Document: 392 U.S. 598 88 S.Ct. 2243 20 L.Ed.2d 1322 Stephen R. WAINWRIGHT, petitioner,v.CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. No. 13. Supreme Court of the United States October Term, 1967. June 17, 1968 Melvin L. Wulf, New York City, for petitioner. Richard C. Seither, Orleans, La., respondent. On Writ Certiorari to Louisiana. PER CURIAM. 1 The writ certiorari is dismissed as improvidently granted. 2 Mr. Justice HARLAN, concurring. 3 I wish state in a few words my reasons joining dismissal this For stated dissenting opinion Brother DOUGLAS agree that dispositive federal issue case whether petitioner used an unreasonable amount force resisting what on record must be regarded illegal attempt by police search his person. find too opaque permit any satisfactory adjudication question. See Rescue Army v. Municipal Court, 331 549, 568-575, 67 1409, 91 L.Ed. 1666. 4 FORTAS, with whom MARSHALL joins, 5 With profound deference opinions Brethren who have filed case, am impelled add note. Upon oral argument and further study after was granted, it became apparent facts necessary evaluation constitutional issues are not adequately presented before us. It also entirely clear they cannot now developed remand verisimilitude. 6 central appeared present decision when granted great importance. police, seeing pedestrian fits description person suspected murder, may accost stop him; extent accosted justified refusing cooperate efforts establish he or seek. 7 prepared say that, regardless presence absence adequate cause action, arrest officers unlawful, HARLAN'S suggests, where produces no identification, attempts three times walk away, refuses dispel doubt showing forearm tattooed. should want know whether, fact, there constitutionally suspect man sought murder. 8 If should, record, determine action stopping arresting violated rights, would remain, among other question culpability scuffle ensued. My written seem agreed sketchy issue. 9 has properly respectfully submit correct leave matter there. regret inference might derived from hold seek reasonable means identify whom, cause, believe murder case. do without careful analysis, endorse right pedestrian, because wanted resist so vigorously 'bounced wall physically' react 'like football player going through line.' Our jurisprudence teaches we decide basis record. This especially important difficult, dangerous, subtle field essential office policeman impinges upon basic freedom citizen. 10 Chief WARREN, dissenting. 11 About midnight 12, 1964, petitioner, student at Tulane University Law School, left French Quarter apartment Orleans get something eat. Approximately four blocks apartment, two Police Department had observed cruised their car stopped him fitted That tattooed 'born raise hell.' Petitioner told identification home but He gave them name address, informed law way thought resembled suspect, asked remove jacket could check tatoo. refused, saying allow himself 'to molested bunch cops here street,' 'didn't humiliated police.' then suffering skin ailment which apparently unsightly been exposed removed jacket, though did communicate police. arrested charge vagrancy loitering frisked him. 12 During incident attempted time peacefully away officers. first came given sufficient identification. third, although were certain about this, occurred under arrest. Evidently last attempt, subsequently charged officer. each directed 13 After inside called 'stupid cops,' whereupon reviling When arrived station, offered produce if take home, offer rejected. In stationhouse, interrogated minutes concerning 'possible suspect.' Thereafter, booked loitering, officer, 14 An officer jacket. folding arms crouching corner. Two officers, according one them, 'got * [and] tried pry apart, bounced bench back again.' strike kick rather, 'danc[ed] trying keep us getting arms.' According another, jostled only 'the combined effort Wainwright refusal Force officers.' sustained bruises, marks, torn clothing result incident, succeeded removing petitioner's discovering tattoo. 15 Petitioner's trial charges based episode street—vagrancy police—commenced December 4, 1964. partial testimony adjourned, resumed until May 7, 1965, court heard adjourned over objection. again 14, close State's day motion taken advisement, new events station lodged against Respondent, characterizes original prosecuted intermittently six-month period 'long-abandoned.' Why waited six months bringing occurring within nowhere explained. 