Opinion ID: 4272515
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: facts

Text: 1. A rrest and Overview of Search In August 2016, Mark P. Nunez was stopped by Sgt. Jacob Hoffman of the Washington County sheriff’s office for speeding. Nunez’ 7-year-old son was the only passenger. After Hoffman approached Nunez’ vehicle, Nunez informed Hoffman that he thought his driver’s license had been suspended for failure to pay child support. Hoffman then returned to his patrol - 342 - Nebraska Supreme Court A dvance Sheets 299 Nebraska R eports STATE v. NUNEZ Cite as 299 Neb. 340 car and confirmed with dispatch that Nunez’ driver’s license was indeed suspended and found that it was suspended in both Nebraska and Iowa. Hoffman also discovered that there was an active warrant for Nunez’ arrest. Hoffman then returned to the vehicle to arrest Nunez. Hoffman handcuffed Nunez and placed him in the patrol car. The child was transported by another officer to one of Nunez’ friends or family. The vehicle was impounded. Before the vehicle was impounded, Hoffman and another officer searched the vehicle for the keys. While looking for the keys, Hoffman discovered a pipe. After the keys were located, the officers continued to search the vehicle and discovered a black container holding a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. Nunez was charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance, along with one count of driving under a suspended license. 2. Motion to Suppress Prior to the bench trial, Nunez moved to suppress all evidence obtained as a result of the search of his vehicle, alleging that the warrantless search violated his constitutional rights. The State took the position that the search fell within the inventory exception to the warrant requirement. At a hearing on the motion to suppress, the State called Hoffman to testify and entered into evidence a document outlining the Washington County sheriff’s office’s policy and procedures for impounded vehicles (“written policy”), as well as a video from Hoffman’s body camera. (a) Policy on Impounded Vehicles The written policy states, in relevant part: Any vehicle seized and impounded shall be inventoried. The sheriff’s office impound/inventory report form shall be completed with all identified items listed on the impound/inventory sheet. All unlocked containers are to be searched and inventoried. If the vehicle has a trunk - 343 - Nebraska Supreme Court A dvance Sheets 299 Nebraska R eports STATE v. NUNEZ Cite as 299 Neb. 340 release or if we are in custody of the keys, the trunk shall be inventoried, including any unlocked containers. .... . . . If any evidence or contraband is seized as the result of a vehicle impound[,] the item shall be listed on the impound/inventory report form with the word “evidence” listed next to the item. The property/evidence report form shall be completed on the item seized, tracking the item from the impound/inventory sheet to the property/­ evidence sheet. The property/evidence tag number and where item was secured shall be listed on the property/ evidence report form. Hoffman also testified about the Washington County sheriff’s office’s policy regarding impounded vehicles. He testified that according to the office’s policy, officers are to “go through the vehicle and mark up anything that’s of value and . . . check all unlocked containers in the vehicle, and if there’s keys . . . check the trunk.” (b) Search for Keys Footage from Hoffman’s body camera depicted the stop, Nunez’ arrest, and events thereafter. The video shows that after Nunez was arrested, Hoffman informed Nunez that his vehicle would be towed. Nunez then asked Hoffman if he had the keys or if the other officer had the keys. Hoffman responded that Nunez had the keys. Since Nunez was handcuffed, Hoffman told Nunez that he would get them for him. Hoffman then patted Nunez’ pockets, apparently not locating the keys. He then instructed an officer standing nearby to check the vehicle, stating that he did not think Nunez had the keys. The video shows the other officer searching the back seat of the vehicle. After Nunez was secured in the back of the patrol car, Hoffman went to help the other officer locate the keys. After they were unable to locate the keys in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, they questioned Nunez about - 344 - Nebraska Supreme Court A dvance Sheets 299 Nebraska R eports STATE v. NUNEZ Cite as 299 Neb. 340 whether he had “chuck[ed] [th]em.” Nunez denied getting rid of the keys, and Hoffman checked Nunez’ pockets again. The officers then returned to the vehicle to search for the keys again. At that time, Hoffman located a pipe in the vehicle’s center console underneath the steering column next to the gas pedal. A few minutes later, the other officer located Nunez’ keys. After finding the keys, the officers continued to search the vehicle. They then located the black container. Hoffman conducted a field test on the substance in the black container, and it tested positive for methamphetamine. The officers continued to search the passenger compartment and back of the vehicle. Hoffman testified that when a person is placed under arrest and the arrestee’s vehicle is being towed, he looks for the keys to the vehicle. When asked why he did so, he stated, “If the tow company has the keys they can put it in drive, which will allow the vehicle not to possibly have damage to it when they try to load it up or do whatever they need to do.” He added, “[W]e try to keep at least the ignition key in there so it’s more movable for the tow company.” He testified that he looked for Nunez’ keys for the same reason. (c) Inventory Sheet On cross-examination, Hoffman admitted that the inventory sheet was not completed during the time that the officers were searching for the keys. He testified that an inventory sheet was completed by another officer in accordance with the written policy. According to Hoffman, the inventory sheet was completed sometime before the vehicle was towed, but he could not remember if it was done before he left to transport Nunez to jail. The inventory sheet was not offered into evidence at the hearing on the motion to suppress, but was received into evidence for the bench trial. The pipe and black container were not listed on the inventory sheet. - 345 - Nebraska Supreme Court A dvance Sheets 299 Nebraska R eports STATE v. NUNEZ Cite as 299 Neb. 340 (d) Evidence Report Although the written policy contemplates that a “property/ evidence report form shall be completed” on any evidence seized as the result of a vehicle impound, no such form was offered into evidence at the suppression hearing or the bench trial, and there was no evidence that one was ever completed. 3. Conviction and A ppeal After the hearing, Nunez’ motion to suppress was overruled, and following a bench trial during which he preserved his objection to the evidence, Nunez was convicted of possession of a controlled substance. The district court acquitted Nunez of the charge of driving under a suspended license. Nunez was sentenced to a 2-year term of probation. Nunez filed a timely appeal.