Opinion ID: 2747892
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Mr. Burtons Arrives and Police Detain Him

Text: While the officers were in the front office, Mr. Burtons arrived at the facility and attempted to access his unit. He was unable to do so because the facility’s manager had placed a company lock on the door. Mr. Burtons went to the front office to ask about the lock. The facility’s owner informed the officers Mr. Burtons had arrived. The officers left the office and met Mr. Burtons outside as he was entering a Honda Accord. Officer Springer approached the front driver’s side door. He informed Mr. Burtons that he was not under arrest but was being detained for investigative purposes, and asked him to exit his vehicle. Mr. Burtons complied. Officer Springer frisked him and did not find any weapons. Officer Springer called Detective Willis and asked him to return with his drug dog. While waiting for the canine unit to arrive, Officer Springer informed Mr. Burtons that he was going to have a drug dog sniff the car. He asked Mr. Burtons if the car contained anything that could harm the dog or its handler. Mr. Burtons replied there were no drugs in the vehicle, but he did have a gun in a computer case inside the vehicle. In light of this statement about the unsecured weapon in Mr. Burtons’s vehicle and his knowledge of Mr. Burtons’s criminal history, Officer Springer handcuffed Mr. Burtons. Approximately 30 to 45 minutes later, Detective Willis returned with his drug dog. The dog sniffed the exterior of Mr. Burtons’s car and alerted to the presence of illegal -4- drugs in the passenger compartment. Officers searched the vehicle. They located the gun in the computer case but did not find any drugs. 4. Police Execute a Search Warrant on the Storage Unit Later that day, OCPD Officer Eric VanGurp applied for a search warrant for Mr. Burtons’s storage unit. An Oklahoma state court judge issued the search warrant, which the officers executed. They found two rifles and ammunition.