Opinion ID: 2078009
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: statements attributed to appellant

Text: When Officer Alvarado entered the store, accompanied by other officers, he told appellant that he possessed a search warrant, and conversing in Spanish, asked if there were drugs in the store. It is undisputed that appellant answered yes, and in response to a further inquiry, nodded towards a counter. He was advised he was not under arrest, but was later restrained by handcuffs. Appellant, relying upon Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 439, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966), contends that his statements were the product of custodial interrogation. The record supports the view that initially appellant was asked at least two questions which could reasonably be expected to elicit an incriminating response. See Rhode Island v. Innis, 446 U.S. 291, 301, 100 S.Ct. 1682, 64 L.Ed.2d 297 (1980). What is critical to this inquiry is whether, during the execution of a search warrant, appellant was in custody at the time the statements were made. Under Miranda, a person subjected to a custodial interrogation must be informed of his right to remain silent, that any statement he makes can be used in evidence against him, and that he has a right to the advice of an attorney. This court has explained that custody [can be] the linchpin of the Miranda requirements. Calaway v. United States, 408 A.2d 1220, 1224 (D.C.1979). However, the Supreme Court has also held that not every questioning by the police of citizens is custodial interrogation. See, e.g., Beckwith v. United States, 425 U.S. 341, 347, 96 S.Ct. 1612, 48 L.Ed.2d 1 (1976) (focus of investigation on suspect is not the type of encounter to implicate Miranda ); Oregon v. Mathiason, 429 U.S. 492, 495, 97 S.Ct. 711, 50 L.Ed.2d 714 (1977) (where presence at police station was voluntary, interrogation was non-custodial). [O]nce the investigating officer physically deprives the suspect of his freedom of action in any significant way or, under the circumstances, leads him to believe, as a reasonable person, that he is so deprived, the individual is in custody. Miley v. United States, 477 A.2d 720, 722 (D.C.1984) (citing Miranda, 384 U.S. at 444, 86 S.Ct. 1602). Appellant, however, is in nearly the identical situation that we addressed in In re E.A.H., 612 A.2d 836, 838 (D.C.1992), where we rejected the notion that a person was in custody for Miranda purposes because he was questioned during the execution of a search warrant in his home, even though he was not free to leave. Id. (citing Tyler v. United States, 298 A.2d 224, 226-27 & n. 4 (D.C.1972); Wells v. United States, 281 A.2d 226, 228 (D.C. 1971)). We pointed out that such persons are indeed seized, but are in a similar position as persons stopped and questioned pursuant to Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 20 L.Ed.2d 889 (1968). Accordingly, we find no error in the admission of appellant's initial statements since he was not being subjected to custodial interrogation. Turning to appellant's later statements, it is certain that his response to subsequent police inquiries after he was arrested were protected by Miranda. Thus, the issue to be resolved as to these statements is whether appellant was adequately warned of his rights, Miranda, supra, 384 U.S. at 471, 86 S.Ct. 1602; see also Dickerson v. United States, 530 U.S. 428, 120 S.Ct. 2326, 147 L.Ed.2d 405 (2000), and whether his waiver of these protections was voluntary, knowing and intelligent. See In re M.A.C., 761 A.2d 32, 36 (D.C. 2000). In denying the motion to suppress these statements, the trial judge expressly credited the officer's testimony that appellant was orally advised of his rights, and said at the time that he understood them, and voluntarily chose to waive them. In reviewing this contention, we conclude there is a substantial basis for the trial judge's findings and her ruling. Brown v. United States, 590 A.2d 1008, 1020 (D.C. 1991); see also Goldston v. United States, 562 A.2d 96, 98 (D.C.1989). Accordingly, we find no error. Affirmed.