Opinion ID: 2633156
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Was the Consent to Search Valid?

Text: In addition, the district court concluded the consent to search was tainted by the impermissible detention. An unconstitutional seizure may infect or taint the consent to search as well as any fruits of the encounter if the nature of the seizure renders the consent to search involuntary. Florida v. Royer, 460 U.S. 491, 501, 103 S.Ct. 1319, 75 L.Ed.2d 229 (1983) (officer's detention of person beyond limited restraint of Terry investigative stop taints subsequent consent to search); see Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471, 83 S.Ct. 407, 9 L.Ed.2d 441 (1963). Conversely, a voluntary consent to search can purge the primary taint of an illegal seizure where the connection between the lawless conduct of law enforcement officers and the discovery of the challenged evidence has become so attenuated as to dissipate the taint. State v. Reason, 263 Kan. 405, 409, 951 P.2d 538 (1997); State v. Ninci, 262 Kan. 21, 32, 936 P.2d 1364 (1997); see State v. Childers, 222 Kan. 32, 40, 563 P.2d 999 (1977). The district court concluded there was no causal break allowing a dissipation of the taint in this case. In Childers, we stated that this determination is a question of fact that will not be disturbed on appeal if it is supported by the evidence. 222 Kan. at 40-41, 563 P.2d 999. Clearly, in this case the undisputed evidence supports the conclusion there was no causal break that would purge the taint. Indeed, there was no break between the violation of the scope restrictions and the search; the two are inextricably entwined. In turn, the knowledge that the purse's contents revealed evidence of illegal conduct undoubtedly influenced Smith's decision to give a statement to police. Therefore, the evidence resulting from the search of Smith's purse was properly suppressed. See Wong Sun, 371 U.S. 471, 83 S.Ct. 407, 9 L.Ed.2d 441. Judgment of the Court of Appeals reversing the district court is reversed. Judgment of the district court is affirmed and the case is remanded. DAVIS and JOHNSON, JJ., not participating. LARSON, S.J., and GREENE, J., assigned.