Opinion ID: 2602376
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Whether The Trial Court Erred in Denying Defendant's Motion to Suppress Evidence Relating to the Search of His Apartment

Text: {34} Defendant claims the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress evidence seized from Peek's apartment. Specifically, he argues the search warrant was invalid because: (1) it was issued to search the wrong apartment; and (2) Officer Brown's video recording of the interior of the apartment was allegedly taken before a search warrant had been issued. Defendant based his second argument on the time recorded on the videotape. For the following reasons, the trial court's denial of Defendant's motion to suppress was proper. {35} We review the denial of a motion to suppress for the correct application of the law to the facts, viewing the facts in a manner most favorable to the prevailing party, indulging all reasonable inferences in support of the court's decision, and disregarding all inferences or evidence to the contrary. State v. Duquette, 2000-NMCA-006, ¶ 7, 128 N.M. 530, 994 P.2d 776. In the case at hand, the original search warrant was issued for 1016 Glade Lane, Apartment 4. When a police officer noticed a discrepancy in the apartment number, he contacted the issuing judge and received authorization to correct the address on the warrant to Apartment 5. However, the police report mistakenly indicated that permission was requested, and granted, to search Apartment 6. {36} In State v. Sero, 82 N.M. 17, 21, 474 P.2d 503, 507 (Ct.App.1970), our intermediate appellate court concluded that a search warrant description is sufficient if the officer can, with reasonable effort, ascertain and identify the place intended to be searched. The court also held that the description must identify the premises in such a manner as to leave the officer no doubt and no discretion regarding the premises to be searched. Id. In State v. Aragon, 89 N.M. 91, 93, 547 P.2d 574, 576, (Ct.App.1976), overruled on other grounds by State v. Rickerson, 95 N.M. 666, 668, 625 P.2d 1183, 1185 (1981), the color of the residence and the street number were incorrect, but the search was held to be valid because the geographical location and color of the roof were accurate. Here, the street address was correct and it was merely the apartment number that was confused. An affidavit submitted by police officers called to the scene attested to the fact that a person had been burned in a fire at the apartment to be searched. Based on the above, the requirements of Sero were met and no error occurred in this instance. {37} Also, with respect to the evidence resulting from the search warrant, Defendant points out that although the time shown on the recording of the apartment search was just after 7:00 a.m., the search warrant itself was not received until 9:00 a.m. Thus, Defendant argues the officers must have entered the apartment prior to the warrant's issuance and that the trial court therefore erred in denying his suppression motion. Defendant bolsters his argument by alleging that the position of the sun in the video indicated that the time on the video was in fact the correct time. Officer Brown testified the time on the video recorder was incorrect because he had not set the time. He further maintained that he did not enter the apartment prior to the warrant being issued. The trial court had the opportunity to hear the testimony and observe the demeanor of Officer Brown and found his testimony credible. Viewing the facts in the manner most favorable to the trial court's ruling, we affirm the denial of the motion to suppress. Duquette, 2000-NMCA-006, ¶ 7, 128 N.M. 530, 994 P.2d 776.