Title: State v. Gebhard
Citation: 137 N.W.2d 168
Docket Number: 39558
State: Minnesota
Issuer: Minnesota Supreme Court
Date: September 24, 1965

137 N.W.2d 168 (1965) STATE of Minnesota, Respondent, v. Melvin L. GEBHARD, Appellant. No. 39558. Supreme Court of Minnesota. September 24, 1965. Kempe &amp; Murphy, West St. Paul, for appellant. Robert W. Mattson, Atty. Gen., and Linus J. Hammond, Asst. Atty. Gen., Stephen L. Maxwell, City Atty., and Daniel Klas, Asst. City Atty., St. Paul, for respondent. MURPHY, Justice. This is an appeal from a judgment of conviction involving an alleged violation of Minn.St. 169.09, which imposes upon the driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury or damage the duty to stop until he has fulfilled the requirements of law relating to the giving of information, and punishes as a misdemeanor failure to comply therewith. The action was tried to the court without a jury. Defendant's principal claim of error is that he was convicted *169 by the use of evidence obtained through an unlawful search and seizure. The offense with which defendant was charged grew out of an accident which occurred October 18, 1963, at approximately 7 p. m. when a car allegedly driven by defendant struck and killed a pedestrian. At about 10:30 on the morning of October 19, 1963, an officer of the St. Paul Police Department was engaged in making an investigation of two hit-and-run accidents which occurred the previous night. He called at defendant's home and inquired of defendant as to his knowledge of the accidents. It appears that defendant had no objection to the interview and, at the officer's request, backed his car out of the garage so that it might be examined. Defendant accompanied the policeman to police headquarters and was questioned further with reference to his knowledge of the accidents. He consented to having his car towed to the police garage. Later two officers returned to defendant's home and, with permission of defendant's wife, removed certain contents from the trash barrel located on the premises. It does not appear from the record that defendant was forcibly detained at the police station although he left with his attorney at 5 p. m. While he was there, it appears that he answered questions freely. The automobile remained at the police garage until about a week later although several demands were made for its return. Defendant admitted that he was involved in another accident on the same night but denied that he had driven the car which was involved in the fatal accident. Prosecution for the misdemeanor was instituted by complaint filed in municipal court. None of the witnesses who testified at the trial actually identified defendant as the driver of the automobile, but several witnesses at the scene of the accident identified his automobile as similar to the one involved in the accident. The glass from the sealed beam headlight taken from defendant's automobile and trash barrel matched pieces taken at the scene of the accident. It is contended that photographs of the automobile and parts and pieces of the automobile used in evidence were illegally obtained by the state through an unlawful search and seizure. Timely motions to suppress the evidence were made and defendant's counsel duly interposed objections to the introduction of the evidence at the trial. We must rely upon the record to determine whether the prosecuting authorities legally came into possession of the evidence used against defendant. The evidence on this point comes from the testimony of Police Officer Bernard Tacheny, who stated: Officer Tacheny asked defendant if he could look at his automobile. Defendant said "yes" and backed his car out of the *170 garage for the officer to view. Officer Tacheny testified: Officer Tacheny further testified: Another officer gave the following testimony with reference to a further interview at the police department: Later the same day, with permission of defendant's wife, the police removed pieces of broken headlight glass from the trash barrel located at defendant's house. The trial court duly considered defense counsel's objections to the introduction of the evidence and came to the conclusion on the basis of the record that defendant had consented to the search and accordingly denied defendant's motion. The trial court said: 1. In State ex rel. Branchaud v. Hedman, 269 Minn. 375, 130 N.W.2d 628, we held that evidence obtained as a result of a search of defendant's automobile without a warrant was admissible where defendant consented to the search. We have also held that where a defendant permitted police officers to enter his home and look around without a search warrant and incriminating evidence as to the violation of *172 a city ordinance was found, such evidence was admissible. City of St. Paul v. Stovall, 225 Minn. 309, 30 N.W.2d 638. In State v. Harris, 265 Minn. 260, 121 N.W.2d 327, we held that a defendant who did not deny that he consented to a search and did not claim duress or coercion had the burden of proving lack of consent to a search by the police officers. 2-3. In the final analysis the validity of a search and seizure turns upon the issue of reasonableness. That issue is one of fact and depends upon the particular circumstances in each case. State v. Kinderman, Minn., 136 N.W.2d 577; Roberts v. United States (8 Cir.) 332 F.2d 892. It is recognized, however, that even where a search is made with the consent of the defendant any claim of waiver of constitutional rights must be viewed with caution. State ex rel. Branchaud v. Hedman, supra. Under the circumstances of this case we think that the trial court properly concluded that the prosecuting authorities came by the evidence in question through the consent of defendant, freely given. The only testimony we have concerning the circumstances of the state's acquiring the evidence is that of the investigating officer. We find nothing in the record which indicates that there were any threats or coercion used to induce the consent, nor do we find that defendant was misled by any assurances given to him or that the investigating officer used any improper methods in securing the evidence. The situation is somewhat the same as that discussed in State v. Harris, supra, where we said (265 Minn. 269, 121 N.W. [2d] 334): 4. We agree with the trial court that the evidence supports the verdict of guilty. While there were no eyewitnesses who could identify defendant as the driver of the car, there was nevertheless strong circumstantial evidence of guilt. Defendant admitted that he drove the car at or near the scene of the accident on the previous evening; a car answering the description of defendant's automobile was identified by witnesses at the scene of the accident; and laboratory technicians connected defendant's car to the accident by matching broken pieces of the headlight found at the scene of the accident with those taken from the headlight of defendant's automobile. It seems to us that these facts, taken in connection with defendant's admissions of his conduct of the previous evening, amply support the verdict of guilty. Affirmed.