Opinion ID: 2101328
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: taking into custody

Text: 1. Did The Officers Have Probable Cause To Take Woods Into Custody On A Charge Regarding The Theft Of A Chain Saw? Woods argues that the officers did not have probable cause to take him into custody. Woods cites our decision in Gautreaux v. State, 52 Wis. 2d 489, 495-96, 190 N.W. 2d 542 (1971), in which we recognized that while mere possession of stolen property raises no inference of guilt, the unexplained possession of recently stolen property raises an inference of greater or less weight depending upon the circumstances. Woods contends that because the chain saw he attempted to sell was stolen seventeen months earlier, it could not be considered recently stolen property, which could create an inference of culpability. [1] If the historical facts are undisputed, probable cause for an arrest is a question of law that is subject to independent review on appeal, without deference to the trial court's conclusion. State v. Drogsvold, 104 Wis. 2d 247, 262, 311 N.W.2d 243 (Ct. App. 1981). Because the facts in this case are undisputed, we may independently review whether the officers had probable cause to take Woods into custody. Section 48.19(1)(d)3, Stats., provides that a child may be taken into custody under circumstances in which the officer believes on reasonable grounds that the child committed an act in violation of a state or federal criminal law. Section 48.19(3) provides: Taking into custody is not an arrest except for the purpose of determining whether the taking into custody or the obtaining of any evidence is lawful. Because Woods challenges the the lawfulness of the officers' action in taking him into custody, the standards governing probable cause to arrest an adult are applicable to a determination whether the taking of Woods into custody was lawful. [2] Reasonable grounds and probable cause are synonymous, and are defined as follows: `The reasonable grounds or what is more commonly referred to as probable cause, is that quantum of evidence which would lead a reasonable police officer to believe that the defendant probably committed a crime.' Johnson v. State, 75 Wis. 2d 344, 348, 249 N.W.2d 593 (1977), quoting Ball v. State, 57 Wis. 2d 653, 659, 205 N.W.2d 353 (1973). The question is whether the facts and circumstances . . . were such that police officers of reasonable caution could have believed the defendant probably committed the crime. Johnson, 75 Wis.2d at 350. [3] A violation of sec. 943.20(1)(a), Stats., occurs when a person intentionally takes and carries away, uses, transfers, conceals, or retains possession of movable property of another without his consent and with intent to deprive the owner permanently of possession of such property. A violation of sec. 943.34 occurs when a person intentionally receives or conceals stolen property. See Wis. J.I. Criminal, sec. 1481. In this case, officers learned prior to taking Woods into custody that he had made an unsolicited attempt to sell a chain saw valued at $134.95 for $20.00 to Sheldon Davids. Woods was apparently not well known to Davids because Davids did not even know Woods' correct surname. Woods indicated to Davids that his grandfather had given him the saw. Davids took the saw and told Woods that he should stop back later so that Davids would pay him. When Davids' father learned of the attempted sale, he became suspicious and immediately checked with the sheriff's department, informing the department that Woods had offered to sell a chain saw to his son. Mr. Davids subsequently gave the saw to officers at the sheriff's department. The officers checked the serial number on the saw and determined that it matched the serial number of a chain saw that the owner of a hardware store had reported was stolen on March 16, 1978. Based on these undisputed facts, we conclude that police officers of reasonable caution could have believed that Woods committed the crime of theft, contrary to sec. 943.20(1)(a), or the crime of receiving stolen property, contrary to sec. 943.34. The officers therefore had probable cause to take Woods into custody. 2. Was The Taking Of Woods Into Custody On A Charge Regarding The Theft Of A Chain Saw Rendered Illegal Because It Was The Stated Purpose Of The Police To Question Woods About The Murders Immediately Thereafter? Woods contends that the officers violated his right under the fourth amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, sec. 11 of the Wisconsin Constitution to be protected from unreasonable searches and seizures. He argues that his custody and detention were unreasonable seizures because the officers' motivation in taking him into custody was to interrogate him about the Schwab murders. In support of this argument, Woods cites the discussion in W. LaFave, Search And Seizure, sec. 1.2 at 26 (1983 Pocket Part), concerning fourth amendment activity that would not have been undertaken . . . but for the `underlying intent or motivation' which, standing alone, could not supply a lawful basis for the police conduct. These situations may result in the suppression of evidence acquired pursuant to the fourth amendment activity undertaken. See, e.g., State v. Volk, 291 So. 2d 643 (Fla. App. 1974). [4] The determination whether the taking of Woods into custody was illegal because it violated his fourth amendment rights is a question of law. We independently review questions of law. See First Nat. Leasing Corp. v. Madison, 81 Wis. 2d 205, 208, 260 N.W.2d 251 (1977). We conclude that the officers' decision to take him into custody was lawful because it was supported by probable cause. The United States Supreme Court has held that: . . . the fact that the officer does not have the state of mind which is hypothecated by the reasons which provide the legal justification for the officer's action does not invalidate the action taken as long as the circumstances, viewed objectively, justify that action. Scott v. United States, 436 U.S. 128, 138 (1978). Although the officers wanted to question Woods concerning the Schwab murders, that does not render his custody invalid or unreasonable. At the time Trombi and Thorpe took Woods into custody, there were reasonable grounds to believe that Woods had violated a state criminal law. This provided a lawful basis for the officers to take Woods into custody. In addition, once Trombi and Thorpe had a lawful basis to take Woods into custody, it was reasonable for them and the state agents to question Woods concerning the Schwab murders. The record indicates that Trombi, Thorpe, Ankenbrandt and Harker knew of information possibly linking Woods to the murders, and they considered him a suspect. The provisions of ch. 48, Stats., do not expressly prohibit questioning of a juvenile after he is taken into custody. Woods also asserts that his detention resulting from the order that Gage signed was unlawful because Gage's alleged motivation in ordering his detention was to allow the officers to interrogate him, and that Gage's decision to order Woods' detention was therefore predetermined. We find no merit to this argument. Woods' detention was lawful, and once the officers lawfully had Woods in custody, they were entitled to question him. They did not need Gage's authorization to question Woods.