Opinion ID: 1349971
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Large Bobcat:

Text: After receiving a tip, law enforcement officers discovered the large Bobcat in an alley behind Lodermeier's garage. The trailer was connected to a pickup belonging to Lodermeier. Its external conspicuous serial number was clearly missing. Portions of rivets were protruding from the rivet holes and scratch marks showed where the serial number plate had been. Sergeant Folkerts, who observed the Bobcat later that same evening noted the large model number had also been removed. Folkerts contacted the Melroe/Bobcat Company and ascertained that four thefts of this model Bobcat had been reported in this region. One of those thefts occurred in Brookings, where Lodermeier had property. The company also informed Folkerts the Bobcat should have a serial number plate in the location where the protruding rivets were located. Based on this information, Folkerts applied for and was granted a search warrant. Officers then seized the Bobcat. Lodermeier moved to suppress this evidence. Because reliability of the confidential informant could not be established, the trial judge redacted that portion of the affidavit and examined whether probable cause existed without the informant's tip. He concluded Folkert's observation of the removed serial number was sufficient to establish probable cause that the large Bobcat constituted evidence of a violation of SDCL 22-11-27 (possession of property with an altered or removed serial number). Lodermeier argues the affidavit was not sufficient to establish probable cause for a search warrant because it failed to allege Lodermeier possessed property with knowledge the serial number was missing and was removed without the owner's consent. Lodermeier relies on a Texas case, Dill v. State, 697 S.W.2d 702 (Tex.App.1985). Dill held police had no probable cause to arrest Dill for tampering with identification numbers merely because he possessed a television set with removed serial numbers. The court reasoned possessing such property is not a per se violation. Id. at 706-707. Establishing probable cause to arrest is not a prerequisite to establishing probable cause for a search warrant. Zurcher v. Stanford Daily, 436 U.S. 547, 556-60, 98 S.Ct. 1970, 1976-78, 56 L.Ed.2d 525, 535-38 (1978); State v. Sundberg, 235 Mont. 115, 765 P.2d 736, 739 (1988). [P]robable cause to search is not the same as probable cause to arrest. Probable cause to arrest exists where the facts and circumstances within the officer's knowledge or of which he has reasonably trustworthy information would warrant a man of ordinary caution in the belief that the arrestee has committed or is committing a crime. But the right to search is not dependent upon the right to arrest. Probable cause to search exists if the man of ordinary caution would be justified in believing that what is sought will be found in the place to be searched and that what is sought, if not contraband or fruits or implements of a crime, will `aid in a particular apprehension or conviction.' State v. Doe, 115 N.H. 682, 371 A.2d 167, 169 (1975) (citations omitted). Accord State v. Caicedo, 599 A.2d 895, 897 (N.H. 1991). [The] determination of whether an affidavit in support of a search warrant shows probable cause for issuance of the warrant must be based upon an examination of the four corners of the affidavit. State v. Iverson, 364 N.W.2d 518, 522 (S.D.1985). In reviewing the affidavits, we should not invalidate the search warrants by interpreting the affidavits in a hypertechnical manner; rather, we should read each affidavit as a whole and interpret each in a common-sense and realistic manner. Oftentimes it is hard to determine when an affidavit demonstrates the existence of probable cause, and the resolution of these marginal cases should be largely determined by the preference to be accorded to warrants. Accordingly, every reasonable inference possible should be drawn in order to support the determination of probable cause by the magistrate. State v. Kaseman, 273 N.W.2d 716, 722-23 (S.D.1978) (citations omitted); Accord United States v. Ventresca, 380 U.S. 102, 85 S.Ct. 741, 13 L.Ed.2d 684 (1965); Iverson, 364 N.W.2d at 522. It is common knowledge metal serial number tags riveted to items of machinery do not fall off. They must be removed. Usually, such tags are not removed by the lawful owners, but are removed by thieves to conceal the property's stolen status and to make recovery of the property more difficult. [4] The Fourth Amendment does not deny law enforcement officers the support of the usual inferences... reasonable men draw from the evidence, ... it requires [only] that such inferences be drawn by a neutral and detached magistrate. State v. DeSmidt, 155 Wis.2d 119, 454 N.W.2d 780, 787 (1990), cert. dismissed, ___ U.S. ___, 111 S.Ct. 721, 112 L.Ed.2d 709 (1991). We conclude, even after redaction of the anonymous tip, adequate probable cause existed to issue the search warrant and we affirm the trial court's refusal to suppress evidence seized with that warrant. [5] Although not briefed or argued by either party, given our holding in part III-B, a search warrant may not have been necessary given the fact the large Bobcat was in a public alley in open view to the officers and apparently the hidden serial numbers could be read without physical intrusion.