Opinion ID: 204000
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Search of Bucci's vehicle on June 4, 2003

Text: Bucci also moved to suppress over three hundred pounds of marijuana that officers found in Bucci's vehicle when they pulled him over on June 4, 2003, alleging the officers did not have probable cause to stop him at that time. If there is probable cause to believe a vehicle contains evidence of criminal activity, officers may, without a warrant, search any area of the vehicle in which the evidence might be found. Arizona v. Gant, ___ U.S. ___, 129 S.Ct. 1710, 1721, 173 L.Ed.2d 485 (2009). To prove the applicability of this exception to the warrant requirement, United States v. Dickerson, 514 F.3d 60, 66 (1st Cir.2008), cert denied, ___ U.S. ___, 128 S.Ct. 1690, 170 L.Ed.2d 384 (2008), the government must demonstrate that law enforcement officers had a belief, reasonably arising out of circumstances known to the seizing officer, that the vehicle contained that which by law is subject to seizure, United States v. Lopez, 380 F.3d 538, 543 (1st Cir.2004) (quotation, alterations omitted). Whether a particular set of facts rises to the level of probable cause is a legal determination that this court reviews de novo. See United States v. Rodrigue, 560 F.3d 29, 32 (1st Cir.2009). Here, at the time officers stopped and searched Bucci's vehicle, they knew the following: A confidential informant told officers that Bucci was involved in marijuana trafficking. Over the next eight months, officers themselves observed what appeared to be deliveries being made to Bucci's home through vehicles driven into his garage and unloaded out of public view. After these deliveries, officers would find empty boxes and bags in Bucci's garbage which contained marijuana residue. Soon thereafter, a number of individuals would come to Bucci's home, take other boxes or bags from the house, and depart in short order. On June 2, 2003, the confidential informant told agents that Bucci might have recently received a shipment of marijuana. On the morning of June 4, 2003, the pole camera showed Bucci and another man  later identified as defendant Belmonte  carrying eight large cardboard boxes (similar to the size and construction to those seized during the garbage searches) into the garage of Bucci's residence. Once the boxes were in the garage, the door was closed, and Bucci and Belmonte remained inside the residence for approximately two hours.... Belmonte and Bucci eventually emerged from the garage carrying a box which appeared to be very heavy. The two walked towards [Belmonte's] trailer and returned to the garage empty handed. Within minutes, Belmonte exited the garage, got into the pick-up truck with the trailer attached, and drove off. Thereafter, [a]gents ordered police officers to stop the vehicle driven by Belmonte. [6] While Belmonte was being stopped by police, another man pulled into Bucci's driveway. Bucci came out of the house, and the driver of the vehicle  later identified as Defendant Martin  parked the vehicle, and entered the residence with Bucci. Moments later, Bucci and Martin came out of the residence and got into their respective vehicles. Martin moved his vehicle so that Bucci could drive his vehicle out of the garage, and Martin immediately drove his vehicle into the garage, and the garage door was closed. Several minutes later, Bucci drove his vehicle into the garage. Bucci reentered the garage, and the garage door was closed again. A few minutes later, Bucci and Martin came out of the garage and drove away in their respective vehicles. Officers then stopped Bucci and searched his vehicle. Based on all the information known to the officers at the time they stopped Bucci, they had probable cause to believe there was evidence of criminal activity in his vehicle at that time. [7]