Opinion ID: 4540186
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Events Leading to Mendoza's Arrest

Text: On March 23, 2016, Agent Víctor Marrero-Rivera (Agent Marrero), an agent in the Stolen Vehicles Division of the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD), was assigned to conduct surveillance at residence C-16 of the Vistas de Atenas Housing Project in Manatí, Puerto Rico. During his surveillance, Agent Marrero observed that a blue Suzuki Vitara, which had been reported stolen, was parked in front of the residence's premises. He then observed a dark-color-skinned individual arrive in a white Suzuki Vitara, which had also been reported stolen. As the individual -- later identified as Joshua Valle-Colón (Valle) -- exited the vehicle, Agent Marrero observed him adjust a pistol in his waistband and then enter the residence. Based on his surveillance, Agent Marrero obtained a state-issued warrant to search residence C-16 and its surrounding yard for two stolen vehicles -- blue and white Suzuki Vitaras identified by license plate numbers -- and firearms. On the early morning of March 24, 2016, PRPD agents executed the search warrant. Upon entering the residence to 1 We provide the key facts in this section and fill in more details relevant to each issue along the way. -3- conduct a protective sweep, the entry team encountered Mendoza sleeping in what appeared to be a child's bedroom. 2 They identified themselves as police officers and then took Mendoza to the living room. 3 The entry team continued the sweep of the residence and found Valle, his wife Elizabeth Colón (Colón), and their small child asleep in the second bedroom. The entry team again identified themselves and took Valle, Colón, and the child to the living room. Once the area was secured, PRPD agent Steven Pérez-Espinosa (Agent Pérez) oversaw the execution of the search warrant. Upon entering, Agent Pérez encountered Mendoza, Valle, Colón, and the child in the living room and, after explaining that he was there to execute a search warrant, Agent Pérez asked who was responsible for the residence. Valle responded that he was, and Agent Pérez asked Valle to accompany him during the search.4 First, Agent Pérez searched the main bedroom where Valle and Colón were found, and he discovered two clear pressure-sealed bags 2 PRPD agent Modesto Alameda-Cordero (Agent Alameda), who was assigned to the entry team, testified that, based on the way the room was decorated, the bed sheets used, and the toys spread around the room, he thought that it was a child's bedroom. 3 Mendoza was not handcuffed or arrested at this time. 4 Colón also indicated that she was responsible for the residence but stated that she was not feeling well. Agent Pérez called the paramedics and executed the search accompanied by Valle only. -4- containing marijuana in plain view on top of the dresser. Based on this discovery, Mendoza, Valle, and Colón were read their Miranda warnings and placed under arrest. Agent Pérez then resumed the search of the main bedroom with Valle present and, when he looked in the closet area, he found drug paraphernalia (clear baggies with pressure seals and a device used to cut marijuana for distribution purposes) inside an open shoebox. Next, Agent Pérez searched the bathroom, which was close to the main bedroom, but found nothing there. He then proceeded to the child's bedroom where Mendoza had been sleeping.5 Amongst children's toys on top of the dresser, he saw an unlabeled pill bottle with what were later identified as two Percocet pills, a watch, and a necklace, all of which Mendoza admitted belonged to him. Then, in the bedroom closet, Agent Pérez found a green and orange backpack that fel[t] . . . heavy. This prompted him to open the bag, where he discovered on the inside a loaded Kel-Tec rifle, forty plastic capsules containing crack cocaine, several clear baggies that were similar to the ones found in Valle and Colón's room,6 and a toothbrush. At that point, Mendoza, who was 5 Valle informed Agent Pérez that the room where Mendoza was sleeping belonged to his toddler son. 6 The baggies had a sticker of an apple on them, which Agent Pérez testified was sometimes used in drug points to identify the drugs. -5- sitting in the living room in his boxers, requested to put his pants on, which he had left folded on top of a table in the child's bedroom. Agent Pérez brought Mendoza to the child's room and, before giving him the pants, he searched its pockets and found three baggies of marijuana and $266 in cash. The baggies looked the same as those found earlier in Valle's bedroom. Mendoza's shoes were also found by the foot of the bed in the child's room. The search then moved to the kitchen area, where Agent Pérez saw a black pistol in plain sight on top of the kitchen cabinets.7 He accessed the top of the cabinet by climbing on a chair and discovered a box of bullets, sixty decks of heroin, and a plastic pressure-sealed bag containing $129, all together with the pistol, which was loaded. The agents then searched the residence's surrounding yard and parking area, where they identified the two stolen vehicles described in the search warrant. Inside the trunk of one of the vehicles -- in the blue Vitara -- Agent Pérez found two packages of over a thousand empty plastic capsules, along with their lids, which were identical to those found containing crack cocaine inside the backpack in the child's room. 8 Alongside the capsules, Agent Pérez found a pair of 7 The pistol was visible from a normal height because it was propped on top of a box of bullets and heroin packets. 8 Agent Pérez testified that the capsules are used for -6- sneakers that Mendoza admitted belonged to him. The agents concluded the search, seized the contraband, and transported Mendoza, Valle, and Colón to the police station.