Opinion ID: 596795
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Admissibility of Evidence Seized From Coleman's Person

Text: 12 Coleman contends that the district court erred by finding that the crack cocaine seized by Crooke was admissible. The district court found the cocaine admissible on the grounds that Coleman consented to the encounter and search which revealed the contraband. 13 In reviewing a district court's determination on consent, an appellate court must uphold the lower court's finding unless it is 'clearly erroneous.'  United States v. Wilson, 895 F.2d 168, 172 (4th Cir. 1990) (quoting United States v. Mendenhall, 446 U.S. 544, 558 (1980)). The district court heard both Coleman's and Crooke's versions of the incident at National Airport, observed their demeanor, and determined that Crooke was more credible. Under such circumstances, the clearly erroneous standard is particularly strong. Wilson, 895 F.2d at 172 (quoting United States v. Sutton, 850 F.2d 1083, 1086 (5th Cir. 1988)). 14 Crooke testified that when he asked Coleman if he could search him, Coleman said yes, raised his arms and turned around. Crooke did not threaten Coleman or display any weapons and conducted the search in public. The district court's conclusion that Coleman consented to the search was not clearly erroneous. See Wilson, 895 F.2d at 169-72. 15 Coleman also argues that his consent was coerced because he was seized within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment at the time he was searched. The Fourth Amendment is not implicated when the police simply approach a person in a public place and ask him to answer some questions. Florida v. Bostick, 111 S. Ct. 2382, 2386 (1991); Florida v. Royer, 460 U.S. 491, 497 (1983). As long as the person to whom questions are put remains free to disregard the questions and walk away, there has been no intrusion upon that person's liberty or privacy as would under the Constitution require some particularized and objective justification. Mendenhall, 446 U.S. at 554 (plurality opinion). Examples of circumstances which might indicate a seizure include the display of weapons or physical touching, the threatening presence of several officers, or the use of language or a tone of voice that indicates that compliance is required. Id. The district court's finding that there was no seizure is reviewed on appeal under the clearly erroneous standard. United States v. Gordon, 895 F.2d 932, 937 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, 59 U.S.L.W. 3247 (U.S. 1990). 16 According to Crooke, no weapons were displayed and no one physically touched Coleman until he agreed to be searched. Furthermore, although two other officers were within view, the nearest one was at least ten feet away. Finally, although Coleman claimed that Crooke used threatening language, the district court discounted Coleman's testimony. Under these circumstances, the district court's findings that Coleman was not seized and that the encounter was consensual were not clearly erroneous. Therefore, the crack cocaine properly was admitted into evidence. 17