Opinion ID: 3046302
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Drug Sales and Arrest

Text: As we write primarily for the benefit of the parties, we include only those facts that are necessary for our disposition of the case. While Detective Martin Barrett was driving in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, on June 12, 2002, on surveillance of controlled drug purchases, he observed a confidential informant (“CI”) make a drug purchase from a man the CI later identified as Peto. Detective Barrett saw only the back and side of the dealer, not the face. Less than a week later, on June 18, 2002, Detective Todd Breiner observed the same informant purchase drugs from the same individual, and on July 10 another informant made another drug purchase, identifying the seller as Peto. Breiner did not see the drug dealer. After these buys, Breiner conducted an investigation and learned that “Peto was a nickname for a Samuel Ruiz who lived at 197 Lebanon Village, Lebanon, Pennsylvania.” Radwanski App. at 17a-18a. 3 On the basis of this information and the drug buys, the police officers collectively prepared three criminal complaints, one for each transaction, and the officers prepared three affidavits. Each affidavit began, “[y]our affiants are” and listed three members of the Lebanon County Detective Bureau/Lebanon County Drug Task Force, each of whom then signed the corresponding affidavit. Barrett & Breiner App. at 106a, 109a, 112a. The first affidavit was signed by Breiner and Detective Richard Radwanski, the second by Breiner, and the third by Radwanski and Barrett. Because the three affidavits are similar, we will set forth the language of only the one analyzed by the District Court, which was sworn October 11, 2002, and reads: Your affiants are Sergeant Brett Hopkins, Detective Todd Breiner, and Detective Sergeant Richard A. Radwanski, all members of the Lebanon County Detective Bureau/Lebanon County Drug Task Force, Lebanon County, Pa. That your affiants have extensive training and experience in the investigation of drug law violations and have been trained in the administration of drug field testing. On 10 Jul 02, at about 2044hrs, while in the 800 block of E. Crowell Street, Lebanon City, Lebanon County, Pa, the defendant, Samuel Ruiz, sold/delivered Cocaine, a schedule II controlled substance, and Heroin, a schedule I controlled substance, to Lebanon County Drug Task Force/Drug Enforcement Administration confidential informant #15-2001, in exchange for the sum of $40.00. Your affiants conducted chemical field tests on the suspected Cocaine and Heroin. These tests were positive, respectively, for Cocaine, a schedule II controlled substance, and Heroin, a schedule I controlled substance. That Samuel Ruiz arranged this Cocaine and Heroin delivery via the use of a residential and/or cellular telephone. Your affiants request a warrant of arrest be issued for the named defendant. 4 Barrett & Breiner App. at 106a. The three affidavits were presented to a Pennsylvania state district justice, who issued a warrant for the arrest of Samuel Ruiz. The warrant listed Ruiz’s address as 197 Lebanon Village, Lebanon, Pennsylvania. However, when the police went to 197 Lebanon Village, they were told that Ruiz had moved to 63 North 12th Street. When the police arrived at the house at 63 North 12th Street, Ruiz was downstairs getting a bottle for his son and the police threw him to the floor and handcuffed him.1 He was taken to the police station, where he was eventually released when it was discovered he was not the suspect in the drug sale. In response, Ruiz and his wife filed this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, naming, inter alia, Radwanski, Breiner, and Barrett as defendants.