Opinion ID: 183063
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Search of Hambrick's Automobile

Text: We next address Hambrick's challenge to the search of his vehicle incident to arrest. Hambrick contends his underlying stop and arrest were unlawful, and therefore the search of his vehicle incident to arrest was also unlawful. In the alternative, Hambrick argues if the arrest was lawful, the applicability of the search incident to arrest exception is restricted by Arizona v. Gant, ___ U.S. ___, 129 S.Ct. 1710, 173 L.Ed.2d 485 (2009). Under Gant, police may search the passenger compartment of a vehicle incident to arrest only if (1) the arrestee might have access to the vehicle at the time of the search, or (2) it is reasonable to believe the vehicle contains evidence of the offense of the arrest. Gant, 129 S.Ct. at 1723. Hambrick asserts neither circumstance was present in the instant matter. The district court agreed, holding that, while the initial arrest was lawful, the vehicle search could not be justified as a search incident to arrest pursuant to Gant because Hambrick was immediately handcuffed and placed in the back of the patrol car. However, the court further determined the search of the vehicle was proper under the automobile exception. As discussed above, we reject Hambrick's contention that his initial stop was unlawful, which provided a basis for the arrest under Iowa law. See Iowa Code § 321.485 (2008) (providing officers may arrest individuals for a simple misdemeanor). We agree with the district court that the search of Hambrick's vehicle was not incident to arrest under the strictures imposed by Gant. After his arrest, Hambrick was handcuffed and placed in the back of a patrol car, and therefore he had no access to the vehicle at the time of the search. Moreover, like the defendant in Gant, Hambrick was arrested for driving with a suspended license, and therefore the second prong of Gant would not allow the officers to search the vehicle for evidence of the offense of arrest. See Gant, 129 S.Ct. at 1719 (In many cases, as when a recent occupant is arrested for a traffic violation, there will be no reasonable basis to believe the vehicle contains relevant evidence.). However, the officers had probable cause to search the vehicle, irrespective of Gant, under the automobile exception. Under the automobile exception, if a law enforcement officer has probable cause, he may search an automobile without a warrant. United States v. Rodriguez, 414 F.3d 837, 843 (8th Cir.2005). To support a probable cause determination, officers may rely on an informant's tip if the informant has provided reliable information in the past or if his tip is independently corroborated. United States v. Morrison, 594 F.3d 626, 632 (8th Cir. 2010). In this case, the informant was known to the officers as a reliable source of information and he had provided reliable information in three prior narcotics seizures. The informant supplied detailed information regarding the make, model, year, and unique characteristics of Hambrick's vehicle, and he provided the precise time and address of Hambrick's stop. This information was verified by the officers upon Hambrick's arrival. See United States v. Aguilera, 625 F.3d 482, 486-87 (8th Cir.2010) (concluding officers had probable cause to believe a vehicle contained methamphetamine based on an informant's tip that the defendant was driving a blue GMC Yukon and was en route to deliver methamphetamine); Rodriguez, 414 F.3d at 843 (holding probable cause was established, in part, by the defendant's arrival at the scheduled place and time for a controlled buy). Under these facts, we conclude the district court correctly found probable cause existed for the search of Hambrick's vehicle because the officers reasonably believed a fair probability existed that drugs would be found in the vehicle. See United States v. Marchena-Borjas, 209 F.3d 698, 700 (8th Cir. 2000) (per curiam) (The historical reliability of the confidential informant, his provision of descriptive information not easily discoverable, and the independent corroboration of his information by investigating officers together established probable cause for [the defendant's] arrest ... [and] create[d] with equal force probable cause to believe that the [vehicle] contained methamphetamine.) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).