Opinion ID: 165211
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Consent to Search the Blazer

Text: Finally, Mr. Malouff argues that his consent to search the Blazer was involuntary because he was seized when it was given. The Government counters with three arguments. First, the Government argues that, because Officer Hooper had grounds to arrest Mr. Malouff for possession of paraphernalia, he could have searched the car incident to the arrest without Mr. Malouff’s consent. Second, the Government contends that the officers could search the vehicle without Mr. Malouff’s consent because he stated there were drugs in the car. Third, the Government argues that Mr. Malouff in fact gave voluntary consent, and therefore no warrant was needed to search the Blazer. While an officer with consent may search a vehicle without a warrant, see United States v. Taverna, 348 F.3d 873, 877 (10th Cir. 2003), we need not reach - 10 - the question whether consent was actually given here because the Government prevails on its first and second arguments. Upon finding the hypodermic needle in the flashlight, Officer Hooper could have arrested Mr. Malouff for possession of drug paraphernalia. See N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-31-25.1. He, therefore, is allowed to search the Blazer without consent. See United States v. Franco, 981 F.2d 470, 473 (10th Cir. 1992) (permitting officers to search a vehicle incident to an arrest). Alternatively, Officer Hooper had probable cause to search the Blazer based on Mr. Malouff’s statement that there were drugs in the car. United States v. Mercado, 307 F.3d 1226, 1228 (10th Cir. 2002) (“When federal officers have probable cause to believe that an automobile contains contraband, the Fourth Amendment does not require them to obtain a warrant prior to searching the car for and seizing the contraband.”) (internal quotation omitted). Because the officers had probable cause to believe the car contained contraband and because they could have searched the Blazer as incident to an arrest, we hold that the search did not violate the Fourth Amendment - 11 -