Opinion ID: 411710
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The search of the Avenue 320 residence

Text: 7 The fourth amendment proscribes unreasonable searches and seizures, and items seized in searches illegal under the fourth amendment may not be used as evidence against the victims of the search. See Mincey v. Arizona, 437 U.S. 385, 390, 98 S.Ct. 2408, 2412, 57 L.Ed.2d 290 (1978); Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471, 484, 83 S.Ct. 407, 415, 9 L.Ed.2d 441 (1963). It is a cardinal principle that warrantless searches are per se unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment--subject only to a few specifically established and well-delineated exceptions. Mincey v. Arizona, 437 U.S. at 390, 98 S.Ct. at 2412. To comply with constitutional standards, a search warrant must be supported by an affidavit establishing probable cause to search. See United States v. Traylor, 656 F.2d 1326, 1329-30 (9th Cir.1981); United States v. Armstrong, 654 F.2d 1328, 1335 (9th Cir.1981), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 1157, 102 S.Ct. 1032, 71 L.Ed.2d 315 and 455 U.S. 926, 102 S.Ct. 1289, 71 L.Ed.2d 470 (1982). 8 The substance of McLaughlin's affidavit in support of the search warrant for the Avenue 320 residence is set forth in the margin. 2 Appellants argue that the evidence seized at the residence must be suppressed because the search warrant was not supported by probable cause. They first argue that the warrant is insufficient because it fails to state the underlying circumstances demonstrating the anonymous informant's reliability. Appellants also contend that the odor of an non-contraband substance in the vicinity of a residence, absent other corroborating evidence of criminal activity, does not establish probable cause to search. Finally, appellants argue that the affidavit contained material misstatements and that under California law further proceedings are required.
9 An affidavit based at least in part on the tip of an unnamed informer must satisfy two requirements. First, it must disclose some underlying circumstances on which the informant relied. Aguilar v. Texas, 378 U.S. 108, 114, 84 S.Ct. 1509, 1513, 12 L.Ed.2d 723 (1964); see United States v. Davis, 663 F.2d 824, 828 (9th Cir.1981); United States v. Lefkowitz, 618 F.2d 1313 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 824, 101 S.Ct. 86, 66 L.Ed.2d 27 (1980); United States v. Garrett, 565 F.2d 1065, 1070 (9th Cir.1977), cert. denied, 435 U.S. 974, 98 S.Ct. 1620, 56 L.Ed.2d 67 (1978). Second, the affidavit must present facts enabling the magistrate to conclude that the informant is credible and his information reliable. Aguilar v. Texas, 378 U.S. at 114, 84 S.Ct. at 1513; United States v. Traylor, 656 F.2d at 1330. See United States v. Davis, 663 F.2d at 828. 10 We find both requirements to be satisfied here. The informer's statement, as reported in the affidavit, that he smelled an odor such as ether, and that he was familiar with the smell of ether, demonstrates that the caller was relating his own observations, thus satisfying the first prong of the test. See United States v. Garrett, 565 F.2d at 1070. Because the informant was unknown to the investigators, no direct evidence of his credibility and reliability was possible. However, under Spinelli v. United States, 393 U.S. 410, 89 S.Ct. 584, 21 L.Ed.2d 637 (1969), independent corroboration of the tip may satisfy this requirement. The unknown informer's statement that a strong odor of ether emanated from the premises was corroborated by McLaughlin's averment that he and another officer also smelled a strong odor of ether coming from the Avenue 320 residence. See United States v. Garrett, 565 F.2d at 1070.
11 The more difficult question is whether the facts presented in the affidavit are sufficient to establish probable cause. In order to find that an affidavit is sufficient to support a search warrant, a magistrate must only conclude that criminal activity is probably shown. United States v. Traylor, 656 F.2d at 1330; United States v. Armstrong, 654 F.2d at 1335. In reviewing the validity of a search warrant, a court is limited to the information and circumstances available to the magistrate at the time the warrant is issued. J.R. Simplot Co. v. Occupational Safety & Health Administration, 640 F.2d 1134, 1138 (9th Cir.1981), cert. denied, 455 U.S. 939, 102 S.Ct. 1430, 71 L.Ed.2d 649 (1982); United States v. Brown, 455 F.2d 1201, 1204 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 406 U.S. 960, 92 S.Ct. 2069, 32 L.Ed.2d 347 (1972). The magistrate's decision is to be accorded great deference. United States v. Traylor, 656 F.2d at 1330; United States v. Armstrong, 654 F.2d at 1335. 12 The unknown informant did not state that the illegal manufacture of PCP, or any other illicit activity, was taking place at the Avenue 320 residence. The sole facts presented in the affidavit suggesting criminal activity at the residence were (1) the premises emitted a strong odor of ether, and (2) the process of manufacturing PCP emits a strong odor of ether. 3 Appellants contend that the smell of a noncontraband substance having a number of legitimate uses, standing alone does not establish probable cause to search a residence. We agree. Ether has many innocuous uses. It is a very common solvent, and is also used to start engines. While the strong smell of ether may be a factor in establishing probable cause, the government cites no case, and we have found none, holding that the smell of ether, without more, establishes probable cause to search. 13 Nor does Johnson v. United States, relied upon by both the government and appellants, authorize a contrary holding. 333 U.S. 10, 68 S.Ct. 367, 92 L.Ed. 436 (1948). In Johnson, the Supreme Court held that the odor of opium was sufficient to establish probable cause to search. 14 If the presence of odors is testified to before a magistrate and he finds the affiant qualified to know the odor, and it is one sufficiently distinctive to identify a forbidden substance, this Court has never held such a basis insufficient to justify issuance of a search warrant. 15 Id. at 13, 68 S.Ct. at 368 (emphasis added). Because ether has several legitimate uses, its odor is not sufficiently distinctive to identify the manufacturing of PCP. See United States v. Noreikis, 481 F.2d 1177, 1178 (7th Cir.1973), vacated in part on other grounds, 415 U.S. 904, 94 S.Ct. 1398, 39 L.Ed.2d 461 (1974). 16 Although mindful of the great deference to be accorded a magistrate's determination of probable cause, we are nonetheless constrained to hold that the affidavit in support of the search warrant for the Avenue 320 premises does not allege facts sufficient to establish probable cause.
17 In addition to appellants' contentions addressed above, they argue that the affidavit did not establish probable cause to search the outbuildings on the premises, and that the affidavit contained material misstatements. Because we hold that the warrant was not supported by probable cause, these contentions need not be addressed. Nor do we find it necessary to reach the issue whether any remedy resulting from a finding of a negligent or intentional misstatement in the affidavit would be governed by federal or state law. See United States v. Chamberlin, 644 F.2d 1262, 1265 n. 1 (9th Cir.1980), cert. denied, 453 U.S. 914, 101 S.Ct. 3148, 69 L.Ed.2d 997 (1981); United States v. Gallop, 606 F.2d 836, 840 (9th Cir.1979); United States v. Grajeda, 587 F.2d 1017, 1018-19 (9th Cir.1978); United States v. Valenzuela, 546 F.2d 273, 275 (9th Cir.1976).