Opinion ID: 3063853
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Evidence at Suppression Hearing

Text: At the suppression hearing, Deputy Manis testified that when he and Cummings arrived at Maddox’s apartment, Maddox answered the door and spoke with the officers. Manis explained that he and Cummings were there to investigate a report of drug activity, and asked Maddox if they could come in and look around. Manis told Maddox they were there to look for “any marijuana grows or major drug dealing going on,” and that Manis wanted to close out the complaint. He told Maddox he would not look through any of Maddox’s drawers without asking. Manis did not remember the precise words Maddox said in reply but “it was either okay or all right.” Maddox went inside, and Manis and Cummings followed. When they entered the kitchen, Deputy Manis saw in plain view on the kitchen counter a red bong and a marijuana roach. They proceeded to the living room, where Manis saw a small handgun sitting on a table and two ashtrays with 3 numerous marijuana roaches in them. Manis walked to the entrance to Maddox’s bedroom and saw an AR-15 rifle leaning against the wall next to Maddox’s bed. The officers secured the firearms, and Manis asked Maddox if he had any more weapons. Maddox said no. Deputy Manis entered the bedroom and asked Maddox if he could look under the mattress, and Maddox said yes. Manis lifted the mattress and saw a handgun underneath. Maddox, who was standing near to Manis, bent down, and Manis pushed him away, thinking he was reaching for the gun. Manis secured the third gun. All three guns were loaded. Deputy Manis then placed Maddox in handcuffs and told him he was under arrest for possession of marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia. Maddox’s roommate Barry Murphy came out of a second bedroom, and the officers detained him for safety purposes. Manis called for backup. Three other officers arrived, and one of them asked Maddox if they could search the kitchen area. Maddox said not unless they had a warrant. Manis then left and obtained a search warrant. After getting the search warrant, the officers performed a thorough search of the apartment, including a safe found in Maddox’s bedroom closet. The safe contained a large amount of MDMA pills and powder cocaine. In drawers in the kitchen, the officers found more cocaine and marijuana, 4 plus a bundle of cash, a scale, and a cutting agent for the cocaine. Maddox’s roommate Barry Murphy testified he had lived in the apartment for several months by the time of Maddox’s arrest, but had never noticed an ashtray full of marijuana cigarettes, had never seen anyone smoke marijuana in the house, did not know whose guns were in the house, and had no knowledge of any illegal activity going on in the apartment. Murphy testified that he worked nights and slept all day and was not in the apartment often. Murphy testified that on the afternoon of Maddox’s arrest, he was in bed when the officers arrived, but awoke and heard most of Maddox’s conversation with the officers. Murphy heard the officers ask if they could come inside and look around. Murphy testified that he heard Maddox ask if they had a search warrant, and they replied that they just wanted to look around. That was the last thing Murphy heard before he was called out of his room and put in handcuffs. Murphy testified that Maddox told the officers that they couldn’t come in without a search warrant, and that Murphy never heard Maddox give the officers consent to enter. Maddox testified that he answered the door and spoke to the officers. He testified that Manis asked to search the apartment and said if Maddox would let him inside to look around, Manis “would close the complaint out and he wouldn’t be back.” Manis did not say that he would leave if Maddox’s home was not a 5 major grow house or a major drug operation. Maddox testified that he told the officers they could not come in without a search warrant. Then Maddox stepped back to close the door, and the officers stepped forward; Maddox retreated a little more and the officers walked into the apartment. At that point Maddox walked quickly into his bedroom and tried to throw a blanket over the AR-15 because he feared he would be arrested if the officers saw it. Maddox was in his bedroom for a minute and a half to two minutes while the officers were looking around the kitchen area. Manis picked up the .25-caliber handgun in the living room and asked Maddox if there were any more guns in the apartment. Maddox said no. Manis then walked into Maddox’s bedroom, and Manis saw the AR-15 and again asked Maddox if there were any more guns in the apartment. Maddox again said no. Then Manis lifted the mattress and saw the .45-caliber handgun. Maddox testified that he did not reach for the gun, and Manis never pushed him. Instead, Manis handcuffed him, put him on the couch, and detained Murphy as well. Maddox testified that the officers kept trying to get him to consent to their searching the house, and Maddox insisted that they obtain a search warrant. Maddox conceded that the items the officers found belonged to him and not to Murphy. 6