Opinion ID: 2634418
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Trial Court's Factual Findings Are Supported by the Record

Text: The People first argue that the trial court's factual findings are not supported by the record. Specifically, the People challenge the trial court's findings that Elmarr was subjected to a pat-down search upon arrival at the Sheriff's Department, that he was directed to stay in the interview room while waiting to be interrogated, and that Captain Epp and Lieutenant Hopper both had weapons on them. We are not persuaded by the People's arguments. The witnesses at the suppression hearing gave contradictory evidence regarding if or exactly where Elmarr waited before being interrogated, and whether the officers had weapons on their persons during the interrogation; the trial court properly exercised its discretion in resolving those factual disputes. See People v. Traubert, 199 Colo. 322, 327, 608 P.2d 342, 345-46 (1980). There is no basis to overturn those findings. As to whether Elmarr was subjected to a pat-down search upon arrival at the Sheriff's Department, Captain Epp testified that he did not know whether that happened, but that it was probably standard procedure for the officers to conduct a pat down search before they transported him. Thus, there was sufficient evidence to support the trial court's finding that Elmarr was subjected to a pat-down search before being interrogated. Furthermore, Captain Epp's testimony is ambiguous as to whether it would have been standard procedure to search Elmarr before being transported in the car to the Sheriff's Department, or before being transported through the Sheriff's Department to the interview room. There was arguably sufficient evidence, given the context of Captain Epp's answer, to support the trial court's finding. We need not reach that issue because regardless of whether Elmarr was searched before being driven to the Sheriff's Department or upon arriving there, our legal analysis of the custody issue would be the same. Thus, we conclude there was sufficient evidence in the record to establish the operative facts as found by the trial court.