Case Name: STATE of Florida, Appellant, v. Timothy Mark PAUL, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1994-05-06
Citations: 638 So. 2d 537
Docket Number: No. 93-420
Parties: STATE of Florida, Appellant, v. Timothy Mark PAUL, Appellee.
Judges: GOSHORN, J., concurs specially with opinion.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 638
Pages: 537–541

Head Matter:
STATE of Florida, Appellant, v. Timothy Mark PAUL, Appellee.
No. 93-420.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District.
May 6, 1994.
Rehearing Denied June 28, 1994.
Robert A. Butterworth, Atty. Gen., Tallahassee, and Rebecca Roark Wall, Asst. Atty. Gen., Daytona Beach, for appellant.
James B. Gibson, Public Defender, and James T. Cook, Asst. Public Defender, Day-tona Beach, for appellee.

Opinion:
W. SHARP, Judge.
The state appeals from an order granting Paul's motion to suppress evidence of cocaine found in his automobile, after a stop by the police. The state argues the police officer's testimony at the suppression hearing, which was the only testimony proffered, conclusively establishes Paul consented to the search. We affirm.
The state makes no argument on appeal that Paul's initial stop by the police officer was a Terry stop or one based on a founded suspicion that a crime had been committed. The officer testified he saw several males around Paul's vehicle but admitted that he did not see any actual drug transaction, did not recognize any of the individuals involved, and did not see any cash or packaging consistent with a drug transaction. The courts have held that these kinds of observations are insufficient to constitute a reasonable suspicion for a stop. See, e.g., M.J.S. v. State, 624 So.2d 359 (Fla. 2d DCA 1993) (officer did not have reasonable suspicion to stop juvenile simply based on his observation of the juvenile and two others in a high-drug area in the evening, leaning into the window of a stopped car and attempting to leave upon seeing the officer when he did not see any money or drugs transferred between the juvenile and occupant of the car); Nesmith v. State, 616 So.2d 170 (Fla. 2d DCA 1993) (officer's observation of defendant in a known drug area, leaning into a parked ear with unidentified object in his hand and his flight when the officer approached did not provide the officer with a reasonable suspicion of criminal activity needed to justify a stop); Shackelford v. State, 579 So.2d 306 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991) (officer's observation of the defendant leaning into a window of a car in an area known for drug sales did not create a reasonable suspicion of criminal activity); Huntley v. State, 575 So.2d 285 (Fla. 5th DCA 1991) (officer who observed defendant in a high-drug area picking something up from a young black male's hand but who saw neither drugs nor money did not have a founded suspicion to detain defendant); Dames v. State, 566 So.2d 51 (Fla. 1st DCA 1990) (officer's stop of defendant was not warranted by his observation of the defendant in a high-crime district leaning into the window of a stopped car and the defendant's rapidly walking away upon seeing another officer approach).
Rather, the state relied on Paul's consent to the search of his car. In order to rely upon consent to justify a search after an unjustified stop of an automobile, the state has a heavy burden to prove that the consent was in fact freely and voluntarily given. Norman v. State, 379 So.2d 643 (Fla.1980). The voluntariness of a defendant's consent to search is to be determined from the totality of the circumstances. West v. State, 588 So.2d 248 (Fla. 4th DCA 1991). When consent is obtained after illegal police activity such as an illegal stop or arrest, the unlawful police action presumptively taints and renders involuntary any consent to search. Norman; West.
However, consent will be held voluntary if there is clear and convincing proof there was an unequivocal break in the chain of illegality (in the illegal stop) sufficient to dissipate the taint of the prior illegal police action. Norman; State v. Boyd, 615 So.2d 786 (Fla. 2d DCA 1993); West; Reed v. State, 577 So.2d 1362 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991). The taint may be dissipated when the defendant is advised of his constitutional right to refuse consent to search and nonetheless voluntarily does so. Boyd; Gonzalez v. State, 578 So.2d 729 (Fla. 3d DCA 1991); State v. Simm, 558 So.2d 110 (Fla. 3d DCA 1990); Windes v. State, 547 So.2d 346 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989); State v. Gribeiro, 513 So.2d 1323 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987); State v. Martinez, 459 So.2d 1062 (Fla. 3d DCA 1984); State v. Howard, 394 So.2d 440 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981); State v. Champion, 383 So.2d 984 (Fla. 4th DCA 1980).
In this case, the trial judge was the fact finder. He heard the police officer's testimony, which was the sole evidence presented. But, the judge did not have to believe the police officer's testimony. Obviously, he did not, since he suppressed the evidence found in Paul's car. Being "opened-minded" has nothing to do with the decision in this case.
This case is similar to having a jury disbelieve the state's evidence in a criminal case. Even though the state's witnesses are uncontradicted, a jury does not have to accept and believe them. Such a rule is applicable here. The trial judge could well have found the initial stop was illegal, based on the police officer's testimony; and that the state failed to carry its burden of proof to show there was an unequivocal break in the chain of illegality, because the trial judge did not believe the police officer's testimony that Paul freely consented.
AFFIRMED.
GOSHORN, J., concurs specially with opinion.
THOMPSON, J., dissents with opinion.
. We have jurisdiction pursuant to Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.140(c)(1)(B).
. Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 20 L.Ed.2d 889 (1968).
. See Bouler v. State, 389 So.2d 1197 (Fla. 5th DCA 1980); Richert v. State, 338 So.2d 40 (Fla. 4th DCA 1976), cert. denied, 346 So.2d 1250 (Fla.1977); United States v. Trull, 581 F.2d 551 (5th Cir.1978); Tyler v. Beto, 391 F.2d 993 (5th Cir.1968), cert. denied, 393 U.S. 1030, 89 S.Ct. 642, 21 L.Ed.2d 574 (1969); Fast v. Wainwright, 310 F.Supp. 404 (S.D.Fla.1970), affirmed, 439 F.2d 1162 (5th Cir.1971). See also Rodriguez v. State, 436 So.2d 219 (Fla. 3d DCA 1983), rev. denied, 447 So.2d 888 (Fla.1984); State v. Garcia, 431 So.2d 651 (Fla. 3d DCA 1983); Bowles v. State, 381 So.2d 326 (Fla. 5th DCA 1980).