Document: 127 S. Ct. 1989 (2007) LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, et al. v. Max RETTELE No. 06-605. Supreme Court of United States. Decided May 21, 2007. *1990 PER CURIAM. Deputies the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department obtained a valid warrant to search house, but they were unaware that suspects being sought had moved out three months earlier. When deputies searched found in bedroom two residents who different race than suspects. The ordered these innocent residents, been sleeping unclothed, bed. required them stand for few minutes before allowing dress. brought suit under Rev. Stat. § 1979, 42 U.S.C. 1983, naming and other parties accusing violating Fourth Amendment right be free from unreasonable searches seizures. District granted summary judgment all named defendants. Appeals Ninth Circuit reversed, concluding both violated not entitled qualified immunity because reasonable deputy would have stopped upon discovering respondents their We grant petition certiorari reverse by this disposition. I From September December 2001, Deputy Dennis Watters investigated fraud identity-theft crime ring. There four investigation. One registered 9-millimeter Glock handgun. known African-Americans. On 11, houses Lancaster, California, where he believed could find authorized *1991 him homes documents computer files. In support an affidavit cited various sources showing resided at respondents' home. included Motor Vehicles reports, mailing address listings, outstanding warrant, Internet telephone directory. do dispute validity or means which it was obtained. What did know one (the first searched) sold Rettele. He purchased home into earlier with his girlfriend Judy Sadler Sadler's 17-year-old son Chase Hall. All three, here, are Caucasians. morning 19, briefed six preparation houses. informed searching African-American suspects, whom owned possibility suspect armed caused concern own safety. special permission night search, so execute until 7 a.m. See Cal.Penal Code Ann. 1533 (West 2000). Around 7:15 knocked on door announced presence. Hall answered. entered house after ordering lie face down ground. deputies' announcement awoke Rettele Sadler. guns drawn get bed show hands. They protested wearing clothes. stood up attempted put pair sweatpants, told move. also attempted, without success, cover herself sheet. held gunpoint allowed retrieve robe then permitted left within sit couch living room. By time realized made mistake. apologized Sadler, thanked becoming upset, five minutes. proceeded Those arrested convicted. individually as guardians ad litem Hall, filed 1983 against County, Sheriff's Department, Watters, members sheriff's department. Respondents alleged petitioners rights obtaining reckless fashion conducting detention. proper procedures reasonable. It concluded alternative any clearly established that, result, immunity. appeal challenge warrant; argue conducted manner. A divided panel reversed unpublished opinion. 186 Fed.Appx. 765 (2006). majority "because (1) no African-Americans lived [respondents'] home; (2) [respondents], Caucasian couple, residence several *1992 conduct ownership inquiry; (3) accused emergency search; (4) [respondents] naked while gun, we jury conclude detention `unnecessarily painful, degrading, prolonged,' involved `an undue invasion privacy,' Franklin Foxworth, 31 F.3d 873, 876 (9th Cir.1994)." Id., 766. Turning whether established, should unlawful. Judge Cowen dissented. view authority detain duration justified weapons concealed bedcovers. assuming constitutional violation, law established. denied rehearing en banc. II Because seeking, "[a]fter taking look subjects pose threat safety." Ibid. need pause long rejecting unsound proposition. bed, way knowing elsewhere house. presence some Caucasians eliminate there well. As stated affidavits, is uncommon our society people races live together. Just work together, too might engage joint criminal activity. deputies, armed, possessed secure premises deciding continue search. Michigan Summers, 452 U.S. 692, 101 2587, 69 L. Ed. 2d 340 (1981), officers executing contraband may "detain occupants conducted." 705, 2587. weighing Summers "detention represents only incremental intrusion personal liberty when has warrant." 703, Against interest, balanced "preventing flight event incriminating evidence found"; "minimizing risk harm officers"; facilitating "the orderly completion search." 702-703, 2587; see Muehler Mena, 544 93, 125 1465, 161 299 (2005). take action ensure safety efficacy 98-100, 1465; id., 103, 1465 (KENNEDY, J., concurring); supra, 704-705, test reasonableness objective one. Graham Connor, 490 386, 397, 109 1865, 104 443 (1989) (addressing *1993 seizure person). Unreasonable actions include use excessive force restraints cause unnecessary pain imposed prolonged period time. 100, Graham, 396-399, 1865. orders police occupants, context lawful permissible, perhaps necessary, protect deputies. Blankets bedding can conceal weapon, firearm, factors underscore point. Constitution does require officer ignore sleep weapon reach. reports replete accounts close weapons. States Enslin, 327 788, 791 (C.A.9 2003) ("When [the suspect] hands air began up, movement shifted covers marshals gun next him"); Jones, 336 245, 248 (C.A.3 (suspect kept Luger pillow slept); Hightower, 96 211 (C.A.7 1996) loaded five-shot handgun pillow); State Willis, 36,759-KA, p. 3 (La.App.4/9/03), 843 So. 592, 595 (officers "pulled back .38 caliber Model 10 Smith Wesson revolver located near defendant's hand been"); Kypreos, 115 Wash.App. 207, 61 P.3d 352 (2002) bed). needed moment room persons present danger. turn backs allow clothing themselves sheets. Rather, "[t]he minimized if routinely exercise unquestioned command situation." U.S., This say, course, remain motionless standing longer necessary. recognized "special circumstances, possibly detention" render unreasonable. n. accusation here prolonged. less 15 arriving. shorter restrictive 2- 3-hour handcuff upheld Mena. 1465. And allegation prevented dressing necessary unclothed more minutes, slightly that. testified once satisfied immediate presented, "they wanted us dressed pressing really fast hurry clothes on." Deposition Lorraine CV-0206262-RSWL (RNBX) (CD Cal., June 10, 2003), Doc. 26, Exh. 4, 55. allows warrants issue probable cause, standard well short absolute certainty. Valid will innocent, like unfortunately bear cost. Officers occasion enter engaged private activity; resulting frustration, embarrassment, humiliation real, true here. act manner *1994 harm, however, violated. violated, "there necessity further inquiries concerning immunity." Saucier Katz, 533 194, 201, 121 3151, 150 272 (2001). case remanded proceedings consistent ordered. Justice SOUTER deny writ certiorari. STEVENS, GINSBURG joins, concurring judgment. presents separate questions: circumstances identified Appeals' opinion genuine material fact rights, ante, 1991-1992; nevertheless judges disagreed questions convinces me decision answering question, relied primarily 873 1994). Cowen's discussion demonstrates, surely establish unconstitutionality officers' conduct.[*] Consequently, regardless answer defendants ground disavow unwise practice advance doing so. Sacramento Lewis, 523 833, 859, 118 1708, 140 1043 (1998) (STEVENS, judgment). Accordingly, concur Court's NOTES [*] 765, 767 (2006) (dissenting opinion) ("In Cir.1994), unconstitutional failure provide gravely ill man exposing genitals twenty-three strangers over hours, reason why given clothing. Id. 876-78. `a wantonly callously subjected obviously incapacitated person entirely unjustifiable degradation suffering.' 878. Here, contrast, Plaintiffs ill, brief exposure, lasted, most, outweighed risks associated during execution warrant").

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