Title: Children v. Burton
Citation: 331 N.W.2d 673
Docket Number: 66367
State: Iowa
Issuer: Iowa Supreme Court
Date: March 16, 1983

331 N.W.2d 673 (1983) Peter CHILDREN, Appellee, v. James R. BURTON, Victor Dunn, and City of Charles City, Iowa, Appellants. No. 66367. Supreme Court of Iowa. March 16, 1983. Rehearing Denied April 18, 1983. *674 Walter C. Schroeder, Mason City, for appellant Burton. Don W. Burington of Laird, Burington, Bovard, Heiny, McManigal &amp; Walters, Mason City, for appellant Dunn. Jim D. DeKoster of Swisher &amp; Cohrt, Waterloo, for appellant Charles City. Lex Hawkins, Glenn L. Norris, and George F. Davison, Jr., of Hawkins &amp; Norris, Des Moines, for appellee. Considered en banc. UHLENHOPP, Justice. In this appeal we review a judgment for $1,250,000 awarded to plaintiff Peter Children in a false arrest action against two Charles City police officersVictor Dunn and James R. Burtonand their employer, the City of Charles City. The officers and city appeal the trial court's overruling their motions for directed verdict, judgment notwithstanding verdict, and new trial. Both sides presented evidence of the background of the arrest. In late 1978 and early 1979 a rash of indecent exposure incidents were reported in various Charles City and Mason City stores. They involved a man masturbating under racks of ladies' clothing. One individual appeared to be involved. Descriptions of the man seen in the stores were similar, his sexual acts were similar, the testimony refers to "the" suspect or flasher, and, indeed, one man was ultimately convicted. Regarding the Charles City incidents, the first occurred in December 1978 at a J.C. Penney store in Cedar Mall and was witnessed by Joyce Winters. On January 25, 1979, two further incidents occurred at Cedar Mall, one at Spurgeon's and one at Stevenson's. Sherry Tweed, a clerk at Spurgeon's, reported to Officer Burton at the store "That a man had been masturbating down by theunderneath this clothes rack, that he had gotten up and left the store." She later testified that this was based on a report by a customer that a man was lying between the racks playing with himself with his parts exposed and on Tweed's seeing the man pull up his zipper when he got up. The customer testified to seeing a man masturbating under clothes racks with his genitals exposed. June Temple, a clerk at Stevenson's, also reported an incident the same evening when a man came into the store twice. She stated to Officer Burton, "I just had some guy expose himself to me." At trial she testified: The police complaint sheet for this incident stated, "Red Owl, Gibson, Roberts, K-Mart Penneys Ref exposure at Spurgeons and Stevensons." Burton's memo for the police file stated: "Stevensons 1-25-79. June Temple. 5'8"5-9 Dirty dishwater Blonde Hair or Gray. 34-35 Years old. Down on his knees with both hands inside his pants jacking off." On February 7, 1979, Chris Rissler, another of Stevenson's clerks, reported a similar incident. Her description of the man matched previous ones. She reported to Officer Skillen, "From the desk she saw the man she was talking to earlier sitting by the flooron the floor by the *675 rack. He had his penis out and was masturbating." Officer Burton, assigned to the night shift, headed up an investigation of these incidents. He also worked with the Mason City Police Department on the case. Officer Dunn, assigned to the day shift, was not involved in the investigation, as all the reported incidents occurred at night. Dunn was aware of the incidents, however, and of the ongoing investigation, and he had seen the police logs concerning the incidents. He had also seen a composite drawing of the suspect that the Mason City and Charles City police departments issued, and he had casually conversed with June Temple about the incidents. Dunn testified in answer to questions by Children's attorney on direct examination: A. As I recall, it was before April 8. On Sunday afternoon, April 8, 1979, June Temple, who had reported one of the January incidents, saw a man in Stevenson's whom she believed was the man involved in the January incident at Stevenson's. She went to Patrick Hawk, manager of Tradehome Shoe Store in the mall. Hawk testified: He further testified: Dave Fisher, a Tradehome employee, testified regarding this occurrence: A. She said that the guy that she thought was the flasher was in the store. Hawk also testified that two telephone calls were made to the police. He instructed Jim Wandro, a part-time employee, to call the police, but Wandro erroneously reported the presence of an intoxicated person to the police. Hawk himself called back to the police dispatcher. He testified that he told the dispatcher June Temple had identified the man in their