Opinion ID: 763265
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Denial of Motion to Quash Arrest and Suppress Evidence

Text: 12 Mr. Dozal contends that (1) the warrantless search of the premises prior to his arrest was undertaken without legal justification; (2) the officers arrested him without either a warrant or probable cause; and (3) a search warrant was unconstitutionally obtained on the basis of his denial of consent to search. 13 The record demonstrates that the officers limited their warrantless search of the apartment to Mr. Gonzalez' bedroom and the common areas. See 4 R. at 195. Mr. Dozal does not charge the officers with obtaining Mr. Gonzalez' consent coercively or with exceeding the scope of that consent. A person who resides with the defendant and engages in mutual use of the property may authorize a warrantless search. See United States v. Matlock, 415 U.S. 164, 172 n. 7, 94 S.Ct. 988, 39 L.Ed.2d 242 (1974); United States v. Rith, 164 F.3d 1323, 1328 (10th Cir.1999). Because Mr. Dozal admits that Mr. Gonzalez lived in the apartment and at least shared control over all areas searched without a warrant, we find his first argument without merit. 14 In framing his second argument, Mr. Dozal correctly asserts that a warrantless arrest must be supported by probable cause. See United States v. Vazquez-Pulido, 155 F.3d 1213, 1216 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 119 S.Ct. 437, 142 L.Ed.2d 356 (1998). We review the legal issue of probable cause de novo and the factual findings supporting the district court's determination for clear error. See United States v. Dodds, 946 F.2d 726, 727 (10th Cir.1991). An officer has probable cause to arrest if, under the totality of circumstances, he learned of facts and circumstances through reasonably trustworthy information that would lead a reasonable person to believe that an offense has been or is being committed by the person arrested. Vazquez-Pulido, 155 F.3d at 1216 (quoting United States v. Guerrero-Hernandez, 95 F.3d 983, 986 (10th Cir.1996)). Although probable cause need not be based on facts sufficient for a finding of guilt, it requires more than mere suspicion. Id. (citing United States v. Hansen, 652 F.2d 1374, 1388 (10th Cir.1981)). Association with persons suspected of criminal conduct or nearness to the site of illegal activity does not alone suffice. See id.; see also Hansen, 652 F.2d at 1390 (holding that merely traveling with drug dealers did not create probable cause at time of defendant's arrest). Furthermore, probable cause is lacking when an officer arrests a person for refusing to consent to a warrantless search or seizure. Gasho v. United States, 39 F.3d 1420, 1438-39 (9th Cir.1994). 15 In the instant case, the totality of circumstances supported a finding of probable cause to arrest Mr. Dozal. A consensual search of the shared bathroom yielded two ounces of cocaine. See, e.g., 4 R. at 231. Moreover, an officer monitoring surveillance equipment overheard Mr. Dozal-Rivera indicate by the use of the words we and us that multiple persons played a role in the cocaine transaction. See 1 R., doc. 66 at 4; Vazquez-Pulido, 155 F.3d at 1216 n. 5 (finding of probable cause may be based, in whole or in part, on co-conspirator's hearsay statement). Finally, Mr. Dozal does not contend that he failed to comprehend the officers' request to search the apartment or that his will was overborne when he allowed them to look in the bathroom. Given these circumstances, we hold that the officers had probable cause to arrest Mr. Dozal. 16 With regard to evidence seized under the state search warrant, we must grant the magistrate's decision  'great deference' such that we ask only whether [he or she] had a 'substantial basis' for determining probable cause existed. Lawmaster v. Ward, 125 F.3d 1341, 1348 (10th Cir.1997). State searches must conform to federal constitutional requirements, whether or not they are federal in character. United States v. Millar, 543 F.2d 1280, 1283 (10th Cir.1976). Here, the affidavit supporting the warrant specifically asserted that, during their warrantless search, the officers found only two ounces of cocaine, whereas Mr. Dozal-Rivera led them to believe that he had access to at least two more ounces. See 1 R., doc. 46, exh. A. Moreover, in the affiant's eleven years of experience, drug traffickers' homes often contain drug packaging supplies and large amounts of cash. See id. The affidavit thus established the probability that the officers would find more evidence of criminal conduct in the apartment, see Lawmaster, 125 F.3d at 1348, and the warrant listed with particularity the items ultimately seized. 17 Although the affiant noted that Mr. Dozal would not let the officers search his part of the residence, nothing in either the affidavit or the warrant indicates that the warrant was based on such a denial. Hence, the trial court did not err in denying Mr. Dozal's motion to suppress this evidence. 18