Opinion ID: 165798
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: February 6, 2001, Search of Westcott's Home

Text: 15 In January 2001 police officers obtained a search warrant for the hill. The warrant authorized the search to encompass the dwelling, all outbuildings, vehicles and persons which may be found thereat. After providing directions to the property and stating that one enters the property on a road passing through two rock pillars and [a]cross a cattle guard, the warrant described the property as follows: 16 There is a white with brown trim mobile home setting in a north/south direction on the East Side of the entrance road. There is a white colored mobile home setting in an east/west direction, south of that location. There are numerous outbuildings on the property, and there are numerous junk vehicles lined up on the west side of the entrance road. 17 On February 6, 2001, police officers executed the warrant, searching both mobile homes. Between the time the warrant was obtained and the time of the search, officers had been informed that Westcott occupied the second trailer. Westcott contends that the search was overbroad because officers did not have probable cause to search his home. We disagree. 18 In the affidavit supporting the warrant, investigator Mark Shea described the structures on the hill as including a white with brown trim mobile home setting in a north/south direction on the East Side of the entrance road [,] ... a white colored mobile home setting in an east/west direction, south of that location[,] ... numerous outbuildings ..., and... numerous junk vehicles.... Search Warrant Affidavit at 1. The affidavit recounted Osage Nation police officer Dave Hinman's interview with criminal-turned-informant Ricky Devon McDoulett on December 19, 2000. In the interview McDoulett told Hinman that Windrix, whom he identified by a photograph, lived in one of the two mobile homes, had provided methamphetamine to him in exchange for work on cars, had a methamphetamine laboratory in the back bedroom of his residence, had cooked methamphetamine many times in McDoulett's presence, and had cooked methamphetamine with two unidentified males and an unidentified female all night on the day before the interview. McDoulett said that he had known Windrix for 15 to 20 years and that Windrix had been dealing large amounts of methamphetamine for 10 years. McDoulett also said that Windrix had traded guns for methamphetamine, used wire detectors to scan people for transmitters or recorders, and used other persons to provide security during cooks. The same day as the Hinman interview McDoulett provided Tulsa police officers with information leading to two arrests for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. 19 Shea added that on January 6, 2001, Osage County deputy Shannon Bradford and Osage Nation police chief Ron Teel conducted surveillance of the hill. As they were walking up the road to the property, they saw several cars parked on the roadway. A woman stepped out of one of the cars and said into a cell phone, I think someone is here, after which a light began scanning the area and an ATV four wheeler began patrolling the road. Shea further reported that a concerned citizen said that he had seen much traffic and heard frequent gunfire on the hill. Shea noted that property records showed that Windrix owns the hill. 20 In addition, the affidavit stated that in October 2000 informant Wendy Chaalan had taken officer Brian Comfort to the hill and told him that Windrix conducts weekly multiple-pound cooks, that she had seen large amounts of methamphetamine and ingredients at Windrix's residence, that Windrix surrounded the hill with armed guards during cooks, and that Windrix used both trailers and a barn to manufacture and sell methamphetamine. Two other informants had also told officers in December 2000 and January 2001 that Windrix was cooking methamphetamine at his trailer and had armed guards around the hill during cooks. 21 Recognizing that informant Chaalan specifically tied his trailer to the methamphetamine operation, Westcott contends that Chaalan's report was vague, ambiguous, and unsubstantiated and uncorroborated. Westcott Aplt. Br. at 33. In particular, Westcott contends the report was vague and ambiguous because there were other trailers — a large Graco travel trailer with a bed in it, and a dump trailer — on the hill. Westcott Aplt. Br. at 34 (internal quotation marks and emphasis omitted). But in context the affidavit is clearly referring to the mobile homes when it mentions trailers. 22 Chaalan's statement was sufficiently corroborated by other evidence indicating that the entire hill was used for a methamphetamine enterprise. We hold that the affidavit provided probable cause to search Westcott's mobile home. 23