store as the flasher and that he requested a policeman immediately, and the dispatcher responded that someone was on the way. The dispatcher testified: A. It wascame from the Tradehome Shoe Store, and he said that there was somebody acting strange and that they were possibly intoxicated. When Dunn arrived at the mall parking lot, Patrick Hawk pointed out Peter Children to him. Children was in a nearby car, and Dunn approached to investigate. After talking with Children and his companion, Elizabeth Conway, Dunn ascertained that Children was not intoxicated. Children was in the driver's seat, but he could not produce a driver's license or other identification. Dunn asked if Children would accompany him to the police station. Upon Children's refusal, Dunn did not press the matter and let Children go on the condition that Mrs. Conway, who did have her driver's license, would drive. Dunn then went to the mall entrance where he met Tradehome manager Hawk. Hawk asked Dunn why he let Children go, and relayed to Dunn that June Temple had identified Children as the flasher. Hawk testified as to events following his call to the police: Children's attorney elicited these events on direct examination of Dunn at the trial: Q. You did. As I understand it, you said to June Templewhat did you say to *677 her when you walked up to her? A. I said, "Are you sure that it's him?" This was the point at which Dunn placed Children under arrest. Dunn transported Children to the police station and Mrs. Conway followed in Children's car. Upon arriving at the station, Dunn phoned Burton, as he knew Burton was heading up the investigation. Burton arrived shortly and helped Dunn process the case. Dunn and Burton signed a complaint charging Children with indecent exposure based on the Stevenson's incident, but this complaint was not filed. Chris Rissler viewed Children and stated he was not the suspect, but Temple adhered to her identification. A magistrate was called to set Children's bond, but when a Charles City friend of Children arrived at the station to vouch for him, the magistrate gave permission in a second call for Children's release on his own recognizance. Children and Mrs. Conway left the police station and returned to Mason City. Children was detained approximately an hour and twenty minutes. While the following events occurred after Children was released, we will state them to relate what ultimately happened. Later on the evening of April 8, Dunn checked the statutes and ascertained that indecent exposure requires actual exposure of the genitals or pubes. Iowa Code § 709.9 (1979). June Temple gave the police a written statement of her knowledge of the incident she witnessed at Stevenson's. After reviewing it, Dunn became concerned that Temple had not in fact seen an exposure. He went through the file and then contacted Temple again. She confirmed that she had only seen the suspect rubbing his genital area over his clothing and had not actually seen him expose himself. At the subsequent trial Temple described similarly what she had actually seen in January in Stevenson's when a man came into the store twice: The day after the arrest Dunn discussed the exposure problem with Burton and Police Chief Gordon. Gordon advised Dunn to consult with the county attorney before proceeding further. Before talking to the county attorney, however, Dunn and Burton showed photographs of Children to Sherry Tweed, Spurgeon's clerk. Tweed could not positively identify Children but she said, "That certainly looks like the man." Burton relayed this information to County Attorney Ronald K. Noah, who advised Burton that he did not think a charge could be filed for the Stevenson's incident but that one could be filed for the Spurgeon's incident. A complaint was then filed against Children for the incident at Spurgeon's on January 25, 1979. The county attorney investigated the charge but dismissed it about two months later. Eventually, another man was arrested and convicted of the exposures. Children then brought this damage action against Dunn, Burton, and the city. I. False arrest. This is a false arrest case, not a malicious prosecution case. See Ashland v. Lapiner Motor Co., 247 Iowa 596, 75 N.W.2d 357 (1956) (malicious prosecution based on charge filed before justice of peace). A false arrest case involving the issue of probable cause turns on what the officer knew at the time of arrest, not what he learned later. Much of the evidence and argument Children presses upon us would go to a malicious prosecution claim but is not relevant on the liability issue in a false arrest claim. A false arrest is one way of committing the tort of false imprisonmentrestraining freedom of movement. Prosser, Law of Torts 42 (4th ed. 1971) ("The action for