16 These consisted counts disturbing peace assaulting count convicted all counts. appeal Criminal District argued subsequent therefore search. claimed '[t]he legality shown order defendant guilty crime it.' evidence showed on, resistance type does constitute assault. reversed conviction ground occur while making ordinance. However, found lawful, since custody pursuant legal obligation *.' held 'an individual lawful custody' actions doing duty, affirmed convictions assault.1 17 writs certiorari, prohibition, mandamus Louisiana arguing unlawful resist, 'evidence merely shows acted self-defense resisted removal clothing.' denied application, holding: 'The ruling Parish correct.' 18 argues stationhouse Fourth Amendment reasonably view, can illegal. illegality alone requires reversal judgment below, rejected possibly meritorious state-law claims erroneous premise lawful. Therefore, accordance Court's well-established practice 'not formulate rule broader than required precise record,' Garner State Louisiana, 368 157, 163, 82 248, 207 (1961), reverse reaching had, within, resist. 19 neither warrant nor probable loitering.2 inconsequential circumstance standing still seconds approached papers very little funds obviously nothing make conduct criminal. Cf. Thompson City Louisville, 362 199, 80 624, 654 (1960). FORTAS suggests reveal determination lawfully due respect, however, suggest irrelevant inadequacy decided 21 'Booking' administrative booked, entry made 'arrest book' indicating, generally, arrested, date booking, offense information.3 most jurisdictions,4 book manner. La.Code Crim.Proc., Art. 228.5 And Official Comment pertinent statute recognizes, official permanent 'provides valuable protection secret arrests improper tactices.' p. 131. see more justification permitting disregard its own booking body records. Quite contrary. 'low-visibility' sphere investigatory practices, obvious compelling why records prevail second-guessing lawyers judges. Nor holding frustrate legitimate interest society. really believed believe, murder.6 such confronted street, techniques short trumped-up verify suspicions.7 22 perfectly plain, were, least, confident pretext questioning technique, using minor imaginary individual, deserves unqualified condemnation.8 technique makes personal liberty dignity contingent whims serve engender fear, resentment, disrespect populace serve. 23 Since unlawful. Henry States, 361 98, 168, 134 (1959); Trupiano 334 699, 68 1229, 92 1663 (1948); Johnson 333 10, 367, 436 Di Re, 332 581, 222, 210 (1948). Because below predicated assumption think reversed. courts reached conclusion authority well concluded rights local 24 There relevant related principles drawn considering principle self-defense, inferentially raised expressly noted application Court. idea criminally responsible acts done defense deeply rooted our jurisprudence. Self-defense long recognized Louisiana,9 provided several sections Code, states: 25 use violence another justifiable, committed purpose preventing forcible *; prevent offense. *'10 26 recently intimated available aggravated assault asserted unlawfully defendant.11 Whether disturbing-the-peace-by-assault instant establishes questions law. 27 second regard announced Monroe Ducas, 203 La. 971, So.2d 781 (1943): 28 fundamental guaranteed every citizen, interference resisted. Every arrest; and, restraint liberty, necessary.'12 29 contended never grips 'lawful 'a arrest.' By virtue supra, appears unmistakable clarity encompasses 30 courts' appraisal these crucial foreordained permitted opportunity reconsider questions. Accordingly, proceedings consistent opinion. someone pending investigation crimes warrants condemnation, because, unlike Brethren, consider proper disposition, dissent 31 DOUGLAS, 32 traditional standards applicable prior Terry Ohio, 1, 1868, 889, unconstitutionally person, least token resistance. 33 cruising late night saw street corner general suspect. They himself. home. student. being questioned tattoo read, coat wearing forearm, refused. 'seized' off, pulling arm. battle fracas consequence. Petitioner, moving pushing side side. But far happened produced caused butted around room. none marks bruises clothing.1 34 didn't wasn't visible me.' 35 'Later, answer posed court, Martello suffered 'marks, 36 cross-examination Officer O'Rourke testified follows: 37 'Q. How [petitioner] you around? Did out someone? 