Opinion ID: 285721
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Sufficiency of the Evidence as to Cruz and Guttierez

Text: 76 Putting aside for the moment the failure of the defendants' counsel to move to suppress any evidence, and the lack of evidence as to any unlawful search, we find appellants urging the theory that Ales simply cannot be believed. Ales' alleged willingness to talk to save himself, and the fact that two state narcotic officers had told him that if he testified against Duran in the federal courts they would try to drop the charges against Ales in the state courts (R.T. 126-131) invalidated (so the appellants say) all of Ales' testimony. Based on these facts appellants' brief states: [I]t is clear that Ales' testimony was procured only by means of [the illegal search and seizure] which provided the state with a basis for putting Ales' freedom in jeopardy if he did not cooperate. (Appellants' Brief, p. 30.) 77 This reasoning necessarily assumes that there is evidence in the record that the search of Ales' room on May 6th was illegal. And we have shown, supra, that there was no such evidence in the case. Thus the cited cases of Smith v. United States, 120 U.S.App.D.C. 160, 344 F.2d 545 (1965); Takahashi v. United States, 143 F.2d 118 (9th Cir. 1944); Silverthorne Lumber Co. v. United States, 251 U.S. 385, 391, 40 S.Ct. 182, 64 L.Ed. 319 (1920); and Rogers v. United States, 330 F.2d 535, 540 (5th Cir. 1964), have no precedential value. 78 From appellants' faulty conclusion as to proof existing in the record of the illegal search of Ales' room and the illegal seizure of the heroin, they reason that Ales was forced or coerced to talk, and hence no untainted evidence remained in existence to establish probable cause to arrest Vasquez. We hold to the contrary. Here, Vasquez' arrest was lawful (he was committing a felony in the presence of the officers), and the product of the search incidental to that lawful arrest was the baseball schedule card that led the officers to the Gales Motel, and to Cruz and Guttierez. Absent the primary thesis that the heroin at Ales' motel room was illegally searched for and seized, each of the subsequent searches and seizures may not be characterized as illegal solely by reason of the Gales Motel search, for there was no taint to pass along. 79 We next consider appellants' alternate position that the conceded warrantless arrest and search of Cruz' and Guttierez' motel room was unlawful, standing by itself, as a result of a forceful entry by the police, without their first demanding admittance and explaining the purpose of their demand. 80 We agree with appellants that state law determines the validity of an arrest made without a warrant. United States v. Di Re, 332 U.S. 581, 589, 68 S.Ct. 222, 92 L.Ed. 210 (1948). 81 California Penal Code § 844, cited and relied upon by appellants, relates to breaking down a door in making arrests, not to warrantless arrests. California Penal Code § 836 states the manner in which a peace officer may make an arrest without a warrant. After ascertaining the fact that Sanchez and his companions were peace officers, within the definition of California Penal Code § 817 (and they were); that they were acting without a warrant (they had none); that the crime for which appellants Cruz and Guttierez were arrested was a felony (it was — California Health and Safety Code § 11500; California Penal Code § 17; and R.T. 225), we must determine if there was probable cause for such arrest without a warrant. If there was, only then do we consider whether there has been compliance with California Penal Code § 844. 82 We conclude that there was ample probable cause for the state officers to arrest without a warrant, under California Penal Code § 836(3) and (5). Sanchez knew, and presumably his fellow officers knew, of Ales' statement as to Duran's employment of Ales to receive the contraband heroin from the mules bringing it across the border from Mexico. The officers knew of the arrest of Vasquez, with the heroin on his person when first seen, of his attempt to flee and/or destroy the evidence. They knew of Exhibit 4-C which contained the legend: Gales Motel (room 24, 3029 San Gabriel Ave., San Gabriel). They knew that they were outside room 24 of the Gales Motel. They knew that in the parking space assigned to room 24 of that motel was a 1959 blue Mercury sedan automobile with the California license number JUF 174. They knew this Mercury sedan was registered to one Juan Gonzales of 3520 Warwick Street, in the City of Los Angeles. (R.T. 220.) One officer, Sanchez, knew and had seen Duran, the alleged coconspirator, at 3520 Warwick Street, Los Angeles, on several occasions. Another of the officers, Stevenson, had talked to the manager of the motel, Mrs. Wise, before room 24 was approached. (R.T. 222.) Whether Mrs. Wise told the officer that Guttierez had visited the same motel, signing the register under a different name each of the last four times he had stayed there, we do not know, because neither Mrs. Wise nor officer Stevenson was asked. Whether he saw the false names on the registration slips, later produced at the trial, we do not know. We do know, however, that Guttierez admittedly had made three trips to this same motel in the prior four months from Mexicali, and that he registered under the false name of Antonio Gonzales, and that Mrs. Wise had admittedly registered Mr. Guttierez each time. We also know that Mrs. Wise shortly after midnight on May 12th, 1966, gave a key to room 24 to Lieutenant Stevenson. (R.T. 188.) 