Opinion ID: 779799
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Entitlement to Qualified Immunity on Other Grounds

Text: 26 The defendants argue that even if (1) the search was unlawful and (2) no reasonable police officer could have believed a search to be lawful, Officer Peace is entitled to qualified immunity because he was not personally involved in the search. The district court accepted this argument. We reject it. 27 The district court's determination that Officer Peace was not involved in the search relied upon Creamer v. Porter, 754 F.2d 1311 (5th Cir.1985)(affirming dismissal from suit of a deputy who was only a bystander to a search and seizure) and Watson v. Interstate Fire and Casualty Co., 611 F.2d 120 (5th Cir.1980)(holding that a sheriff without any personal involvement was properly dismissed from a § 1983 suit arising from an arrest and incarceration). However, those cases are inapposite. At the time of the incident, Officer Peace had 25 years of police experience. More importantly, he was the officer on the scene who had the information from which to determine whether Estep truly posed a danger. As such, he was responsible for deciding whether the search could be conducted lawfully or not. While the record does not show that Officer Peace directly ordered Quillen to search the vehicle, it is clear that Peace knew the search was transpiring (indeed, assuming arguendo that Peace did not know Quillen was going to search the vehicle prior to Quillen commencing the search, Estep informed him of that fact the moment the search began). As we see it, Peace decided to allow the search to go forward. Therefore, he is not entitled to summary judgment on qualified immunity grounds.
28 With respect to Officer Quillen, the defendants contend that even if (1) the search was unlawful and (2) no reasonable police officer could have believed a search to be lawful, Officer Quillen is entitled to qualified immunity because he reasonably relied upon Officer Peace's conclusion that the officers were in danger. We also reject this argument. 29 An officer can conduct a Long frisk of a vehicle based on information possessed by another officer. However, it is not reasonable for an officer to conclude that it is lawful to make such a search when his fellow officer does not provide him with any specific articulable facts from which a reasonable officer could think he was in danger. In the instant case, Peace told Quillen that he thought they were in danger, but he did not tell Quillen of any specific facts which would support that opinion. From the record evidence, the most we can say is that Peace told Quillen that (1) Estep had denied having a pistol; and (2) Estep had some mace. Based upon such flimsy evidence, it was unreasonable for Quillen to also conclude that they were in danger and that a search could be lawfully conducted. Thus, Quillen is not entitled to qualified immunity.
30 The evidence indicates that Officer Conley truly was a bystander in this matter. Thus, we affirm the grant of summary judgment to Officer Conley.