k n o w le d g e th a t t h e a g e n ts d id
no ts t o p the For d Tem po s o l e l y as a r e s ul t o f t he BO LO al e r t
. I n fac t , Cor o nad o f ol l ow ed R odri gu ez’ s T em po f or ap proxi m ately 50 m i l es bef ore di rect i n g H odg es t o p u l li to v e r . A l t h o u g h h e wa s a l e r t e dt o R o d r i g ue z ’ s c a rb yt h e B OL O, C orona do al so art i cul ated ot h er speci f i c fact s an d rati on ali n ferences f rom t h ose fac t s , de t ail e d sup ra , th a t s u p p o r te dth e s to p . S ee Jacqu i n ot , 358 F. 3d at427. I n ad dit i o n, t he f

i r s t , t hi r d, a nd f

o ur t h G on zalez fac t or s, unchal l enged by R odr i guez , al lfavorthe G ove r nm ent , ev en if t he s t op w er e under st oo d t o have
r e s ul t e df

r o m t h e BOL O a l e r ta l o n e . F i r s t , t h e “i n f o r m a n t” wa s Go i t i a , t he person w h o confes sed t o bei n g i n volved i n n arcot i cs t raf f i cki n g w i t h R odri gu ez. The s l i p o f pa pe r i n G o i t i a’ s w all e tc o nt ai ne d i nf o r m at i o n o n as i m i l arc ar , b ut t h e fa c t t h a t t h e li c e n s e p la t e s o n t h a t s li p o f p a p e r d id n o t m a t c h R o d r i g u e z ’s i s not di sposi t ive; as G o iti a expl ai n ed to t h e agen t s, t h e pl ates on t h e sli p of pa per bel on g e d t o a di f ferent Ford T em po that t h e ri n g w as al so usi n g f or12

s m uggl i ng. Eve n if

H ar di n a l s o r e l ay e d the i nc o ns i s t e nti nf o r m at i o n f

r o m t he
s l i p o f pa pe r , t he fac tt hatRod r i gue z ’ s c arm at c he d al ess e rq uant um o f t he i n f orm ati on w ou l d n otin i t sel f vi t i ate th e B O L O on these fact s. W e em ph asi ze t h at w e do n otreach t h e qu est i on w h e th e r th is B O L O it sel f w ou l d h ave been
s uf f i c i e ntt o pr o vi de r e as o nab l e s us pi c i o n f o rt he s t o p. The t hi r d a nd f

o ur t h G on zalez fac t o r s c l e ar l y fav o rt he G o ve r nm e nt : t he t i p was i n fac tv e r i f i e d t o as i gnif

i c ante xt e ntb y of

f i cer s i n t he f

i e l d, w ho observed the susp i ci ou s beh aviorof R odri gu ez’ s car a s they f ol l ow ed i tf

or over 50 m i l es, an d the reportconcernednot m erely “ recent”bu ti n fact conte mporan eous ac t ivi t y: ongo i ng dr ug- sm uggl i ng. 2. TheLo ng Pe r i o d of Ti m eb e t w e e n when Har di n Fi rs tSaw t heFo r d T emp o a n dw h en Co ro n a d o B ega n to F o llow it R o d r i g u e z n e x tc o n t e n d s t h a tt h e th r e e a n do n e h a l f h o u r s h e c l a i ms pa ssed betw een w h en H ardi n firstsaw the F ord T em po an d w h en C orona do f i rst spo t t ed i tw as m uch l ongerthan the per i od o f t i m e itw oul d have t aken t o dr ive th e d i stan ce b etw ee n th ese tw o p oin ts, w h i ch h e m a i n tain s a re 9 5 m i l es a p a rt. H e c o nt e nds “t he pa s s ag e o f t i m e i nc r e as e s t he pr o ba bil i t y t hatt he s us pi c i o us vehi c l e f