the tort of false imprisonment, sometimes called false arrest, is another lineal descendent of the old action of trespass. It protects the personal interest in freedom from restraint of movement."); Norton v. Mathers, 222 Iowa 1170, 1175, 271 N.W. 321, 323 (1937) ("This is a case of false arrest and imprisonment"); Fox v. McCurnin, 205 Iowa 752, 757, 218 N.W. 499, 501 (1928) ("although plaintiff has alleged false arrest in count 2 and false imprisonment in count 3, they are not distinguishable, and therefore amount only to a charge of false imprisonment"). The tort requires confinement of the person. Restatement (Second) of Torts §§ 35(1)(b), 36 (1965). If liability arose for false arrest in this case, it had to arise within the period commencing with the original arrest of Children and terminating with his release on recognizance. Before and after that period he was not confined. The case is different than those in which the plaintiff was kept in confinement because he was not allowed to post bail. Cases of that kind are found in Annot., 98 A.L.R.2d 966, 1031-36 (1964). Cf. Neves v. Costa, 5 Cal. App. 111, 118, 89 P. 860, 863 (1907) (no damages while the person on bail). A. The essential elements of the tort of false arrest are (1) detention or *679 restraint against one's will and (2) unlawfulness of the detention or restraint. Valadez v. City of Des Moines, 324 N.W.2d 475, 477 (Iowa 1982); Sergeant v. Watson Brothers Transportation Co., 244 Iowa 185, 196, 52 N.W.2d 86, 93 (1952); 32 Am.Jur.2d False Imprisonment § 5 (1982); 35 C.J.S. False Imprisonment § 1 (1960). Once a plaintiff shows a warrantless arrest, the burden of proof shifts to the defendant to show justification for the arrest. Fox v. McCurnin, 205 Iowa 752, 759, 218 N.W. 499, 502 (1928); Snyder v. Thompson, 134 Iowa 725, 730, 112 N.W. 239, 241 (1907); Dellums v. Powell, 566 F.2d 167, 176 (D.C.Cir.1977), cert. denied, 438 U.S. 916, 98 S. Ct. 3146, 57 L. Ed. 2d 1161 (1978); Terry v. Zions Cooperative Mercantile Institution, 605 P.2d 314, 321 (Utah 1979); 35 C.J.S. False Imprisonment § 55, at 735 (1960). A peace officer in Iowa may make a warrantless arrest when he has Iowa Code § 804.7(3) (1979). Indecent exposure is a serious misdemeanor, section 709.9, and therefore is an indictable offense. Iowa Code § 801.4(13) (indictable offense is an offense other than a simple misdemeanor). The question is thus whether Officer Dunn, when he arrested and detained Children, had reasonable ground for believing the offense of indecent exposure had been committed by Children. B. The expression "reasonable ground" is equivalent to traditional "probable cause." State v. Mattingly, 220 N.W.2d 865, 868 (Iowa 1974); United States v. Berryhill, 466 F.2d 621, 624 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 409 U.S. 1046, 93 S. Ct. 547, 34 L. Ed. 2d 498 (1972). As stated in Brinegar v. United States, 338 U.S. 160, 175-76, 69 S. Ct. 1302, 1310-11, 93 L. Ed. 1879, 1890 (1948): See also Draper v. United States, 358 U.S. 307, 313, 79 S. Ct. 329, 333, 3 L. Ed. 2d 327, 332 (1959); United States v. McCulley, 673 F.2d 346, 351 (11th Cir.1982). The test is a "reasonable" ground, not absolute certainty. 6A C.J.S. Arrest § 22, at 54 (1976) ("a liberal rather than a strict course should be followed"); § 23, at 56 ("Probable cause necessary to support warrantless arrest does not demand the same strictness of proof as proof of guilt upon trial."); § 24, at 58-59 ("In determining the presence of probable cause for arrest, the courts deal with the probabilities and only the probability, and not a prima facie showing of criminal activity is the standard for probable cause. The probabilities are not technical, but are factual and practical considerations of everyday life on which reasonable and prudent men, not legal technicians, act. Probable cause does not require absolute certainty beyond reasonable doubt that a crime is being or has been committed by the person to be arrested; the existence of probable cause is not determined by any analysis of an extent of subjective certainty or processes of the arresting officer, but by an objective standard of reasonableness."). Probable cause can rest on hearsay. 