Court Opinion

ID: 987187
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-07-02 22:00:38.321739+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:27:52.638434
License: Public Domain

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            IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON ^
STATE OF WASHINGTON,                                    No. 68535-0-1

                           Respondent,                  DIVISION ONE

                v.
                                                        UNPUBLISHED OPINION
ADREN DERAY COLEMAN,

                           Appellant.                   FILED: June 17, 2013

       Schindler, J. — A jury convicted Adren Deray Coleman of felony violation of a

no-contact order. Coleman seeks reversal, arguing the court erred in denying his

motion to suppress evidence. Because the unchallenged findings of fact support the

conclusion that the emergency aid exception justified warrantless entry, we affirm.

                                                FACTS

        Coleman does not challenge the trial court's findings of fact.1 Coleman and Tara
Brown were engaged in a long-term off and on relationship, and are the parents of two

children.

        In March 2010, Tara left Coleman and went to stay with her mother Patricia

Brown.2 When Coleman threatened to "come over and shoot up the house," Tara filed

         1 Because Coleman does not challenge the findings of facts from the CrR 3.6 hearing, they are
verities on appeal. State v. Hill. 123 Wn.2d 641, 647, 870 P.2d 313 (1994).
         2We refer to some of the parties by their first names for purposes of clarity and mean no
disrespect in doing so.
No. 68535-0-1/2

a petition for a no-contact order. The superior court issued a protection order.

       In August, a coworker called the police after Coleman spit in Tara's face and

pushed her "back in the car." Coleman pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor violation of a

no-contact order, assault in the fourth degree, malicious mischief, and hit and run. At

sentencing on December 17, the court issued a no-contact order prohibiting Coleman

from contacting Tara or coming within 500 feet of her residence or workplace for two

years. However, the order allows Coleman to contact Tara's mother Patricia Brown to

arrange visitation with the children. In March 2011, Coleman contacted Tara. Coleman

pleaded guilty to another misdemeanor protection order violation.

       In June 2011, Tara and the children were living at the Arbor Chase Apartments.

Tara's mother lived in an adjacent apartment complex, the Ventana Apartments. On

Friday June 10, Tara got together with her friend Brittany Matthews to celebrate Tara's

birthday. Brittany dropped Tara off at her apartment building at around noon the next

day. Coleman's green Jaguar was parked in the Arbor Chase Apartments parking lot.

Brittany called 911 after Coleman assaulted Tara by "pulling her into the apartment by

her hair."

       Kent Police Department Officer Roger Kellams, Officer Trevor Blake, and Officer

Christopher Korus responded to the domestic violence assault at the Arbor Chase

Apartments. Brittany flagged down the officers and was "visibly upset and distraught."

Brittany told the officers that she and her close friend Tara had been out all night

celebrating, and when she "dropped Tara off at her apartment," she saw Coleman

physically assault Tara. Brittany told the officers she was concerned for Tara's safety

because Coleman had "a history of assaulting and hurting Tara and that there was a no
No. 68535-0-1/3

contact order preventing Coleman from having contact with Tara." Brittany told the

officers that right before they arrived, Coleman took Tara "to the adjacent apartment

building, the Ventana Apartments, where Tara's mother lived." Brittany said that she

was very "concern[ed] that Coleman would seriously hurt Tara" and that he was "really

going to do something bad this time."

       The officers went to the Ventana Apartments "to investigate the assault and to

determine whether Tara had been injured" by Coleman. Brittany accompanied the

officers and pointed out two apartments on the first floor where she thought Tara's

mother lived. Officer Kellams heard male and female voices arguing but could not be

sure which apartment. The officers entered the interior corridor of the building and

knocked on the door of one of the two apartments identified by Brittany. The resident

told the officers that Patricia Brown lived next door.

       Before Officer Kellams and Officer Korus knocked on the apartment next door,

Officer Blake went to the back of the apartment to make sure no one left through the

back door. Officer Kellams then knocked on the apartment door and identified himself

as a police officer. There was no response. After knocking again, Officer Kellams and

Officer Korus heard footsteps.

       After knocking a third time, a female tentatively asked," 'Who is it?'" Officer

Kellams said that "they were police officers and wanted to speak with Tara to make sure

she was safe." When the woman did not respond, Officer Kellams knocked again and

repeated "that they needed to make sure Tara was okay." There was no response.
No. 68535-0-1/4

       The officers decided they "needed to enter the apartment to determine that Tara

was not injured or being held against her will."

       [The officers] reasonably feared that Tara was in danger because they'd
       learned from [Brittany] that the defendant had previously assaulted Tara,
       that there was a no contact order in place, and that defendant Coleman
       was in the apartment with Tara. They also believed that Tara had been
       assaulted, based on the eye witness account of [Brittany]. But they did
       not know if she had suffered injuries as a result of the assault or the extent
       of her injuries. For those reasons, Officer Kellams and [Officer] Korus
       believed it necessary to actually see the alleged victim to see if she
       needed medical attention.

       The officers thought it would not take long to get a key from the building

manager, "and that this approach was more reasonable than [them] damaging the door

by forcing entry." The officers "felt it was not wise to leave the scene or to wait longer

than a few minutes . .. due to the potential danger to Tara."

       After approximately 10 to 15 minutes, the manager arrived with a key to the

apartment. Officer Kellams and Officer Korus entered the apartment and immediately

found Tara. "Tara appeared as if she had been crying or was about to cry, her lower lip

trembled, and she spoke in a soft, apprehensive voice. She did not appear injured."

       Initially, Tara told the officers that Coleman had "gone out the back window."

