Opinion ID: 160968
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Wrongful Arrest Claim

Text: 13 Mr. Gross argues his arrest violates his Fourth Amendment rights because Deputy Pirtle did not have probable cause to detain and subsequently arrest him for unlawful use of the dealer plate. Because the district court concluded issues of material fact exist without making explicit factual findings, we must review the record to extract the facts the district court likely relied on in reaching its conclusion. Johnson, 515 U.S. at 319 (explaining that the appellate court may have to undertake a cumbersome review of the record to determine what facts the district court, in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, likely assumed). If we determine the district court's conclusion rests on findings of evidence sufficiency, we must dismiss for lack of jurisdiction. 14 Although many of the facts in this case are disputed, not all of these facts are necessarily material. For example, the disagreement regarding whether Mr. Gross properly signed the first citation and whether he was asked to sign a second citation is immaterial if Deputy Pirtle lacked probable cause to detain Mr. Gross after the purpose of the initial stop ended. See V-1 Oil Co. v. Means, 94 F.3d 1420, 1424 (10th Cir. 1996) (noting a detention must be reasonably related in scope to the circumstances that justified the stop and a detention outside the scope violates the Constitution); United States v. McSwain, 29 F.3d 558, 561-62 (10th Cir. 1994) (holding that, after purpose of the traffic stop ended, reasonable suspicion no longer existed and further detention of the driver exceeded the permissible scope). In order for the arrest to be lawful, Deputy Pirtle must have had probable cause to detain Mr. Gross for unlawful use of the dealer plate. 15 After reviewing the record, we find that genuine issues of material fact remain concerning whether Deputy Pirtle believed he had probable cause to detain Mr. Gross following the administration of the sobriety field test. Although section 66-3-401 of the New Mexico Code permits general use of a special dealer plate, certain vehicles, such as parts or delivery vehicles, owned by dealers are excluded from the subsection authorizing general use. N.M. Stat. Ann. § 66-3-401(B). The district court could, therefore, have identified disputed facts concerning Deputy Pirtle's classification of the vehicle and its concomitant use under the vehicle registration laws. Because further review would necessitate an assessment of the district court's evidentiary conclusions, we must dismiss Deputy Pirtle's appeal of the district court's decision that issues of material fact exist regarding the wrongful arrest claim.