oll ow ed a di f

fer entrout e f

r om thatst aked outby A gentC or onado ort hat th e v e h ic le h a da lr e a d yp a s s e db yth e in te r s e c tio n h e w a s o b s e rv in g .” The m e r e pa s s ag e o f t i m e do e s no tadv anc e R o dr i gue z ’ s a r gum e ntm uc h, h ow ever. Th ere are m an y pl au sibl e reason s w h y R odri gu ez m i gh tha ve en ded
u p i n t h e pl ace w h ere C orona do spott ed h i m at t h at t i m e rat h er th an earl i er. M o r e i m po r t ant l y, r e vi e w o f t hi s fac t ualde t e r m i nat i o n i s f o rc l e are rr o r , a nd Rodr i gue z ha s fail e d t o m ak e o utt hi s cl ai m w i t h any s pe c i f i c i t y, b e yo nd n o t i ng t he fac tt hatI nt e r s t at e H i ghway1 0, a n “ ac kno w l e dg e d d r ug t r af f i c ki ng c o r r i d o r , ” a n da n o t h e rt o wn( Oz o n a , T e x a s ) w e r e i n t e r p o s e db e t we e n t h e t wo ag e nt s ’ l o c at i o ns . Pe r hap s t hatm e r e l y m e antt hatRod r i gue z s t o ppe d i n Ozo na13

fo rlu n c h

. Itis ir r e le v a n t. H e h a s c ite dn o ca s e s fo rw h a t is , a t b o tt o m , h is cla im th a t th e d i stri ct cou rt cl ea rl y erred i n fi n d i n g t h a t h i s tak i n g sl i gh tly l on ge r to t r av e lb e t w e e n po i nt s A andB t han he w o ul d hav e had he be e n t r av e l i ng no ns t o p a tt he s pe e d li m i tund e r m i ne d the r e as o nab l e ne s s o f t he st o p. To c allt he di st ri ct court’ s f

i n di n g on t h i s poi n t“ cl ear err or” w ou l d be to deprive t h at t erm of al lm eani ng. 3. T h e B ody L angu ag e of R od rigu ez an dHi s Pa sse nger R o d r ig u e z n e x t c o m p la in s th a t t h e d is tr ic t c o u r t in a p p r o p r ia te ly
c o ns i dered t h e b o dy

- l ang uag e r e s po ns e o f Rod r i gue z a nd h i s pa s s e nge rt o t he
a g e n t s . C o r o n a d o n o t e d , a s d o e s t h e G o v e r n m e n tin it s b r ie f, th a tR o d r ig u e z ’s pass engerc r ouc hed dow n i n hi s se ataf t erl oo ki n g a tC or onado, and t hat R odri gu ez fai l ed to l ook at h im w h e n h e w as st opp ed i n B arn h art , T exas. W her e, as her e, t he appell antch a l l enges t he vi suali m pre ss i ons and fac t ual i n ferences of

a l aw enfor cem en tof f i cer, t h e qu est ion is probab l y on e of fact
r e vi e w ab l e f

o r c l e ar e r r o r r at he r t han o ne o f l aw r e vi e w e d de no vo , b u tt h e t wo fram ew ork s yield th e sa m e res u l t. R odri gu ez i s c orrec tt h at a s u spect ’ s fai l u re t o look a ta n off i cer ad ds l i t t l e, if a n y th in g , t o t h e re a s o n a b le n e s s a n a ly s is

. S ee Un i t ed S t ate s v. MorenoCh ap arro , 180 F

. 3d62 9 , 632 ( 5th C i r. 199 8) (h ol di n g t h at “ [w ] e are persuad ed t hati n t he o r di nary c as e, w het hera dr iverl oo ks atan of f i c erorfai l s t o l oo k at
an of f i cer, t ak en al on e or i n com bi n ati on w i t h ot h er fact ors, shou l d be accorded l i t t l e w e i ght

. ” )

. I n it s b r i e f, t he G o ve r nm e ntdo e s no ta r gueother w i s e : t he “fa ilu r e -to -lo o k ” o b s e rv a tio n is n o t o n e o f its a s s e r te dg r o u n d s o f r e a s o n a b le susp i ci on on ap pea l , al t h ou gh itm ay h ave been consi dered b y t h e tr ia l j u dg e. Iti s un cl ear w h et h er “crouchi n g dow n , ” t h e G overnm en t’ s e igh t h asser t ed gr ou n dof rea son a b l e su sp i ci on , sh ou l dbe treate ddif feren tly; if i t i s an eff ort to evad e t h e eye of

t h e l aw en for ce m e n tof f i cer, i ti s c on ceivab l e t h at itcoul d be.14

