Opinion ID: 163986
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Consent to the Search

Text: Mr. Ramirez-Bueno also contends that his limited knowledge of English indicates that he did not understand Trooper King’s request to search the car and that, as a result, he did not validly consent. His argument is based upon the fact that he answered “yes” to Trooper King’s question as to whether he owned the car and “yes” to the question of whether the car was a rental. He also points to Trooper King’s testimony that he had to repeat several questions. Whether Mr. Ramirez-Bueno voluntarily consented to the challenged detention or search is a question of fact, determined by the totality of the circumstances and reviewed for clear error. United States v. Zubia-Melendez, 263 F.3d 1155, 1162 (10th Cir. 2001). Here, the record supports the district court’s conclusion that the search was consensual. At the hearing on the motion to suppress, Trooper King testified that he believed that Mr. Ramirez-Bueno “understood exactly what I was asking.” Aplt’s App. at 44. Moreover, as noted above, the district court reviewed the entire tape of the stop and “detect[ed] nothing that would lead [it] to believe” that Mr. Ramirez-Bueno did not understand Trooper King’s request. Id. at 53. In light of Trooper King’s -9- testimony and the district court’s opportunity to review the tape of the stop, we discern no clear error in the district court’s ruling.