5 Am.Jur.2d Arrest § 46, at 738 (1962); 6A C.J.S. Arrest § 23, at 56 (1972) ("Reasonable or probable cause for arrest is not limited to evidence which would be admissible on the issue of guilt, but it may be based on hearsay information."). When an officer acts with probable cause, he is protected even though the person arrested turns out to be innocent. State v. Ricehill, 178 N.W.2d 288, 291 (Iowa 1970), cert. denied, 401 U.S. 942, 91 S. Ct. 945, 28 L. Ed. 2d 222 (1971); Henry v. United States, 361 U.S. 98, 102, 80 S. Ct. 168, 171, 4 L. Ed. 2d 134, 138 (1959). *680 Probable cause must be determined on the particular facts in each case. State v. Harvey, 242 N.W.2d 330, 340 (Iowa 1976); State v. Evans, 193 N.W.2d 515, 517 (Iowa 1972). The significant point is that courts look to the facts within the officers' knowledge at the time the arrest was made. State v. Vallier, 159 N.W.2d 406, 408 (Iowa 1969); State v. Raymond, 258 Iowa 1339, 1344, 142 N.W.2d 444, 447 (1966); Beck v. Ohio, 379 U.S. 89, 91, 85 S. Ct. 223, 225, 13 L. Ed. 2d 142, 145 (1964); United States v. Tinkle, 655 F.2d 617, 621 (5th Cir.1981), cert. denied, 455 U.S. 924, 102 S. Ct. 1285, 71 L. Ed. 2d 467 (1982); United States v. Bernard, 623 F.2d 551, 559 (9th Cir.1979); United States v. Regan, 525 F.2d 1151, 1155 (8th Cir.1975); United States v. Trabucco, 424 F.2d 1311, 1314 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 399 U.S. 918, 90 S. Ct. 2224, 26 L. Ed. 2d 785 (1970). Facts that occur or come to light subsequent to the arrest are irrelevant to a determination of whether probable cause existed at the time of arrest. Henry v. United States, 361 U.S. 98, 103, 80 S. Ct. 168, 171, 4 L. Ed. 2d 134, 139 (1959). As stated in 5 Am.Jur.2d Arrest § 48, at 740-41 (1962): And as stated in 6A C.J.S. Arrest § 25b, at 61-62 (1975): Probable cause to arrest without warrant is not dispelled by the officer's learning additional facts upon returning to the station house. People v. Wolfe, 5 Mich.App. 543, 552, 147 N.W.2d 447, 452 (1967). C. In dealing with civil damage actions for false arrest, courts apply a probable cause standard less demanding than the constitutional probable cause standard in criminal cases. If the officer acts in good faith and with reasonable belief that a crime has been committed and the person arrested committed it, his actions are justified and liability does not attach. O'Neill v. Keeling, 227 Iowa 754, 758, 288 N.W. 887, 889 (1939); Greer v. Turner, 639 F.2d 229, 231-32 (5th Cir.1981); Dellums v. Powell, 566 F.2d 167, 175 (D.C.Cir.1977), cert. denied, 438 U.S. 916, 98 S. Ct. 3146, 57 L. Ed. 2d 1161 (1978); Hill v. Rowland, 474 F.2d 1374, 1377 (4th Cir.1973); Wilcox v. United States, 509 F. Supp. 381, 384-85 (D.C.C. 1981); Gueory v. District of Columbia, 408 A.2d 967, 969 (D.C.App.1979); Mitchell v. Drake, 172 Ind.App. 376, 381-82, 360 N.E.2d 195, 198 (1977); Terry v. Zions Cooperative Mercantile Institution, 605 P.2d 314, 320-21 (Utah 1979); Town of Jackson v. Shaw, 569 P.2d 1246, 1250 (Wyo.1977). The court stated in Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 456 F.2d 1339, 1348 (2nd Cir.1972): II. Motions for directed verdict and judgment notwithstanding verdict. We proceed, then, to the question of liability. A. Before the trial court submitted the case to the jury, defendants moved for a directed verdict. After the jury returned its verdict, defendants moved for judgment notwithstanding verdict (and new trial). Defendants asserted throughout that Dunn had probable cause as a matter of law to arrest Children. The trial court overruled the motions. On review of these rulings, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to Children. Valadez v. City of Des Moines, 324 N.W.2d 475, 477 (Iowa 1982) (quoting Watson v. Lewis, 272 N.W.2d 459, 461 (Iowa 1978)); Iowa R.App.P. 14(f)(2). If the pertinent facts on the issue of probable cause were in dispute, the issue was for the jury to decide. The motions for directed verdict and judgment notwithstanding verdict would then be properly denied. Drake v. Keeling, 287 N.W. 596, 597 (Iowa 1939); Snyder v. Thompson, 134 Iowa 725, 727, 112 N.W. 239, 240 (1907); Smiddy v. Varney, 665 F.2d 261, 265 (9th Cir.1981); May Department Stores Co., Inc. v. Devercelli, 314 A.2d 767, 772 (D.C.1974); Weissman v. K-Mart Corp., 396 So. 2d 1164, 1166-67 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App.1981); Diaz v. Lockheed Electronics, 95 N.M. 28, 31, 618 P.2d 372, 374 (1980); Terry v. Zions Cooperative Mercantile Institution, 605 P.2d 314, 320 (Utah 1979). If the pertinent facts were not in dispute, however, determination of justification was for the court. Comstock v. Maryland Casualty Co. of Baltimore, 179 N.W. 962, 965 (Iowa 1920); Woodward v. District of Columbia, 387 A.2d 726, 728 (D.C.App.1978); Stienbaugh v. Payless Drug Stores, Inc., 75 N.M. 118, 122, 401 P.2d 104, 106 (1965); McGillivray v. Siedschlaw, 278 N.W.2d 796, 799 (S.D.1979); Terry at 320; 5 Am.Jur.2d Arrest § 49 (1962). B. In the case before us, the record is replete with happenings after Children was released. These happenings would be pertinent on liability for malicious prosecution but they do not create liability in the false arrest action for two reasons: first, because Children was not confined at or after the times of these happenings and second, because