Opinion ID: 1813958
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Was Dennison Arrested for Purposes of Speedy Indictment on April 6?

Text: We believe Davis is distinguishable from the situation presently before us. Our focus in Davis was on the unarresting of an individual and the issue of arrest was conceded. Dennison argues Davis is controlling because the same policy reasons are clearly at issue. In certain respects, Dennison's position has some appeal. A person detained for field sobriety tests and implied consent procedures will likely remain anxious as to if and when the other shoe will drop. See Davis, 525 N.W.2d at 840; Johnson-Hugi, 484 N.W.2d at 602 (Snell, J., dissenting). Additionally, the State should not be allowed to sit on evidence or file a trial information at its leisure or convenience without regard to a defendant's right to a speedy indictment. See Davis, 525 N.W.2d at 840. However, other policy considerations substantially outweigh these concerns. Unlike Davis, the test result here was not returned within the forty-five-day period. The DRE knew the test result would not be available for six to eight weeks and he wanted all of the evidence to decide whether Dennison should be charged. In fact, the drug test result was not received by the deputy until June 28, approximately twelve weeks after the initial detention. Additionally, the purpose of the speedy indictment rule is to ensure a fair trial for both parties. Iowa R.Crim. P. 27(2). The test result is not only necessary for the State to prove the actual presence of drugs in a defendant's system, but is also important as potentially exculpatory evidence for the defense. Similarly, it is beneficial for both the State and the defendant for the officer to refrain from making an arrest and issuing a citation for a violation for which the most crucial evidence is not available. Peace officers should not arrest individuals on insufficient evidence. Davis, 525 N.W.2d at 840. If a defendant is arrested and charged with a crime, and that charge is later dismissed based upon a test result, it is inevitable the defendant will have suffered some adverse consequences from the arrest, such as enduring booking procedures, possible incarceration awaiting initial appearance, bond or release requirements, court appearances, expenditures for legal representation, and publication of the arrest in the newspaper. In this case, we find it significant that the officers did not issue a citation or complaint charging Dennison with OWI on April 6, the detention was for OWI testing, Dennison was detained for investigative purposes for a relatively short period of time, and Dennison was lawfully arrested on other charges. Clearly, his arrest on the other charges did not preclude the State from filing separate charges arising out of the same incident or episode after the forty-five-day period had expired. See State v. Lies, 566 N.W.2d 507, 508-09 (Iowa 1997). We believe this case is more akin to Brundt because the officers were investigating a possible OWI. See Brundt, 356 N.W.2d at 576. We find the officers had the authority to request field sobriety tests and invoke implied consent procedures without placing Dennison under arrest. See id; Iowa Code § 321J.6(1). The limited detention necessary to transport Dennison to the ASAP office and to conduct the tests to determine whether he was under the influence of drugs was incidental to the investigation, and did not constitute an arrest.