Opinion ID: 572420
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Seizure of Torres

Text: 10 The district court's findings regarding the alleged seizure closely resemble those reviewed in our recent decision in United States v. Springer, 946 F.2d 1012 (2d Cir.1991). Like Cynthia Torres, Asim Springer arrived in the Buffalo terminal on the overnight express bus from New York City, appeared nervous, consented to initial questioning, produced only unreliable personal identification, denied ownership of luggage, and agreed to move to the police office for further investigation of the situation. Springer, at 1013-15. We reversed the order suppressing evidence of cocaine because we found that no seizure took place either when the government agent approached Springer or when he asked him to step away from the curb. Springer, at 1016. The police conduct in the present case is no more coercive, intimidating or threatening than that in Springer. Moreover, we do not believe that a law enforcement agent's request to step inside a police office without more transforms an otherwise consensual encounter into a fourth amendment seizure. Cf. United States v. Lee, 916 F.2d 814-819 (2d Cir.1990) (enumerating factors which might suggest seizure and holding that presence of one factor alone does not implicate fourth amendment). 11 Both Torres's brief and Judge Elfvin's memorandum suggest that the law enforcement agents' use of a drug courier profile was improper because the profile did not narrowly target individuals for questioning. The Supreme Court has held, however, that drug courier profiles are clearly a lawful starting point for police investigations. See United States v. Sokolow, 490 U.S. 1, 109 S.Ct. 1581, 104 L.Ed.2d 1 (1989); Florida v. Royer, 460 U.S. 491, 103 S.Ct. 1319, 75 L.Ed.2d 229 (1983) (plurality opinion). Thus, even if a seizure had been necessary in this case, the defendant's demeanor, obvious nervousness, lack of identification, short duration of stay, failure to carry luggage beyond a shoulder bag, and voluntary statements about the bag's contents could have provided reasonable suspicion to investigate, to question, and to detain her.