Opinion ID: 1648183
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Timing of Request

Text: We conclude Moorehead's request was properly timed. Moorehead was restrained of [his] liberty as he sat in the back of the patrol car. See Krebs, 562 N.W.2d at 426 (recognizing that section 804.20 may be implicated in a situation short of a formal arrest so long as defendant was restrained of his liberty). Moorehead had already failed three field sobriety tests, a preliminary breath test, arguably made an incriminating statement, and displayed many symptoms of drunkenness. The deputy told Moorehead he was taking him in for one more test. The investigatory stage of the stop had ended. Cf. id. (holding request to call wife during field sobriety tests not within purview of Iowa Code § 804.20). The deputy himself testified that he considered Moorehead technically under arrest after he failed the field sobriety tests. Moorehead was not going anywhere. Cf. State v. Countryman, 572 N.W.2d 553, 557-58 (Iowa 1997). He was restrained of his liberty, and therefore his request fell within the time-frame of the statute. Like the court of appeals, we can find nothing in the plain language of Iowa Code section 804.20 that requires the defendant make his request for counsel or a family member at the ultimate place of detention. The district court erred when it ruled otherwise.