Opinion ID: 4534441
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Garcia moves to suppress his statements.

Text: ¶10. On July 15, 2016, Garcia moved to suppress the Xbox search and his statements to the police. He claimed his apartment was illegally searched because he had never been read his Miranda rights before being recorded in the police car. He suggested his statement on the way to the police station and all his following statements and evidence were “fruit of the poisonous tree.” Marshall v. State, 584 So. 2d 437, 438 (Miss. 1991) (explaining the “fruit of the poisonous tree” doctrine—also known as the exclusionary rule—deems inadmissible any evidence obtained incident to an unlawful search or seizure (citing Murray v. United States, 487 U.S. 533, 536, 108 S. Ct. 2529, 101 L. Ed. 2d 472 (1988))). ¶11. On July 26, 2016, the trial court held a suppression hearing. Police Commander Ken Brown testified that, on July 17, 2014, during the search of Gray’s apartment, he was in the hallway when Garcia approached him and asked about the investigation. At this point, Garcia was not a person of interest or a suspect. This conversation was relayed to Detective Clay Fulks. Detective Fulks, a patrol officer in July 2014, followed up by going to Garcia’s apartment. Garcia volunteered to go to the police station to provide information. While Garcia chose to ride in the back of the police car, he was not restrained. Detective Fulks 5 According to the forensic examiner, a “hentai” is a sexually explicit anime or cartoon. 5 activated the vehicle’s recording system. During the fifteen-minute drive, the two engaged in a casual conversation. But at some point Garcia mentioned that his fingerprints may be found in the trailer where JT was discovered. Garcia explained that he knew the trailer’s former occupants. Detective Fulks testified that, at this point, Garcia was not a suspect. When they arrived at the station, Detective Fulks parked in the front parking lot and not at the sally port where suspects are delivered. Detective Fulks testified Garcia was one of three witnesses he transported to the police station during the investigation. ¶12. During Detective Fulks’s testimony, the State played the recording of the fifteenminute ride to the police station. The trial court ruled the video could come in as evidence against Garcia. Garcia was not in custody at the time. And it was clear from the video that Garcia was the one who started the conversation. He volunteered, without being asked, that his fingerprints would be found in the trailer because he had been there just days before, rummaging through the prior occupants’ belongings. ¶13. The trial court also ruled that the search warrant for Garcia’s apartment had been supported by probable cause—namely, the statement Garcia gave to investigators at the police station after he voluntarily waived his Miranda rights.6