Opinion ID: 3062766
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: October 1, 2002 Arrest and House Search

Text: On September 23, 2002, an FDLE chemist completed a report finding methamphetamine residue on the baggies and the scale. As part of his follow-up investigation, on October 1, 2002, Officer Wilson contacted Gregg Dearth, a deputy sheriff with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office (“BCSO”), for assistance in visiting Pair at his residence, which was outside the City of Parker and Officer Wilson’s jurisdiction. The same day, the two officers went to Pair’s residence. While Officer Wilson went to the front door, Deputy Dearth moved toward an unoccupied white van parked near the residence. The van’s side door was open, and Deputy Dearth could see a Coleman fuel tank inside. In the area surrounding the residence, Deputy Dearth saw what, in his experience, was the remnants of a methamphetamine lab. When there was no response to Officer Wilson’s knock, the officers left. A few hours later, Officer Wilson applied for and received a warrant for 3 Pair’s arrest for possession of methamphetamine. Officer Wilson and Deputy Dearth then returned to Pair’s residence. This time, Pair’s girlfriend, Rhonda Couch, answered the door. The officers found Pair sleeping in a back bedroom and arrested him. While arresting Pair, the officers saw a baggie containing marijuana on a dresser. After Pair was placed in a patrol car, Deputy Dearth called Investigator Robert Duncan of the BCSO and advised him that there appeared to be the remains of a methamphetamine lab on Pair’s property, including propane tanks, waste cans of acetone, toluene and a Coleman fuel tank. Investigator Duncan told Deputy Dearth to secure the scene, which Deputy Dearth did. When Investigator Duncan and BCSO Investigator Richard Bagwell arrived at the scene, Couch denied their request to search the residence. Investigator Duncan obtained a search warrant, and he and Investigator Bagwell searched Pair’s residence, finding a dormant methamphetamine lab and materials to create a pipe bomb. Investigator Bagwell dismantled the methamphetamine lab, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms took custody of the bomb materials. Both Couch and Pair were arrested for marijuana possession. Pair was later charged in federal court with manufacturing methamphetamine. The district court in Pair’s federal criminal prosecution suppressed the evidence found in Pair’s van 4 and residence on grounds that Officer Wilson’s continued detention of Pair on June 3, 2002 to await the K-9 unit was unconstitutional. The government subsequently dismissed Pair’s federal indictment.