Opinion ID: 3055301
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: September 23, 2010 Encounter

Text: On September 23, 2010, the law enforcement task force investigating the drug activity executed a search warrant at 1239 McDonald Street. While the search of 1239 McDonald Street was being conducted, three plainclothes law enforcement officers, Sergeant Victor Sims, Sergeant Cameron Beedle, and another sergeant of the Homewood Police Department, were patrolling in an unmarked patrol car on a nearby street in an attempt to maintain a perimeter around 1239 McDonald Street. While patrolling, Sgt. Sims saw Carson emerge on foot from a line of bushes beside the road, which he found suspicious. After Sgt. Sims pointed Carson out, Sgt. Beedle, who was on the drug investigation task force, recognized Carson as a target of the drug investigation. The officers stopped Carson and asked him to place his hands on the patrol car so that the officers could conduct a frisk and ensure he was unarmed. Sgt. Beedle and Sgt. Sims then frisked Carson. The officers felt a “wad” in Carson’s 5 Case: 12-10682 Date Filed: 05/31/2013 Page: 6 of 53 front pants pocket. Sgt. Sims asked Carson what the wad was, and Carson said money. The officers asked Carson if they could pull the money out of his pocket to verify it was money, and Carson said yes. The officers discovered it was $1,440 in cash. The officers then asked Carson where he got it. Carson answered that he had just cashed his check from working at a steel plant in North Birmingham. Sgt. Beedle asked why Carson was in the area. Carson responded that he was visiting a girl. Sgt. Sims asked Carson why he was coming out of the bushes, and Carson stated, “I was cutting through the cut,” and “I don’t know my way around here.” Sgt. Beedle knew that Carson’s home was on the street—in fact, Sgt. Beedle said Carson’s home was visible from where they had stopped Carson—and told Carson, “[y]ou live right there.” Carson denied it and told the officers that he resided in North Birmingham, the address on his driver’s license. Sgt. Sims kept the $1,440 in cash with Carson’s apparent permission. Sgt. Beedle and Sgt. Sims then took Carson to 1239 McDonald Street, about three or four houses down, and to FBI Special Agent Wayne Gerhardt, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Hattie French, and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Dannielle Jackson. Carson was not placed in handcuffs. Sgt. Sims and Sgt. Beedle handed Carson’s identification and the money to the onsite agents and returned to their post securing the perimeter. The onsite agents asked Carson where he worked. Carson answered that he 6 Case: 12-10682 Date Filed: 05/31/2013 Page: 7 of 53 worked at a Shell gas station, breaking down boxes. The agents asked if they could verify Carson’s employment; Carson told them he was paid under the table, about $350 per week. Special Agent Gerhardt then had an IRS agent, Ezra Heath, come over. The agents asked Carson if he had paid taxes on the money, and Carson said he had not. Carson’s money was permanently seized. Special Agent Gerhardt received Carson’s money and provided Carson with a receipt. Gerhardt also wrote on the receipt his name and the telephone number for the FBI office in Birmingham in case Carson wanted to contact him. Carson was not advised of his Miranda 2 rights at any point during this encounter.