Legal Document

496 U.S. 325 110 S.Ct. 2412 L.Ed.2d 301 ALABAMA, Petitionerv.Vanessa Rose WHITE. No. 89-789. Argued April 17, 1990. Decided June 11, Syllabus Police received an anonymous telephone tip that respondent White would be leaving a particular apartment at time in vehicle, she going to motel, and possession of cocaine. They immediately proceeded the building, saw vehicle matching caller's description, observed as left building entered followed her along most direct route stopping just short motel. A consensual search revealed marijuana and, after was arrested, cocaine found purse. The Court Criminal Appeals Alabama reversed conviction on charges, holding trial court should have suppressed because officers did not reasonable suspicion necessary under Terry v. Ohio, 392 1, 88 1868, 20 889, justify investigatory stop vehicle. Held: tip, corroborated by independent police work, exhibited sufficient indicia reliability provide make stop. Pp. 328-332. (a) Under Adams Williams, 407 143, 147, 92 1921, 1924, 32 612, informant's may carry "indicia reliability" even though it insufficient support arrest or warrant. Moreover, Illinois Gates, 462 213, 230, 103 2317, 2328, 76 527, adopted "totality circumstances" approach determining whether establishes probable cause, whereby veracity, reliability, basis knowledge are highly relevant. These factors also relevant reasonable-suspicion context, although allowance must made applying them for lesser showing required meet standard. 328-329. (b) Standing alone, here is completely lacking since provides virtually nothing from which one might conclude caller honest his information reliable gives no indication predictions regarding White's criminal activities. See supra, U.S., 227, S.Ct., 2326. However, close question, totality circumstances demonstrates significant aspects story were sufficiently furnish suspicion. Although every detail mentioned tipster verified—e.g., name woman precise left—the corroborate got into described Given fact they call emerged too long thereafter, appears departure within frame predicted caller. 4-mile way but nevertheless involved several turns, prediction destination significantly stopped before reached Furthermore, able predict future behavior special familiarity with affairs. Thus, there reason believe well informed, impart some degree allegation engaged activity. id., 244, 245, 2335, 2336. 329-332. 550 So.2d 1074 (Ala.Cr.App.1989), remanded. WHITE, J., delivered opinion Court, REHNQUIST, C.J., BLACKMUN, O'CONNOR, SCALIA, KENNEDY, JJ., joined. STEVENS, filed dissenting opinion, BRENNAN MARSHALL, joined, post, p. 333. Joseph G.L. Marston, Prattville, Ala., petitioner. David B. Byrne, Jr., Montgomery, respondent. Justice WHITE Court. 1 Based respondent's car drugs. issue We hold did. 2 On 22, 1987, approximately 3 p.m., Corporal B.H. Davis Montgomery Department person, stating Vanessa 235-C Lynwood Terrace Apartments brown Plymouth station wagon right taillight lens broken, Dobey's Motel, about ounce inside attache case. partner, P. A. Reynolds, Apartments. broken parking lot front 235 building. leave carrying hands, enter wagon. drove Motel. When Mobile Highway, Motel located, Reynolds requested patrol unit 4:18 asked step rear car, where he informed had been suspected He if could look cocaine, said look. locked case upon request, provided combination lock. placed arrest. During processing station, three milligrams Respondent charged County denied motion suppress, pleaded guilty reserving appeal denial suppression motion. held 889 (1968), fruits unconstitutional detention. concluded dismiss granted conviction. (1989). Supreme State's petition writ certiorari, two justices dissenting. 1081 Because differing views state federal courts over stop, we 493 1042, 834, 107 830 (1990). now reverse. 4 612 (1972), sustained frisk undertaken given person known informant who past. that, while unverified warrant, carried forcible 1924. address tips Adams, except say "[t]his stronger than obtains tip," 146, 1923. 5 527 (1983), dealt probable-cause context. abandoned "two-pronged test" Aguilar Texas, 378 108, 84 1509, 12 723 (1964), Spinelli United States, 393 410, 89 584, 21 637 (1969), favor cause. Gates clear, however, those considered critical Spinelli—an "veracity," "reliability," "basis knowledge"—remain "highly value report." 2328. althoughal lowance 6 recognized alone seldom veracity inasmuch ordinary citizens generally do extensive recitations their everyday observations persons supplying "by hypothesis largely unknown, unknowable." Id., 237, 2332. This never But exception general rule, this like Gates: "[It] [the caller] either reliable; likewise, [tip] absolutely [caller's] [Vanessa White's] activities." By requiring "[s]omething more," did, ibid., merely apply what Adams: "Some tips, warrant response require further investigation suspect authorized," Simply put, such one, standing " 'warrant man caution belief' [a stop] appropriate." Terry, 1880, quoting Carroll 267 132, 162, 45 280, 288, 69 L.Ed. 543 (1925). 7 As more itself. detailed, corroboration complete, likewise high. discussed difference standards last Term States Sokolow, 490 7, 109 1581, 1585, 104 (1989): 8 "The officer [making . articulate something 'inchoate unparticularized "hunch." ' [Terry, U.S.,] 27 [88 1883]. Fourth Amendment requires 'some minimal level objective justification' making INS Delgado, 466 210, 217 [104 1758, 1763, 80 247] (1984). That considerably less proof wrongdoing preponderance evidence. cause means 'a fair probability contraband evidence crime will found,' [Gates, 238, 2332], obviously demanding cause." 9 Reasonable standard only sense can established different quantity content establish arise show much. assumed enough 1923-24. suspicion, dependent both possessed its reliability. Both factors—quantity quality—are whole picture," Cortez, 449 411, 417, 101 690, 695, 66 621 (1981), taken account when evaluating has relatively low requisite quantum reliable. applied totality-of-the-circumstances manner, taking facts personal observation, giving weight deserved light through work. same applies being established. Contrary below, respondent, activity investigative therefore violate Amendment. 10 It true verified, left; With respect informant, testified gave leaving, App. 5, was. testify call, partner put surveillance, 5-6. indicated record us timeframe destination, know pulled continued past it. driven possible So.2d, 1075, Tr. Oral Arg. 24, think corroborated. 11 Court's credit proposition shown things, probably other alleged, including claim object 2335. unreasonable informer's imparted allegations important "the contained range details relating easily obtained conditions existing actions third parties ordinarily predicted." 2335-36. precisely description example former. Anyone "predicted" condition presumably call. What ability behavior, demonstrated information—a public knowing shortly get drive small number people privy individual's itinerary, access likely illegal ibid. least 13 case, corroborated, car. reverse judgment remand proceedings inconsistent opinion. 14 So ordered. whom MARSHALL join, 15 Millions apartments day heading neighbors. Usually, neighbors briefcase contains. An neighbor's somebody's anything assuming commuter substance particularly tipster. 16 does tell how often Motel; all know, room clerk operator working evening shift. Officer any effort ascertain identity, calling, destination. Indeed, tells us, another "hunch" 17 Anybody target prank, harbor grudge against her, certainly formulate predicting excursion. In addition, holding, citizen subject seized questioned prepared warrantless based whatever conduct observed. Fortunately, vast majority our law enforcement community adopt practice. intended protect overzealous unscrupulous conscientious truthful. decision makes mockery protection. 18 I respectfully dissent.

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