38 'A. Like line. 39 try run? 40 No, dancing wall.' 41 charges—vagrancy, 42 At end moved charges. advisement once arraigned charges, fined $25 days jail charge, sentences suspended. reversed, later complaint abandoned. While appellate incorporate into second, done. defect remedied here, transcripts hearings 43 even approach establishing warrant. commit crime. heading vagrancy. factor seen five seconds. To sure 'very funds.' those factors ingredients system government. 654. 44 plain 'legal.' offense, circumstances show suspicion,2 course unconstitutional—at Ohio—and robs color legality. 134. 45 Under authorities (cf. John Bad Elk 177 529, 534-535, 729, 874; 594, 210), ill-starred citizen some unconstitutional 'seizure' 'search.' Must stand quietly supinely 'pat down,' whirl around, throw wagon? 46 insignificant hurt nominal. defy act deep system. Thomas Collins, 323 516, 532-537, 65 315, 89 430. 47 recent (Wright Georgia, 373 284, 291-292, 83 1240, 349), said 'failure obey command constitutes form breach peace,' qualification: 'Obviously, punished failing itself violative Constitution.' 48 We let fences broken down. 49 points up vividly dangers emanate so-called 'stop-and-frisk' test 'searches' 'seizures' startling problems presented. unsubstantiated suspicion superficial resemblance between man. Thus 'seize' Is 'reasonable suspicion' justifying seizure, grounds armed dangerous? answered Court; leaving unanswered gives impetus Ohio. constitutional, sleepless professor walks relaxation sleep easy prey thousands innocent Americans sturdy environment lay hand 'probable cause' committed. philosophy Walt Whitman, Vachel Lindsay, Carl Sandburg faithfully reflected 50 society apprehending murderers strong; yet manhunt passions often carry day. fear officer's cause,' resists 'seizure,' inquisition. terrifying spectacle—a plucked off whisked resembles perpetrator forsaken Western tradition step toward oppressive practices Communist regimes modern Iran, 'democratic' Formosa, Franco Spain, closely allied. ordinance provides: 'No shall disturb public beating threatening bodily harm another.' § 42-24 Code reviling-the-police arose pre- post-arrest reversing process pre-arrest irrelevant. His just alleged justify initial 595, Byars 273 28, 29, 71 520 (1927). event, evident baseless charge. A peaceful accused identified himself, stops soon directs fairly clear, Dunnington, 157 369, 102 So. 478 (1924); Scott, 123 1085, 715, L.R.A.,N.S., 199 (1909). sensitivity simply inconceivable criminal speak cop,' more, privacy car. seems likely abandonment prosecution indicates prosecuting officials aware groundlessness W. LaFave, Arrest: Decision Take Suspect Custody 379-382 (1965). President's Commission Enforcement Administration Justice, Challenge Crime Free Society (1967). See, e. g., Charter Administrative 435-12.0 (1963); Columbia 4-134 228, provides that: 'It duty arrest, having custody, promptly nearest booked. entry, kept purpose, him, list property booking. listing above information prisoner received. always open inspection. imprisoned unless released bail.' (Emphasis added.) Of course, mean crimes. point controversy arises example, followed secured detailed headquarters, and/or checked looking phonebook address them. connected school. Another alternative voluntarily return knew scene secure identification—an arrival Carignan, 342 36, 46, 72 97, 96 (1951); Culombe Connecticut, 367 568, 631-632, 81 1860, 1037 (1961). urges 1958 abandoned offenses. so, city deserving commendation. Irrespective policy city, clearly demonstrates continues. Chandler, La.Ann. 489 (1850); Scossoni, 1464, (1896); Baptiste, 105 661, 147 (1901); Bolden, 107 116, 393 (1902); Short, 120 187, 98 (1907); Robinson, 143 543, 78 933 (1918); Van Duff, 146 713, 84 (1920). generally Comment, Self-Defense Louisiana—The Tort Compared, L.Rev. 609 (1942). La.Rev.Stat. 14:19. broadly interpreted Rowland, 246 167 346 (1964). Rev.Stat. §§ 14:18, 14:20, 14:21, 14:22. Tedeton, 243 1031, 150 (1963). Tedeton 979, 781, 784 (1943). Lyons Carroll, 471, 760 (1902). not, Brothers Harlan Fortas suggest, determining degree employed discloses Lieutenant Martello, taken, 'Mr. refused instructed doorman. 'He walked corner, grabbed hands, arms, said, 'If off.' 'Officer Gilford respond, physically took everything power operation physically, assistance couple put handcuffs jacket.' cross-examination, elaborated: You crouched Officers it? it. How? (demonstrates). anything else? knowledge. got thrown room, effort? on? on. still? struggle. officers? have. What transpired involved reason wished arm tattooed—that is, ascertain superficial.

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