Opinion ID: 1932932
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Superior Court Probable Cause Analysis

Text: In its decision to suppress evidence of the blood test results for lack of probable cause, the Superior Court reviewed the circumstances which preceded the taking of Maxwell's blood. The Superior Court first considered the fact that the accident involved only one vehicle. It then noted that, at the time Officer Cassidy sent Officer Nine to have Maxwell's blood taken and tested, Officer Cassidy had not ruled out mechanical failure or speed as a possible cause of the one vehicle accident. The Superior Court then considered the statements of the two civilian witnesses regarding Maxwell's acknowledgement to them that he had been drinking. However, the Superior Court discounted those statements by explaining that prior to drawing Maxwell's blood, the police had neither determined how much Maxwell had to drink nor how much time had elapsed between his consumption of alcohol and the accident. The Superior Court also considered the fact that the overturned truck contained several empty and full beer containers and smelled of alcohol. The Superior Court noted that it was equally likely that the containers were opened, spilled and emptied as a result of the accident itself rather than by human consumption. Nevertheless, assuming arguendo, that it had been the occupants of the truck who had ingested the alcohol, the Superior Court stated that it was still unknown whether Maxwell had consumed any alcohol himself. Finally, the Superior Court considered Officer Nine's observation of Maxwell at the hospital. The only physical condition Officer Nine recalled that might suggest intoxication was the glassy nature of Maxwell's eyes. The Superior Court found that the observation of glassy eyes was insignificant, because Maxwell had just been in an accident and had a cut over his nose. The record reflects that the Superior Court considered the factual circumstances presented by the State. The record also reflects that the Superior Court considered possible innocent explanations for each of those factors. The Superior Court then ruled that, under the totality of the circumstances, given the possible innocent explanations for each of the facts presented, the State had not met its burden of establishing that the police had probable cause to take and test Maxwell's blood.