Opinion ID: 2798569
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: attendant circumstances

Text: ¶53 In considering the second factor, whether the time, location, and degree of authority and force displayed were appropriate under the circumstances, we refer to the information available to the officer at the time of the investigatory stop and observations by the officer subsequent to the stop. In Pinkard, we first note[d] that the officers did not control the time of day or location, but were responding to a phone call. Pinkard, 327 Wis. 2d 346, ¶49. Similarly, here, Blatterman's seizure stems from Nisius being dispatched in response to a phone call by Blatterman's wife. ¶54 Nisius and the other officers undeniably displayed overt authority and force when they stopped Blatterman and handcuffed him. This initial show of authority, exerted by three officers who were involved in the investigatory stop, was based on reasonable suspicion.16 Nisius placed Blatterman, handcuffed, in the back of his squad car while he waited for EMS 16 The involvement of several officers during the stop does not foreclose their exercise of a community caretaker function. In Pinkard, we held that officers reasonably exercised their community caretaker function when they entered and searched a residence for two unconscious individuals. Pinkard, 327 Wis. 2d 346, ¶2. After receiving an anonymous tip about the unconscious individuals, an officer thought the residence sounded like a drug house. Id., ¶54. We held that sending five officers from the unit that performed narcotics investigations was a reasonable precautionary measure to prepare for another eventuality. Id. 27 No. 2013AP2107-CR because it was very cold outside and Blatterman was wearing a short-sleeve shirt and jeans without a jacket or coat. Blatterman was transported to the hospital, following his refusal to accept medical treatment from EMS, because Nisius remained concerned. His concern was reasonable given Blatterman's wife's report that he had attempted to blow up his house by drawing gas inside; he possibly was intoxicated; he may have had thoughts of suicide; he failed to follow the officer's directives; and he had chest pain. ¶55 The degree of force and display of authority were reasonable given the officer's concerns for Blatterman's physical and mental health. Therefore, we conclude that the second factor favors the conclusion that the officer reasonably performed his community caretaker function.