Document: 364 U.S. 253 80 S.Ct. 1431 4 L.Ed.2d 1688 Jose Terrones RIOS, Petitioner,v.UNITED STATES of America. No. 52. Argued March 29, 1960. Decided June 27, Mr. Harvey M. Grossman, Los Angeles, Cal., for petitioner. Malcolm Richard Wilkey, Washington, D.C., respondent. Justice STEWART delivered the opinion Court. 1 An indictment filed in United States District Court Southern California charged petitioner with unlawful receipt and concealment narcotics violation 21 U.S.C. § 174, U.S.C.A. 174. Before trial made a motion to suppress use as evidence package heroin which, so court had found, Angeles police officers obtained from an unconstitutional search seizure. After hearing denied suppress, finding that federal agents not participated search, also lawful manner. The was admitted over petitioner's renewed objection at his subsequent trial. He convicted sentenced twenty years prison. 2 Appeals affirmed conviction, accepting Court's seizure been lawful, holding any event illegally seized 'may nevertheless be received prosecution, if without participation officials.' 256 F.2d 173, page 176. Certiorari granted order which limited questions consideration two, 359 965, 79 881, 3 833: '1. Independently state court's determination, used against prosecution rights under Constitution States? '2. If unlawfully obtained, such admissible because it by participation?' 5 In Elkins v. States, 206, 1437, has answered second question unreasonable is excluded criminal upon timely defendant who standing complain. only remains this case, therefore, whether 'during conducted officers, would have violated defendant's immunity searches seizures Fourth Amendment.' 223, 1447. As most cases involving claimed seizure, resolution requires particularized evaluation conduct involved. See Go-Bart Importing Co. 282 344, 357, 51 153, 158, 75 L.Ed. 374. 6 At about ten o'clock on night February 18, 1957, two dressed plain clothes riding unmarked car, observed taxicab parking lot next apartment house corner First Flower Streets Angeles. neighborhood reputation 'narcotics activity.' saw look up down street, walk across lot, get into cab. Neither officer ever before seen petitioner, neither them idea identity. Except neighborhood, information kind suggest someone might engaged activity time place. They were searching participant previous crime. possession no arrest or warrants. 7 drove away, followed their car distance miles through city. intersection State cab stopped traffic light. alighted approached foot opposite sides One identified himself policeman. minute there occurred rapid succession events. door opened; dropped recognizable floor vehicle; one grabbed he cab; other retrieved package; first drew revolver.1 8 precise chronology all happened clear record. original report stated after opened door. testifying later, said drop opened. taxi driver gave substantially different version what occurred. revolver 'took hold arm while still cab.'2 9 A instituted charging him narcotics, felony law. Cal. Health Safety Code, 11500. preliminary testified circumstances surrounding When case came Superior County, moved seized. On basis transcript hearing, brief argument counsel, entered judgment acquittal.3 10 Thereafter, arrested discussed superiors suggested giving authorities. then got touch told case. This led we now review.4 11 trial, placed prime reliance silver platter doctrine, having But expressed opinion, based proceedings additional testimony lawfully. view permissible incident legal arrest, or, alternatively, abandoned when taxicab. expressed, however, district judge yet heard driver's did testify until itself. testified, offered evidence. counsel objected, overruled comment. Gouled 255 298, 312—313, 41 261, 266, 65 647; Amos 313, 316—317, 267—268, 654; Jones 362 257, 264, 725, 732, 697. For appears, ruling may solely doctrine. Moreover, legality relying doctrine rejecting contention determination illegality precluded making independent inquiry matter. 12 With posture, concluded interests justice will best served remanding There, free entanglement issues become irrelevant, lawfulness policemen's can determined accord basic principles governing validity Amendment. 13 Under these present narrowly oriented. survive constitutional inhibition showing facts brought within exceptions rule must rest warrant. 357 493, 499, 78 1253, 1257, 1514; Jeffers, 342 48, 51, 72 93, 95, 96 59. Here justification primarily sought claim arrest. Yet possible revealed could existed probable cause decided alight approach riding. Compare Brinegar 338 160, 69 1302, 93 1879; Carroll 267 132, 45 280, 543; Henry 361 98, 168, 134. Government concedes.5 14 If, took positions doors taxicab, nothing thereafter make justify its incident. Di Re, 332 581, 68 222, 92 210; Johnson 333 10, 367, 436; Miller 301, 1190, 1332; argues policemen purpose routine interrogation, they intent detain beyond momentary requirements mission. voluntarily officers' view, supported reasonable believe being committed presence.6 thus turns narrow occurred, answer depends conflicting those night. 15 vacated, remanded further consistent opinion. 16 Vacated remanded. later broke policeman's grasp ran alley. There apprehended shooting back. 'Q. Will you just tell us your own words, Smith, immediately Officer Beckmann? 'A. Well, appeared alongside my right-hand side front window right flashlight hand, I believe, billfold left. * 'The Court: Then happened? Witness: turned toward back think motioned billford Now somewhere along here Beckmann disposed flashlight. didn't notice exactly there. 'By Mrs. Bulgrin: What do? happening far concerned? A. becoming quite agitated. While inside cab? cab, yes. out? are events out. they? am trying order. It difficult things quickly. asked was, is, rear said, 'We officers.' wanted satisfy mind that. know policeman hijacker positively, but thought sure. So 'I probably examination. work shift, some time, checked occupants few holdups drivers thing. 'But getting agitated noticed drawn, seemed me somewhat extraordinary stop occupany something effect scaring him, big idea, like don't remember exact words. 'As recall arm— That out correct? impression How agitated? rough sufficiently impressed fact protest frightening knew good drawn revolver. Maybe agitated.' cross-examination follows: 'Well, say prominent thing eyesight revolver, looked size cannon. 'At door, can't point opened, Rios sitting revolver.' follows so-called exclusionary rule. People Cahan, 44 Cal.2d 434, P.2d 905, 50 A.L.R.2d 513. suppression following excerpt judge's oral opinion: see it, possibly how originally attempted very frankly tells had. man comes building, books way looks Street, walks automobile gets drives away. world that, together happens Hope Flower—I forget is—and somebody else many hundreds taxicabs community, three months before, shows absurdity insofar see, granted—* find guilty charged. sometime, Rios; sometime.' occasioned presentation Federal grand jury Beckmann, particular case? Court, approximately week weeks conferred divisional commander, Captain Clavis, showed reports him. 'He called Madden Narcotics Division Police Department. went talked report, going Whose that? Was yours Madden's? Mine. institute discussion Madden? Yes. Goven. copy him.' statute warrant provided 'A peace obedience may, warrant, person: public offense presence. person felony, although '3. committed, believing it. '4. charge made, cause, commission party arrested. '5. night, felony.' Cal.Penal (1956 ed.), 836 (later amended, Stat.1957, c. 2147, 2). passenger lets hardly 'abandoned' occupied compared open field, Hester 265 57, 445, 898, vacated hotel room, Abel 217, 683, 668.

Category: 0