Opinion ID: 20749
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Hansen and Huizar Affidavits

Text: 11 Freeman insists that Saidler coerced Hansen and Huizar into identifying her and misstated the strength of their testimony in his affidavit. Freeman's alleged evidence of coercion consists of each witnesses' subsequent statements that Saidler appealed to his or her civic duty to testify and Hansen's references to Saidler's size and physical build. While evidenceof reliance upon coerced testimony may be enough to defeat a summary judgment grant of immunity, see Geter v. Fortenberry, 882 F.2d 167, 170-71 (5th Cir. 1989), Freeman's allegations do not permit any inference of coercion. Both Hansen and Huizar admitted to being reluctant to testify in this matter. There is no evidence that Saidler did anything more than request that each reluctant witness testify. Appealing to an uncooperative witness' civic duty to testify is fundamentally different from coercing a witness to testify to a certain fact. Cf. Coolidge v. New Hampshire, 403 U.S. 443, 488 (1971) (But it is no part of the policy underlying the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to discourage citizens from aiding to the utmost of their ability in the apprehension of criminals.). Neither Hansen's nor Huizar's testimony suggests that Saidler appealed to their civic duty specifically to implicate Freeman. Moreover, the mere fact that Detective Saidler is a large man does not permit a reasonable inference of coercion. 12 As there is no credible evidence of coercion, Saidler's reliance upon the exact wording of Hansen's and Huizar's sworn statements is undoubtedly reasonable. He simply could not have predicted their later recanting. 3 Because we look to the totality of circumstances as they existed at the time that the officer determines whether probable cause exists, Hansen's and Huizar's subsequent disavowals do not create an issue of material fact as to the truthfulness of Saidler's affidavit.