Opinion ID: 882275
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Was there probable cause?

Text: Probable cause requires only a probability of criminal activity, not a prima facie showing. State v. Dess (1982), 201 Mont. 456, 655 P.2d 149. In its order denying the motion to suppress, the District Court first set forth the relevant facts from which it concluded that the officers had probable cause to stop and search defendant's truck. Those facts were known to the officers at the time they stopped the truck, and were eventually included in Officer Christensen's application for a search warrant. The court stated that in October 1984, the Flathead County Sheriff's Office received a report from the Rocky Mountain Information Network that defendant had drug connections in New York and New Jersey and that he was involved in drugs and prostitution. It further noted that in May of 1989, an anonymous informant reported to Officer Christensen that defendant was bringing kilos of marijuana back from Tucson, Arizona in spare tires and that defendant made deliveries in each state he passed through on his way back to Montana. The court further noted that Don Bird, a convicted drug user, stated to Officer Christensen that defendant was his supplier and that defendant brought back large quantities of marijuana from Arizona. Officer Christensen considered Bird to be reliable because of his familiarity with the drug scene and because other names he provided were of other drug users known as such to the police. Although Don Bird testified at the suppression hearing that he did not remember defendant ever supplying him with drugs, Officer Christensen testified that he was present at a recorded interview with Bird in which Bird stated that defendant had sold him marijuana on one occasion and that defendant was bringing marijuana back from Tucson. The tape recording was played for the District Court. The District Court found that another confidential informant had reported in early 1989 that defendant had supplied the informant with marijuana which defendant had brought back from Arizona. Finally, the District Court found that on April 7, 1990, Officer Christensen met with Ms. Allen, who told him that defendant would be coming in from Arizona that evening with a large quantity of marijuana in a spare tire in the back of a yellow Ford pickup belonging to defendant. In conclusion, the District Court stated: Here, the police had specific information from various informants that Defendant Allen regularly transported large quantities of drugs from Tucson to Kalispell. A family member, who spent a great deal of time with the Defendant and would be in a unique position to know, contacted the police, gave them the description of Allen's pickup truck and the approximate time and place of his arrival into the Flathead. She also stated that Allen would be transporting marijuana in the spare tire of this vehicle. The police verified that Defendant owned a pickup matching the description given as well as his resident address. The police were present at the time and place as stated by the family member, and Defendant appeared, driving a vehicle matching the description given. At this point, the police had probable cause to believe that illegal activity was occurring and were therefore entitled to conduct the search which led to discovery of the spare tire containing the marijuana which is the subject of the suppression motion. The search being proper, the fruits of the search are admissible. We agree with the District Court's conclusion that the evidence clearly established probable cause. We hold that the officers had probable cause to believe that defendant was transporting contraband, and had probable cause to stop defendant's vehicle.