Opinion ID: 278846
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Inadmissibility of Evidence

Text: 27 Appellant John E. Oelke's second point relates to alleged inadmissibility of evidence (Exhibit 3: 2,734.065 grams of marijuana) obtained by search, after arrest of John Oelke, in the closet in the apartment which officers entered without permission, search warrant or warrant for arrest. 28 John Oelke was arrested on June 16, 1965, at apartment 4, 7102 La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, where he lived with his family, including his brother Alan Oelke. 29 If appellant is correct in his contention that he was arrested without probable cause, it is elementary that the search and seizure of the marijuana was illegal, and that the seized marijuana was inadmissible in evidence. 30 'Our basic problem, then, is to determine whether the arrest was without probable cause. 'Probable cause exists where 'the facts and circumstances within (the arresting officers') knowledge and of which they have had reasonable trustworthy information (are) sufficient in themselves to warrant a man of reasonable caution in the belief that' an offense has been or is being committed.' Draper v. United States, 358 U.S. 307 (, 79 S.Ct. 329, 3 L.Ed.2d 327) (1959). See also Brinegar v. United States, 338 U.S. 160 (, 69 S.Ct. 1302, 93 L.Ed. 1879) (1949); Carroll v. United States, 267 U.S. 132 (, 45 S.Ct. 280, 69 L.Ed. 543) (1925).' Garcia v. United States, 381 F.2d 778 (9th Cir. 1967). 31 If there was probable cause for this arrest, the search, if reasonable, incidental and contemporaneous to a lawful arrest, was likewise proper. Preston v. United States, 376 U.S. 364, 367, 84 S.Ct. 881, 11 L.Ed.2d 777 (1964); Harris v. United States, 331 U.S. 145, 67 S.Ct. 1098, 91 L.Ed. 1399 (1946). The government summarizes the evidence as to probable cause as follows: 32 'Agent Sherman testified at the trial    (that) prior to the arrest, he was advised by Agent Harrison D. Paulus that on June 15, 1965, informant Brucker had placed a phone call to the Oelke residence and had made arrangements for the purchase of marihuana to take place on June 16, 1965 (R.T. 447). On June 16, Agent Sherman was advised by other agents on the radio that a team of narcotic agents had observed Brucker meet with John Oelke on Glenway in the vicinity of the Oelke apartment and that the two had entered the apartment and had a conversation which was monitored by the agents (R.T. 447). Agent Sherman was further advised by radio on June 16 that Alan Oelke and appellant Graves had made a delivery of marihuana to Brucker in the garage on Glenway near the apartment (R.T. 448). Agent Sherman then entered the apartment, where he found John Oelke in a closet in the bedroom (R.T 426). Agent Sherman found in the same closet, at the time of the arrest, 2,734.065 grams of marihuana which later became Government's Exhibit 3 at the trial below (R.T. 426-428). 33 'It is submitted that these facts speak for themselves and that probable cause for the arrest on John Oelke was present at the time when Agent Sherman arrested him. It is well established that hearsay evidence (such as the information which Agent Sherman received from the other agents) is admissible on the question of probable cause to arrest. Ker v. (State of) California, 374 U.S. 23, 36 (83 S.Ct. 1623, 10 L.Ed.2d 726) (1963); United States v. Miguel, 340 F.2d 812, 814 (2 Cir. 1965). 'These reports, given to Agent Sherman by other agents including Agent Paulus on June 15 and 16, 1965, would support a reasonable belief on Agent Sherman's part that John Oelke was then engaged with his brother Alan in a set of acts designed to result in a sale of marihuana to informant Brucker. Thus, the arrest of John Oelke was supported by probable cause and was lawful.' (Appellee's Brief, pp. 20-21.) 34 We agree with the government that irrespective of Agent Sherman's knowledge of what had occurred in the nearby garage between officers and other defendants, Agent Sherman had probable cause to arrest John E. Oelke, within the Supreme Court definition of probable cause hereinabove recited in the Garcia case. The search was reasonable. 35 Affirmed. 36