Opinion ID: 2582263
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Search Warrant Affidavit/Reasonableness of Search

Text: Defendant's next three arguments involve the validity of the search warrant. First, defendant contends the material omission of facts from the affidavit in support of the search warrant rendered the subsequent search of his vehicle unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and § 15 of the Kansas Constitution Bill of Rights. A defendant generally may not dispute the matters alleged in an affidavit in support of a search warrant. However, an exception exists where the defendant shows by a sworn allegation that the application for a search warrant contains: (1) material statements of deliberate falsehood or reckless disregard for the truth that were necessary to find probable cause or (2) deliberate omissions of material fact. State v. Hendricks, 31 Kan. App. 2d 138, 141, 61 P.3d 722 (2003). Where an affidavit in support of a search warrant omits information, the trial court and appellate court must determine whether the omission was material and whether the omission rendered the application and affidavit unreliable. Littrice v. State, 31 Kan. App. 2d 846, 850, 75 P.3d 292 (2003). Omissions in an affidavit in support of a search warrant will not render the warrant invalid if the affidavit, even with the omitted material added to it, established sufficient probable cause to issue the warrant. State v. Colbert, 257 Kan. 896, 907, 896 P.2d 1089 (1995). The affidavit in support of the search warrant was prepared by Detective Frazier. According to the affidavit, upon arriving at the scene, Frazier spoke with Captain Hoffman who told him that Schoonover had been found slumped over the wheel of his vehicle. Hoffman told Frazier he had smelled anhydrous ammonia coming from the vehicle and seen a package of coffee filters in the front seat and a cooler on the floor. Frazier observed a Coleman fuel can in the rear hatchback area of the vehicle. Frazier knew from his training and experience that anhydrous ammonia, Coleman fuel, and coffee filters are all used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Frazier also knew Schoonover had been previously arrested for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute in 1996 and for manufacturing a controlled substance in 2001. The defendant contends that, in making the affidavit, Detective Frazier failed to mention that the car was full of various items including fishing and camping gear, facts which negated any probable cause related to the coffee filters or Coleman fuel. Defendant also complains that Frazier failed to mention that two civilian witnesses did not notice any odor of anhydrous ammonia coming from the vehicle, facts which negated the claim that officers smelled anhydrous ammonia. The trial court denied the defendant's motion to suppress, finding that if all of the information complained of by the defendant had been included in the affidavit, the result would have been the same, i.e., there still would have been probable cause to search the vehicle. The Court of Appeals panel in this case also rejected the defendant's argument, finding that the affidavit contained no material omissions. With regard to defendant's first argument, the panel found no authority for requiring the officer to include in the affidavit every single item he was able to see inside the vehicle. As to defendant's second argument, the panel found no evidence that Detective Frazier was even aware that the two civilian witnesses had not smelled anhydrous ammonia coming from the vehicle, nor was Frazier required to ask every potential witness whether he or she had smelled ammonia coming from the vehicle. Schoonover, slip op. at 26-27. Essentially, both the trial court and Court of Appeals panel found that any omissions in the affidavit were not material. Although each phrased its ruling differently, each ruling is sound and the defendant has not offered a persuasive argument for reversal. Furthermore, the Court of Appeals panel also found that officers would have been justified in searching defendant's vehicle without a warrant because the smell of anhydrous ammonia coupled with the officers' observation of coffee filters and Coleman fuel would have provided probable cause, or the search could have been justified as a search incident to a lawful arrest. Schoonover, slip op. at 27-28. In finding that the search would have been justified even without a warrant based on the odor of anhydrous ammonia, the Court of Appeals cited State v. MacDonald, 253 Kan. 320, 325, 856 P.2d 116 (1993), which held that the odor of marijuana alone provided probable cause for a vehicle search. The Court of Appeals reasoned: If the odor of fresh marijuana provides probable cause for a vehicle search, it follows that the smell of anhydrous ammonia by trained police officers may contribute to a finding of probable cause as well. Schoonover, slip op. at 27. The Court of Appeals failed to distinguish between the plain smell of an illegal substance and the plain smell of a legal substance such as anhydrous ammonia. However, the smell of anhydrous ammonia in an automobile may create probable cause to believe that anhydrous ammonia is not being stored in a legal container as required by law. Furthermore, the smell when combined with other factors could provide probable cause. United States v. Lopez, 777 F.2d 543, 551 (10th Cir. 1985) (the odor of a legal substance, an ether-like substance, in combination with other circumstances gave officers probable cause to search a vehicle). Additionally, the Court of Appeals panel in this case held that the search could have been justified as a search incident to a lawful arrest. The panel stated: Schoonover was initially placed under arrest by Langdon for transporting an open container after he was removed from the vehicle. Thus, the police would have been justified in searching the passenger compartment of the vehicle pursuant to K.S.A. 22-2501 . . . . In their search for additional alcohol as evidence of the open container crime, the police would have certainly looked inside the cooler. Since the cooler contained the methamphetamine, the search of the entire vehicle could have proceeded from that point. Schoonover, slip op. at 27-28. This conclusion is sound.