Opinion ID: 3190308
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Search and Questioning of Binford

Text: In the fall of 2012, Detective Paul Kinal of the Oakland County Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET) and other NET officers utilized a confidential informant to make two controlled purchases of marijuana from Leon Binford, approximately two weeks apart. The purchases were made in the parking lot of Binford’s apartment building in Southfield, Michigan. On both occasions, Kinal and other officers searched the informant before the purchase; gave him the money to make the purchase; listened as he called Binford to arrange the purchase; observed No. 14-1635 United States v. Binford Page 3 Binford leave his apartment and meet the informant in the parking lot; observed a hand-to-hand transaction between the two; and tested the marijuana that the informant turned over immediately after the purchase. Based on the above, Kinal obtained a search warrant that authorized him to search Binford’s apartment for drugs, firearms, and other evidence of drug trafficking. Because Binford had a history of gun-related or violent offenses, Kinal requested and received permission from his superiors to use the Special Entry and Response Team (SERT) to enter and clear the apartment. On October 2, 2012, Kinal and four other NET officers, approximately ten members of the SERT team, and a canine team, executed the search warrant on Binford’s apartment. The SERT officers – dressed in black tactical uniforms and equipped with helmets, handguns, rifles, and some wearing masks – made entry first by forcing the front door open with a large steel ram. Once inside, the SERT team observed Binford standing naked in the doorway of his master bedroom, ordered him to the ground, and handcuffed him behind his back. Kinal testified that Binford was “cooperative and compliant” and that, after officers made contact with him, he “posed no risk of any threat or assault.” The SERT team also found Binford’s girlfriend and two-year-old child in the bedroom and took them into the living room to sit on a couch during the search. Finally, the SERT team and canine team performed a protective sweep of the residence. After the sweep, which lasted no more than five or six minutes, the SERT team exited and Kinal and the NET officers entered to conduct the search of the apartment. Once inside the apartment, Kinal took Binford into the bathroom attached to the master bedroom while the other NET officers began searching the apartment. Binford had a bed sheet or some other type of covering around him – which had been placed over him before Kinal entered the residence – but was otherwise unclothed and still handcuffed. Kinal, who measures 6'1 and weighs 230 pounds, also had his service handgun in a leg holster. However, he never removed it from the holster. Binford is approximately 5'10 and weighs 240 pounds. Kinal testified that he decided to take Binford in the bathroom for privacy and because it was the quietest place in the apartment, citing the noise that is inherent in the execution of a search warrant. Kinal also stated that he planned to speak with Binford about the case and about working as a confidential informant, which needed to be kept between only Binford and Kinal. No. 14-1635 United States v. Binford Page 4 Once inside the bathroom, which is a 6' x 5' room, Kinal closed the door and removed a balaclava (a type of mask) that hid his face and was marked “police.” Binford was seated on the toilet and Kinal stood near the sink. Kinal testified that Binford immediately started apologizing about what was going on, but Kinal quickly directed him to stop so that he could be given Miranda warnings. Kinal also testified that he moved Binford’s handcuffs to the front of his body after Binford stated that he would act appropriately and pose no threat to Kinal. Kinal then handed Binford a pen. Kinal testified that he then presented Binford with a typed Miranda rights-and-waiver form and asked Binford if he could read and write. Binford answered in the affirmative. Kinal then asked Binford to read each numbered right on the form and, if he understood that right, to initial the corresponding number acknowledging this understanding. Kinal read the rights aloud to Binford; however, Kinal did not require that Binford read the rights aloud himself. Kinal witnessed Binford initial each right, and Binford testified that he understood everything on the Miranda form. Next, Binford signed the waiver section and handwrote “yes” under the question asking if he was willing to speak with Kinal and waive his rights. Kinal testified that he then questioned Binford. During the questioning, Binford admitted that: he sold small quantities of marijuana to pay his bills; he sometimes conducted the sales in the parking lot of his apartment building; there was a pistol in a boot on the top shelf of the master bedroom closet; he bought the pistol on the streets for protection; he knew he was not supposed to have a gun; and there was marijuana in a drawer or on the counter. In total, Kinal and Binford were in the bathroom for approximately fifteen to twenty minutes. Regarding other details of the questioning, Kinal testified that he could not remember whether he told Binford that he was under arrest or detained; however, Kinal did tell him that he was the focus of the investigation and acknowledged that Binford would not have been free to leave. Further, Kinal testified that at that point he did not have a charge to arrest Binford on and that Binford was detained because “he was the focus of [Kinal’s] investigation based on [Binford’s] history and search warrant on hand.” Kinal clarified that if he used the word “arrest,” it was by mistake and not in line with his standard interviewing technique. Binford testified that he asked Kinal if he was under arrest and Kinal avoided the question and said they No. 14-1635 United States v. Binford Page 5 would get to that later; but ultimately, Kinal never told him that he was under arrest in the apartment. Nevertheless, Binford testified that he believed that he was under arrest during the bathroom interrogation. Kinal further testified that Binford was eager to become an informant, but Kinal never promised him anything in return for his cooperation. Kinal only told Binford that he could help him with the charges if he cooperated and, according to Binford’s testimony, said something to the effect of “you help me, I’ll help you.” Kinal stated this occurred after Binford was Mirandized but may have been around the same time Binford gave his incriminating statements. Binford testified that during the bathroom conversation Kinal never threatened Binford, that he never raised his voice, and that he was calm. Binford also testified that while Kinal did state that Binford’s girlfriend could be held responsible if she knew what was going on, Kinal never made any threats to arrest Binford’s girlfriend if Binford refused to speak with Kinal. Regarding Kinal’s statement that he could help Binford if he cooperated, Binford testified that he believed this meant that if he told Kinal “something” Binford would get out of trouble and possibly not go to jail. However, Binford also testified that whenever he asked if he was going to jail, Kinal never provided a direct answer. Binford also testified that he gave his incriminating statements because he thought he was under arrest and due to his distressed and concerned state of mind. However, Binford testified that the fact that he was unclothed during the questioning did not cause him any concern or distress. Upon leaving the bathroom, Kinal took Binford to the bedroom to assist in the retrieval of the pistol that Binford said was in the closet. At this point the bedroom was still being searched by another officer. After Binford told the officers that the gun was in black women’s boots on the top shelf of the closet, the officers retrieved the weapon. The closet contained female clothing as well as a prescription bottle on the top shelf with Binford’s name on it. The rest of the search, which lasted from thirty minutes to an hour and a half, uncovered approximately 42 grams of marijuana, $190 cash ($40 of which was in Binford’s girlfriend’s purse), and marijuana packaging devices. No ledgers or additional evidence of drug trafficking were recovered. No. 14-1635 United States v. Binford Page 6 After the search and after being allowed to put on clothes, Binford was arrested and transported to jail.