Butb o t h t he s e s ub- c l ai m s a r e no n- i s s ue s . The a ge nt s di d no tpl ac e m uc h wei ght
o n t he m i n t he sup pr e s s i o n hea r i ng ( e s pe c i all y t he “ fail ur e - t o - l o o k” cl ai m ) , a nd R odri gu ez ha s provi ded n o au t h orit y t o t h e ef fect t h at agen t s are f orbi dd en f

rom con side r in gth e m a lto g e th e r(in d e e d , n o s u c h a u th o r itye x is ts ). A c c o r d in g ly , th is
c l a i m d o e s n o tw e a k e nt h e r e a s o n a b l e s u s p i c i o n t h e G o v e r n me n tc l a i ms s upp o r t e d the s t o p. 4. R od rigu ez’

s D ri vi ng B eha vi or R odri gu ez’ s f

ou rt h chal l en ge t o t h e reasona bl en ess of t h e st op centers on t h e w ei gh tt h e agen t s acc orded h i s glanci n g f requ en t l y i n t h e rearvi ew m i rror , c r o s s i ng t he y e l l o w l i ne i n t he r o ad , a nd m o vi ng o ve rt o t he s ho ul de ra nd s l o w i ng dow n . Th i s add ress es t h e t en t h groun d the G overnm en tcl ai m s s u pp ort ed
r e a s o n a b l e s u s p i c i o n . T h e s i n g l e c a s e R o d r i g u e z c i t e s i n s u p p o r to f t h i s c l a i m, Un i t ed S t ate s v. Jon es , 149 F. 3d 364 ( 5t h C i r . 1998) , bo l st er s i tonly s uper f i c i al l y. O ne q ue s t i o n i n Jon es w as w he t he r l o o ki ng atal aw enf o r c e m e nto f

f i c e ri n t he
rea rv i ew m i rror a n ddr i ftin g o ff the roa das a con seq u en ce co u l dsu p p ort a fin d in g o f r e a s o n a b le s u s p ic io n . I d. at 370 –71
. H ow ever, i n t h at c ase, t h e of f i cer
w as t ail ga t i ng t he s us pe c t ; t he c o ur t t hus f o und t hat “ w he n t he o f f i c e r ’ s a c t i o ns a re su ch th a t a n y d rive r, w h eth er inn oce n t or gu i l ty, w ou l dbe pr eo ccu p i edw i th h i s presence, t h en an y i n ference t h at m i gh tb e draw n f rom t h e driver’ s beha vi or i s d estro ye d

. ” I

d. at 370
. T h ere i s n o a l l egati on tha ta n y of t h e agen t s t ai l gated Rodr i gue z o ro t h erw i se cau s e d hi m t o dr ivei n t he e r r at i cm anne ri n whi c h he
w as al l egedt o ha ve driven . Th eref ore, C orona do’ s i n feren ce s ba sed on R odri gu ez’ s f

requ en tgl an ci n g i n hi s r earvi ew m i rroran d sw ervi n g are not

“ destr oyed

. ” Th ey w ere properly pa rt of t h e t ot al i t y of t h e circum st an ces t h at l ed to th e s to p . S ee A rvizu , 5 3 4 U .S . a t 2 7 3 ) (“d iv id e -a n d -c o n q u e r” s tr a te g yn o t v a lid
a ga i n st T

err y t o t ali t y- o f

- t he

- c i r c um s t anc e s t e s t)

. Thi s i s t r ue und e rb o t h t he
c l e are r r o ra nd de no vo s t a n d a r d s o f r e v i e w.15

5. R od rigu ez’

s “ A bru ptl y” P u l l i ng i n t o a Con venie n ce S t ore R odri gu ez’ s f

i n al cl ai m i s t h at hi s deci si on t o st op at a conven i en ce s t ore i n B arn h art , T exas “ af t er h e h ad been f

ol l ow ed f

or ap proxi m ately t w en t y m i l es by a veh i cl e [ driven by C orona do] t h at hadref u sed t o p ass, ” a l on g w i t h t h e fact t hatR odr i guez had go ne i nt o the s t or e f orw hat“A gentC oro n a d o d eci ded w as a s uspi c i ous l y s hor tper i od o f t i m e, ” c oul d not“ give r i set o a ny addi t i on al
s u s p ic io u s in fe r e n c e s .” F o rth is p r o p o s itio n , a n dw ith o u t e x p la n a tio n , h e a g a in cit es Jo n e s , 149 F