83 Appellants' brief states the police officers broke into the motel room of appellants Cruz and Guttierez (Op. Brief, p. 34) and burst into the locked room (Op. Brief, p. 35). Guttierez stated the officers pushed the door open; Cruz stated they pushed it in hard. 84 But it does not matter whether the officers entered with a key or forced their way in, provided they followed substantially the procedure set forth in California Penal Code § 844. We say substantially because a strict compliance with the provisions of this section is not required in a variety of situations. People v. Gallup, 253 Cal.App.2d 922, 61 Cal.Rptr. 709 (1967). 85 The officers say they knocked at the door of room 24 and got no response. The defendants Cruz and Guttierez say they were asleep and heard nothing until the officers entered. Under such circumstances, we have held the arrest by state officers, based on probable cause, as here existed, was lawful. Williams v. United States, 273 F.2d 781, 792 (9th Cir. 1959); People v. Maddox, 46 Cal.2d 301, 294 P.2d 6, cert. denied, 352 U.S. 858, 77 S.Ct. 81, 1 L.Ed.2d 65 (1956). 86 On facts far stronger in favor of appellants, the Maddox case is quoted in Williams as follows: 87 `We conclude therefore that when there is reasonable cause to make an arrest and search and the facts known to him before his entry are not inconsistent with a good faith belief on the part of the officer that compliance with section 844 is excused, his failure to comply with the formal requirements of that section does not justify the exclusion of the evidence he obtains.' 273 F.2d at 793. 88 See also People v. Morales, 259 Cal. App.2d 290, 66 Cal.Rptr. 234 (1968); People v. Rosales, 68 Cal.2d 299, 66 Cal. Rptr. 1, 437 P.2d 489; People v. Wolfe, 257 Cal.App.2d 420, 64 Cal.Rptr. 855 (1967); People v. Hamilton, 257 Cal. App.2d 296, 64 Cal.Rptr. 578 (1967); People v. Gallup, supra ; People v. Fritz, 253 Cal.App.2d 7, 61 Cal.Rptr. 247 (1967). Cf. also other cases — California Penal Code § 844, n. 1, at 708-709 (West Supp.1968). 89 We recognize that there is no blanket exception to the specified requirements of Penal Code § 844 in all narcotic cases, nor in all other cases involving easily disposable evidence. We recognize that a later California case has stated there is no such blanket rule, and that the burden is on the officers to make a specific showing of the necessity of an unannounced forcible entry. If we assume such an entry was made here, we hold the officers were justified in their conduct, particularly in view of their experience on the same day shortly before this incident with Vasquez, one of the alleged conspirators. There being no reliance here by the arresting officers on any blanket exception, Meyer v. United States, 386 F.2d 715 (9th Cir. 1967) is not applicable. 90 The only evidence obtained in the police search of room 24 of the Gales Motel was Exhibit 8, the piece of cardboard with Vasquez' telephone number written on it. Having been obtained by means of a legal though warrantless search by California police officers under California law, it was admissible against defendants Cruz and Guttierez generally, and against Duran as to Count I, even if there had been an objection raised on that ground, which there was not. 91 The heroin was discovered by Mrs. Wise in room 24, eleven hours after the defendants Cruz and Guttierez had left the motel room, and after their occupancy of the room had been terminated. 92 Mrs. Wise entered the room for her own purposes; to clean it and prepare it for the next occupant. She was not asked by the police officers to inspect or search the room, and there was no police participation of any kind in the search or the discovery. Knowing the police had once searched the premises, Mrs. Wise of her own volition, handed the results of her private examination of the room over to the police. 93 This was a private search. Burdeau v. McDowell, 256 U.S. 465, 41 S.Ct. 574, 65 L.Ed. 1048 (1921). It might well be considered the heroin had been abandoned. Abel v. United States, 362 U.S. 217, 80 S.Ct. 683, 4 L.Ed.2d 668 (1960). 94 On the whole, the record reflects that all defendants were fairly tried and that the evidence of their guilt was substantial. We perceive no demonstrable error and must therefore affirm.