Opinion ID: 770457
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Overbreadth of the Search

Text: 25 Plaintiffs' next argument is that the manner in which the search warrant was executed violated their constitutional rights because, even after realizing that there were multiple units within the Mena house, the police searched the entire premises, including the individual residential units. Defendants counter that the execution of the search was valid because probable cause existed to search the entire premises, not just Romero's room and the common areas. We disagree with Defendants. 26 Police officers' authority to search premises that are described in a warrant is not unlimited. If, during the search, the officers become aware that the warrant describes multiple residences, the officers must confine their search to the residence of the suspect. United States v. Kyles , 40 F.3d 519, 524 (2d Cir. 1994) (citing Garrison, 480 U.S. at 86-87). To determine whether the officers should have realized they were searching the wrong residence, the Garrison court set forth the following standard: [T]he validity of the search of respondent's apartment pursuant to a warrant authorizing the search of the entire third floor depends on whether the officers' failure to realize the overbreadth of the warrant was objectively understandable and reasonable. Garrison, 480 U.S. at 88 (emphasis added). 27 Here, shortly after beginning the search, the evidence and the reasonable inferences it supports are sufficient to suggest that the officers should have realized that the Menas' house was a multi-unit residential dwelling and, thus, that the warrant was actually overbroad. When the officers first entered the house, they observed that many of the rooms were padlocked from the outside. Furthermore, upon forcing entry into the locked rooms, the officers saw that the rooms were set up as studio apartment type units, with their own refrigerators, cooking supplies, food, televisions, and stereos. Considering that Officers Muehler and Brill knew that a large number of persons lived in the house, and that Muehler had observed the padlocked doors on a prior occasion, we agree with the district court that a jury could conclude from these facts that the officers' search beyond Romero's room and common areas was unreasonable. 28 Defendants argue nevertheless that they are entitled to qualified immunity because their conduct in executing the warrant and in searching the entire premises was objectively reasonable. Generally, if a structure is divided into more than one occupancy unit, probable cause must exist for each unit to be searched. United States v. Whitney, 633 F.2d 902, 907 (9th Cir. 1980). This rule, however, is not absolute. For example, we have held that 29 a warrant is valid when it authorizes the search of a street address with several dwellings if the defendants are in control of the whole premises, if the dwellings are occupied in common, or if the entire property is suspect. 30 United States v. Alexander, 761 F.2d 1294, 1301 (9th Cir. 1985); see also United States v. Frazin, 780 F.2d 1461, 1467 (9th Cir. 1986). 31 Defendants maintain that there was evidence that the entire premises were suspect because Romero had access to all parts of Mena's residence. Specifically, they argue that the following facts support this conclusion: (1) Romero previously had secreted a gun at the residence of a fellow gang member; (2) Gonzales, a gang member, had also lived at 1363 Patricia Avenue, although it was believed he had moved to Mexico; (3) street gang members often hide weapons and evidence in their homes and the homes of fellow gang members; (4) Romero had access to areas of the premises occupied by other residents, as evidenced by the fact that he answered Gonzales's phone; and (5) other residents had access to Romero's possessions, as evidenced by the fact that he was worried that some of his belongings might be stolen. In short, Defendants appear to be arguing that, because Romero and Gonzales were gang associates, and they both lived in this house, the police had probable cause to search the entire premises at 1363 Patricia Avenue. 32 We reject Defendants' argument because, at most, the aforementioned facts provided the officers with probable cause to search Romero's room, Gonzales's room (if he still lived there), and common areas. On the other hand, there is virtually no evidence in the record to show that Romero had access to or was in control of the locked rooms inhabited by the other residents, such as Iris Mena. 33 As the district court correctly stated, the law is well established that the officers `were required to discontinue the search of [Plaintiffs' property not reasonably in Romero's control] as soon as they discovered that there were [other] separate units [on the property] and therefore were put on notice of the risk that they might be in a [portion of the property] erroneously included within the terms of the warrant.'  (quoting Garrison, 480 U.S. at 87). Because a reasonable jury considering all the facts could determine that it was unreasonable for the officers to continue the search, we affirm the district court's denial of qualified immunity on this claim.