Opinion ID: 1770220
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: the trial court erred in denying the appellant's motion to suppress the fruits of the search warrant issued on september 19, 1987.

Text: Roberson basically argues that the magistrate did not have probable cause to issue the search warrant. His contention is that the affidavit offered to establish probable cause was defective because it was not attached to the affidavit at the time of the pre-trial motion and was not attached on September 19, 1987, and further because it only contained conclusory statements with few specific facts. The standard of review here is whether there was a substantial basis for the magistrate's determination of probable cause. Massachusetts v. Upton, 466 U.S. 727, 104 S.Ct. 2085, 80 L.Ed.2d 721 (1984). Lockett v. State, 517 So.2d 1317, 1324 (Miss. 1987); Harper v. State, 485 So.2d 1064, 1066 (Miss. 1986). The affidavit issue was addressed by this Court in Bevill v. State, 556 So.2d 699 (Miss. 1990), wherein we stated: An affidavit for a search warrant is a means of presenting to the issuing officer a basis upon which he may determine whether in fact probable cause exists. See, Powell v. State, 355 So.2d 1378 (Miss. 1978). In discussing probable cause for search warrants, it was held in Hall v. State, 455 So.2d 1303 (Miss. 1984), that [p]robable cause [for the issuance of a search warrant] exists when facts and circumstances within an officer's knowledge or of which he has reasonable trustworthy information, are sufficient within themselves to justify a man of average caution in the belief that a crime has been committed and that a particular person committed it. 455 So.2d at 1304. See also, Holland v. State, 263 So.2d 566 (Miss. 1972) Probable cause, however means less than evidence which would justify condemnation. See, Hester v. State, 463 So.2d 1087 (Miss. 1985); Powe v. State, 235 So.2d 920 (Miss. 1970). The United States Supreme Court in Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 103 S.Ct. 2317, 76 L.Ed.2d 527 (1983), set a totality of the circumstances approach and stated, in determining whether probable cause existed for a particular search or issuance of a search warrant, the judge must scrupulously examine facts, make careful evaluation, and in his best judgment gleaned from life's experiences, determine whether he has a substantial basis for concluding probable cause existed. See also, Rooks v. State, 529 So.2d 546 (Miss. 1988); Breckenridge v. State, 472 So.2d 373 (Miss. 1985). Bevill, 556 So.2d at 712. If the information in the affidavit does not justify probable cause, the warrant is invalid. The affidavit must contain sufficient underlying facts to allow the issuing magistrate to determine whether probable cause does exist. But an affidavit lacking sufficient underlying facts and circumstances for probable cause, may be supplemented by oral testimony to establish probable cause. Hickson v. State, 512 So.2d 1, 3 (Miss. 1987); Lockett, 517 So.2d at 1324 (Miss. 1987). In this case the underlying facts of the affidavit were contained in a handwritten statement by Davis on a separate sheet of paper in advance of the surveillance. That sheet of paper stated: On Thursday, September 3 I was advised by the clerk in the Superstop store, PSD 46 Street that some type of transactions were being made by a particular Black male. She believed these transactions were dope deals being made on the premises of the Superstop store. As soon as we finished the conversation the Black male that she was speaking of came into the store, bought some cigarettes and got into the car with some other Black males. The clerk advised this routine was common. She said usually a Black male would use the telephone and shortly after, the suspect in question would arrive. The Police Dept. recently also received an observation request from another clerk that works at the same store during the early shift. She advised she witnessed small brown paper bags being transferred from one party to the other. I, Officer Bobby Davis, reside in Stratford Manor, where the suspect also resides. I was advised by management that this individual was living in B-8 Apt., then recently moved to C-9. Based on eyewitness accounts and my own observation I would strongly state this individual is dealing in drugs (last word illegible).