of the rule in section 136 of the Restatement (Second) of Torts (1965): The evidence introduced by both sides overwhelmingly shows that several exposure incidents had occurred in the mall and that Dunn was aware of them and of the reports in the police records. To confine his background information to the Temple incident of January 25th would be too narrow; his knowledge was broader than that. He also knew that Temple had reported one of the incidents. Dunn received calls from the dispatcher, first, of an intoxicated person at the mall, and then, that the alleged intoxicated person was the exposure suspect. Dunn went to the mall, discovered that the person was not intoxicated, and did not arrest him. Hawk then said to Dunn, "What'd you leave him go for? He's the flasher. June recognized him." *682 Dunn did not arrest on this information either. He went to Stevenson's and asked Temple, "Are you sure it's him?" She answered, "Yes, yes, I'm sure." Still Dunn did not make an arrest. He took Temple to the car, knocked on the door or window, and asked her, "Is this the man that was in the store?" She answered, "Yes." Dunn then arrested Children. Officers confronted with situations such as this one must make a decision. They do not have the luxury of detached reflection before they act. Nor can they conduct extensive investigation and cross-examination out on the street, to see that all the legal elements of the crime are satisfied. They should be judged in the context of the real world in which they must function. We hold that this arrest was on probable cause. Having lawfully arrested Children, Dunn had a right to process the arrest and arrange for bail. This he did with the help of Burton. Temple adhered to her identification but another of the clerks disagreed. The workup of the evidence in the case would obviously take time. That first evening was preliminarytaking the person into custody and arranging bail. These preliminaries took an hour and twenty minutes. We hold that this retention, following the lawful arrest, was also lawful. We realize that Children suffered grievously from a mistake, but his claim founded on false arrest is untenable. On the liability issue, we cannot allow our attention to be diverted to events which happened after Children was released. The trial court should have sustained the motion for directed verdict or the subsequent motion for judgment notwithstanding verdict. REVERSED. All Justices concur except HARRIS, LARSON, and CARTER, JJ., who dissent. HARRIS, Justice, dissenting. The majority concludes as a matter of law there was probable cause for Children's arrest. It does so after an exhaustive review of the facts. The jury, however, on proper instructions, found the facts to be otherwise. We have said: Kooyman v. Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co., 315 N.W.2d 30, 34 (Iowa 1982). It seems clear to me that reasonable minds could differ on the existence of probable cause here. Therefore, the issue was properly for the jury to determine. The evidence is simply not as compelling as the majority indicates. Contradictions abound. The majority quotes and relies on June Temple's testimony of what she told Officer Burton: "I just had some guy expose himself to me." The majority further quotes her testimony: But Temple contradicted this when she was cross-examined: A. No, I didn't. The jury could have found that Dunn arrested Children solely as the person who allegedly exposed himself at Stevensons on January 25. Dunn's answer to the petition and testimony both concede this: "In further answer to plaintiff's petition, this defendant states that the plaintiff's arrest was based upon an incident happening at the Stevenson store in Charles City, Iowa, on the 25th day of January 1979." Dunn testified to the same effect: The jury could also have found that Dunn made the arrest without first ascertaining from Temple that Children had actually exposed himself on that occasion. Again, Dunn admitted this in his testimony: Dunn conceded that he had insufficient probable cause to arrest Children after first determining that Children was not intoxicated, despite the dispatcher's report that Children was the flasher suspect. The jury could therefore have concluded that Dunn did not have reasonable grounds to believe that an exposure had occurred on January 25, and that his arrest of Children, based solely on that incident, was unlawful. We have said that it is "for the jury to pass upon [conflicting testimony] under proper instructions from the court." Jettre v. Healy, 245 Iowa 294, 298, 60 N.W.2d 541, (1953) (emphasis added). The trial court should not be reversed for sending the disputed questions to the jury. I would affirm. LARSON, and CARTER, JJ., join this dissent.