. 3dat 369 –71
. Th e Jon esco u r t h e ldth a t a n u m b e ro f h ig h ly
c ir c u m s ta n tia l p ie c e s o f e v id e n c e w e r e in s u ffic ie n t a s ab a s is o f r e a s o n a b le
s us pi c i o n. W e r e adt hi s c i t at i o n t o c o nt e nd thatR o dr i gue z ’ s b r i e f s t o p a tt he
c onveni enc e s t or e i s anal ogo us t o o ne o rallof th ose pi ec es of

c i r c um st ant i al
e vi de nc e . Rev i e w o f t hi s q ue s t i o n, w hi c h g o e s t o t he t o t al i t y o f t he circum st an ces, i s de no vo . I n Jon es , t h e su spect“l ook[ed] like a t ou ri st , w as d rivi n g n ort h bou n d on H i gh w ay 11 8 ap proxi m ately ei gh t y ( 80) m i l es n ort h of t h e T exas- M exi co border at 7: 00 a
. m . , af

t er s u n ri se, w ith h is l i gh t s on i n a T oyota 4 R u n n er w i t h f resh
m u d o n it w i t h a bl u e t arp over som et h i n g i n t h e rear cargo area” ; t h e court fou n dtha t th a t de scripti on , ev en i n conj u n cti on w i ththe S U V ’ s br ok en taill i gh t,
w as “farm o r e c o ns i s t e ntw i t h [ de fe nda nt] b e i ng a t o ur i s t c o m i ng f r o m Bi g Bend N a tio n a l P a r kth a n a n a li e n s m u g g le ro rd r u gs m u g g le rw h o cr o s s e dth e R io G ra n d e b efore d a w n tha t m orn i n g.” I d. at371. The G o ve r nm e nt do e s no t c o nt e nd t hat t he c o nve ni e nc e s t o r e s t o p was o ne o f its b a s e s fo rre a s o n a b le s u s p ic io n . C o r o n a d o d idm e n tio n it, h o w e v e r , inh is
r e p o r t. L ik e m a n yo f th e in d iv id u a l c o n s id e r a tio n s t h e G o v e r n m e n t c ite s , th is fa c t, in is o la tio n , w o u ldn o t s u p p o r t a fin d i n go f r e a s o n a b le s u s p ic io n . In th is case, how ever, t h e G o v e rn m en tcan rel y on ot h er m ore probative sources of susp i ci on besi des t h e one R odri gu ez at t acks h ere. A m on g t h e sources of16

s us pi c i o n t he di s t r i c t c o ur t c o ul d hav e c r e dit e d w e r e t he BO LO r e port and R odri gu ez’ s er ran tdrivi n g, as w el las t h e road’ s s t atus as a rec ogn i zed corr i dor fo rn a r c o tic s a n d ille g a l a lie n s m u g g lin ga n dth e a g e n ts ’o w n e x p e r ie n c e ina n tism uggl i ng ope r at i ons . There f or e, t he di st r i c tco u rt d i d noter ri n f i ndi ng t hat
reasona bl e suspi ci on sup ported t h e sei zure, w h et h er ornot itcon sidered R o d r ig u e z ’ s co n v e n ie n c e s to r e s to p . O f th e e ig h t fa c to r s w e m e n tio n e din Jacqu i n ot , 258 F

. 3d at 427 , i n describi n g t h e t ot al i t y- of

- t h e- circum st an ces t est fo rre a s o n a b le n e s s , o n lyth e fir s t fa c t o r— p r o x im ityto th e b o r d e r— c o u ld conceivab l y be of

assi st an ce t o R odri gu ez (th e F ord T em po ap pea rs t o h ave been
c lo s e to th e b o r d e rw h e n H a r d in fir s t sa w it, b u t w a s n o t w h e n it w a s u ltim a te ly st opp ed). A l lthe other Ja cq u in o t fac t o r s fav o r a f i ndi ng o f

r e as o nab l e s us pi c i o n. IV . C ONC L US I ON F or th e reasons setfor t h a bove, w e A F F IR M t h e j u dg m en tof t h e di st ri ct
cou rt.