Opinion ID: 794277
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Detective Eichelberger, Officer Banaszek, and Detective Tillman

Text: 26 Reasonover argues the district court erred in finding Detective Eichelberger, Officer Banaszek, and Detective Tillman were not responsible for suppressing the Reasonover-White Tape, feeding information to Jolliff, falsely arresting Reasonover, or conspiring to convict Reasonover wrongfully. The officers respond they are entitled to qualified immunity because they did not violate Reasonover's constitutional rights. 27 [G]overnment officials performing discretionary functions generally are shielded from liability for civil damages insofar as their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known. Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818, 102 S.Ct. 2727, 73 L.Ed.2d 396 (1982). We analyze the officers' claims to qualified immunity in two steps. Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 201, 121 S.Ct. 2151, 150 L.Ed.2d 272 (2001). We first ask whether the facts, taken in the light most favorable to Reasonover, show the officer[s'] conduct violated a constitutional right. Id. If there is no violation, the officers are entitled to qualified immunity. If there is a violation, we determine whether the right was clearly established. Id. Here, we decide qualified immunity at step one, and hold Reasonover fails to show Detective Eichelberger, Officer Banaszek, and Detective Tillman violated Reasonover's constitutional rights. We need not reach whether a right was clearly established.
28 Reasonover's evidence that the officers suppressed the Reasonover-White Tape consists of the following: all three officers' names were written on the tape, with Detective Eichelberger's name on the side containing the taped conversation; none of the officers documented the conversation or marked the envelope containing the tape to reflect the Reasonover-White conversation; and Goldman later testified an officer misled him about the contents and location of the tape, though Goldman could not name which officer. 29 Putting aside the issue whether the Reasonover-White Tape constitutes exculpatory evidence under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963), because there is no specific evidence the officers affirmatively suppressed the tape, we must decide whether these facts create a reasonable inference they did so. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); Weyrauch, 416 F.3d at 720. With respect to Officer Banaszek and Detective Tillman, the only evidence linking them to the tape is their names on the opposite side of the tape. This limited evidence does not create any inference these officers suppressed the tape. Regarding Detective Eichelberger, the mere fact his name and the date of the conversation were on the side of the tape containing the recording does not create a reasonable inference Detective Eichelberger affirmatively suppressed the tape. While Goldman testified an officer misled him about the tape, at one point suggesting it was Captain Chapman, he never said it was Detective Eichelberger. Detective Eichelberger, as well as Officer Banaszek and Detective Tillman, all deny making the recording or having responsibility for the tape. Names and dates on the tape's label, even taken in a light most favorable to Reasonover, do not raise an inference of unlawful suppression of the tape.
30 Reasonover asserts Detective Eichelberger and Detective Tillman fed Jolliff information before interviewing her and used leading questions to elicit the responses they wanted. She points to her claim that Jolliff made certain misstatements of fact that were present in a prior police report (that Reasonover had a son rather than a daughter, and that Buckley had been beaten with the butt of a rifle), and two instances of Detective Eichelberger asking leading questions. Finally, Reasonover claims the habeas court's finding strong evidence suggesting that Jolliff was given incriminating details to use in her testimony against Reasonover is relevant to our decision. Reasonover, 60 F.Supp.2d at 966. 31 Based on our review of the transcript and record as a whole, we conclude Reasonover has not presented evidence that Detective Eichelberger and Detective Tillman fed Jolliff answers during their interview of her. First, Detective Tillman was present, but he did not participate in any questioning. Second, Reasonover presents no evidence connecting Detective Eichelberger or Detective Tillman to the prior police report's incorrect statement that Reasonover had a son. Third, contrary to Reasonover's assertions, Jolliff never claimed during the interview that Reasonover told her Buckley had been beaten with the butt of a rifle. Finally, the information Reasonover claims Detective Eichelberger supplied through the use of leading questions arose only in response to Jolliff first raising the particular issue. Detective Eichelberger told Jolliff the name of Reasonover's ex-boyfriend only after she referenced him without using his name. Detective Eichelberger asked Jolliff if Reasonover admitted to using a rifle only after she made reference to a rifle. Furthermore, the information Jolliff appears to know about the murder may have come not from the officers, but from her having seen television reports on the case: Well, it was supposed to be a rifle involved.... I had heard about it on TV. While we do not commend Detective Eichelberger's use of leading questions as an interview technique under these circumstances, the facts presented by Reasonover do not raise a genuine issue that Detective Eichelberger intentionally fed or planted evidence.
32 Reasonover's false arrest claim, that an officer in the position of the officers could not have reasonably believed they had probable cause to place Reasonover under arrest for Buckley's murder, is dependent on her allegations that the officers suppressed the Reasonover-White Tape, fed Jolliff information for her interview, and Officer Banaszek created a false report regarding the January 7, 1983, interview with Reasonover. As demonstrated above, the first two allegations lack merit. Regarding the third allegation, Reasonover only claims the report should have contained her denials of involvement in the murder. Reasonover cites no case law, and we are unaware of any case law, holding it is a violation of a suspect's constitutional rights if a police report does not contain the entirety of a suspect's denials of involvement in the suspected crime. As a result, this claim fails.
33 To advance past the summary judgment stage, Reasonover must allege with particularity and specifically demonstrate material facts that the defendants reached an agreement. Marti v. City of Maplewood, 57 F.3d 680, 685 (8th Cir. 1995). While those allegations may include circumstantial evidence, see Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 158, 90 S.Ct. 1598, 26 L.Ed.2d 142 (1970), Reasonover presents no specific material facts, circumstantial or otherwise, that the officers formed an agreement to violate Reasonover's constitutional rights. The officers may have jointly pursued their investigation based on a belief Reasonover was guilty, but this does not constitute an unlawful conspiracy. See Myers, 810 F.2d at 1452-53.