Opinion ID: 579162
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Probable Cause to Search the Truck

Text: 8 Kinsey argues that even taken together, the information contained in the affidavit and the observations of the officers fail to establish probable cause to search the truck. This argument is without merit. 9 We review de novo a trial court's determination of the existence of probable cause, except for the underlying facts, which we review for clear error. United States v. Arias, 923 F.2d 1387, 1389 (9th Cir.1991). 10  'Probable cause to search is evaluated in light of the totality of the circumstances and is found to exist if there is a fair probability that contraband or other evidence of a crime will be found in a particular place.'  Id. (quoting Gates, 462 U.S. at 238-39). 11 Here, Detectives Brown and Reyes testified to the following facts at trial. In April 1990, pursuant to the search warrant for Kinsey, Detective Brown and members of the narcotic investigation team conducted surveillance at the home of Kinsey's girlfriend in Sacramento. Kinsey left the house and drove away in his blue and white pickup truck. The surveillance team lost sight of Kinsey, but regained sight of him in a few minutes. Kinsey had been joined in the truck by his accomplice, Willie Thomas. The truck proceeded south on Interstate 5 to Stockton at a speed of seventy to eighty miles an hour. The truck exited the interstate and stopped at a residence known for heavy drug trafficking. Approximately thirty minutes later, a man driving a Cadillac parked on the front lawn. Kinsey approached the Cadillac and conversed with the driver. Next, the man drove the Cadillac away and proceeded to a residence known for drug purchases. The Cadillac returned and Kinsey and Thomas met with the driver. 12 After approximately twenty minutes Kinsey and Thomas left in the truck with Thomas driving. Driving in a cautious manner, Thomas proceeded north to Interstate 5. The truck was travelling between fifty-five and sixty miles an hour while constantly changing lanes in an effort to be between large trucks. The detectives decided to stop the truck as it approached Sacramento. Detective Brown handcuffed and searched Thomas and found approximately 0.3 grams of tar heroin between two socks on Thomas left ankle. Detectives searched Kinsey pursuant to the search warrant, but did not find anything. Detectives searched Kinsey's truck and found a brown paper bag which contained approximately 7.3 grams of powder cocaine and a bag which contained a loaded .357 magnum Ruger handgun. 13 The district court found facts which supported a pattern of suspicious activity consistent with a drug transaction carried out by Kinsey prior to the vehicle stop. See Arias, 923 F.2d at 1389. These facts, when taken as a whole, suffice to raise probable cause, and the district court did not err by denying the motion to suppress the evidence from the truck. See id. 1