Opinion ID: 800868
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Johnson's Statements at the Police Station

Text: Johnson's final statement to police officers occurred during his interview at the police station with Officers Bell and Bohlen. During this interview, which was recorded and is part of the record, Officer Bell first introduced himself to Johnson and asked if Johnson needed anything. Johnson's handcuffs were removed and he was provided water and cigarettes. Officer Bell then obtained background information from Johnson concerning his personal history, family, and education. After getting this basic information, Officer Bell read Johnson his Miranda rights and Johnson indicated that he understood those rights. Johnson then told the officers what he knew about the items found in the apartment and discussed his drug distribution activities in detail. As noted by Magistrate Judge Goodstein, the entire interview was cordial and no threats were made by either of the officers. Johnson believes the statements he gave at the police station should be excluded because they were tainted by Officer Bohlen's prior actions. To support this argument, Johnson attempts to stretch the holding of Missouri v. Seibert, 542 U.S. 600, 124 S.Ct. 2601, 159 L.Ed.2d 643 (2004), to this case. In Seibert, the Supreme Court was confronted with a practice used by some police forces of failing to provide Miranda warnings during custodial interrogation until after the interrogation produced a confession. Id. at 604, 124 S.Ct. 2601. After a confession was obtained, the interrogating officer would read the suspect his Miranda rights and then proceed through a similar line of questioning. Id. This question first, warn later approach was rejected by the Supreme Court in a plurality opinion which resulted in two potential tests for evaluating such practices. [5] We have yet to determine which test governs in this circuit. See United States v. Lee, 618 F.3d 667, 678 (7th Cir.2010). As in Lee, we need not determine which test applies at this juncture because the facts of this case do not meet the requirements of either test. See id. Johnson's case fails to satisfy either Seibert test because he has not shown the existence of a prewarning custodial interrogation. Thus, his case differs markedly from Seibert. In that case, Seibert was arrested and taken to the police station prior to any questioning. 542 U.S. at 604-05, 124 S.Ct. 2601. Seibert was clearly in custody and the officers engaged in interrogation lasting thirty to forty minutes. See id. After Seibert confessed, officers gave her a twenty-minute break followed by Miranda warnings and a second confession. Id. at 605, 124 S.Ct. 2601. In contrast, as we have already noted, Officer Bohlen's first contact with Johnson occurred during a traffic stop in which Johnson was not in custody, and thus not subjected to custodial interrogation. In addition, although Johnson was in custody at the time Officer Bohlen read the search warrant aloud, we have already determined that this action did not amount to interrogation. Based on these findings, at no time prior to Johnson's interrogation at the police station were police officers required to read Johnson his Miranda warnings. This case is simply not the type of situation Seibert intended to address. Finding that the district court did not plainly err in denying Johnson's motion to suppress, we now turn to Johnson's remaining arguments on appeal.