After telling Tara that Officer Blake was stationed at the back of the apartment, Tara

admitted Coleman was upstairs. Tara's mother and the two children were also in the

apartment. Tara agreed to ask Coleman to come down. Eventually, Coleman came

downstairs. The officers arrested Coleman for violation of the no-contact order.

       The State charged Coleman with felony violation of a court order in violation of

RCW 26.50.110. The information alleged that on June 11, 2011, Coleman willfully

violated the terms of the no-contact order issued on December 17, 2010 under chapter
No. 68535-0-1/5

10.99 RCW. The State also alleged Coleman had "at least two prior convictions for

violating the provisions of a no-contact order issued under chapter 10.99 RCW and

chapter 26.50 RCW.

      Coleman filed a motion to suppress all evidence from the warrantless entry into

Patricia Brown's apartment. Coleman asserted he had standing to challenge the

warrantless search. Coleman argued that the emergency aid exception did not apply

because the State could not show imminent threat of harm or immediate need for

assistance. Coleman argued that waiting for 10 to 15 minutes to get a key to enter the

apartment showed the officers did not believe Tara faced an imminent threat or was in

immediate need of help. The defense also argued the officers should have obtained a

warrant.

       The State claimed Coleman did not have standing because he did not have a

privacy interest in the apartment. But the State argued that even if Coleman had
standing, the emergency aid exception justified the warrantless entry into the apartment.
       Officer Blake, Officer Kellams, and Officer Korus testified at the CrR 3.6 hearing.

Officer Blake testified that Brittany told the officers that "there had been physical

altercations in the past [between Coleman and Tara.] She explained multiple times, that
she was afraid [Coleman] was really going to do something bad this time."
       Officer Kellams and Officer Korus had a lot of experience in responding to

domestic violence and described the volatility of domestic violence cases. Officer

Kellams testified that domestic violence calls "are volatile kinds of calls. There's a lot of

interactions . . . that take place, and you never know if someone is truly in need until you

see them face-to-face."
No. 68535-0-1/6

       Officer Kellams testified that he was concerned Coleman was preventing Tara
from opening the door and they did not have time to get a warrant.

       A.     Basically, I think the need to make sure that Tara Brown was okay
              made it more important to go in at the time. I don't think we could
              have backed off for four hours and used manpower to seal the
              apartment and obtain a search warrant to go in and resolve that
              situation. I don't think we had that much time. I don't think we
              could allow that much time to go on and not resolve whether Tara
              Brown was okay or not.
       Q.     In the time it would take to get a warrant, would you, as an officer
              and detective, been concerned that Tara Brown was apprehensive
              for her safety?
       A.     She was - in my opinion she was, yes.

       Officer Korus testified that he wanted to check on Tara because he "[d]idn't know

what the extent of her injuries were, if anything. Didn't know - she could have still been

getting assaulted." Officer Korus said, "[l]f somebody's reported they're being assaulted

then we need to physically check on them. We can't just knock on the door and leave in

the hopes that they're okay. . . . They could be injured." Officer Korus also testified that

it "could take hours to get a warrant. And, again, we need to check on her right now.

[W]e can't just go away and come back later and hope that they're okay." Officer Korus

explained that "ifyou can contact a manager and the manager says, 'Yes. I'll be there

with a key in a few minutes.' That's reasonable, you know. We'll wait a few minutes."

       The court denied the motion to suppress. The court ruled that Coleman did not

have standing to challenge the search. However, even if Coleman had standing, the

court ruled that the emergency aid exception to the warrant requirement justified the

search.

               If I were to find that [Coleman] did have standing, I would, however,
       also find that the emergency aid exception warranted the entry into the
       apartment without a warrant. And I particularly rely on the language in
       State v. Schultz, 170 Wn.2d 746[, 248 P.3d 484 (2011)], in which the

                                              6
No. 68535-0-1/7

       Supreme Court has acknowledged that domestic violence situations can
       be volatile and quickly escalate into significant injury and there is a need
       to give maximum protection to victims of domestic violence. And it goes
       on to say that police officers responding to a domestic violence report
       have a duty to insure the present and continued safety and well-being of
       the occupants.
               I do conclude that the police subjectively believed that Ms. Tara
       Brown was in need of assistance for her health and safety based on
       reports that they had from [Brittany] of a history of prior violence by the
       defendant, the presence of a no-contact order, and [an] eyewitness
       account of an assault that occurred not that much before the police had
       arrived. In addition, they heard arguing coming from some part of the
       apartment complex. They confirmed that a female was in the apartment
       because she spoke to them through the door, and the female would not
       respond to their inquiries of her well-being.

       The court entered detailed findings of fact and conclusions of law, and

incorporated its oral ruling.

       During the two-day jury trial, Brittany, Officer Kellams, Officer Blake, Tara,

Patricia Brown, and Detective Angela Galetti testified.

       Detective Galetti testified that Coleman had two prior convictions for violating a

no-contact order, and that the no-contact order issued December 17, 2010 prohibited

Coleman from contacting Tara and from coming within 500 feet of her residence or

workplace.

       The jury found Coleman guilty of domestic violence felony violation of a no-

contact order. The court sentenced Coleman as a first-time offender, imposed 90 days

confinement on work release, and ordered him to complete domestic violence

treatment. The court also entered a no-contact order.

                                        ANALYSIS

       Coleman seeks reversal of his conviction for domestic violence felony violation of

a no-contact order. Coleman contends the court erred in concluding the emergency aid
No. 68535-0-1/8

exception to the warrant requirement justified the warrantless entry and search of the

apartment.

       We review a trial court's decision on a motion to suppress to determine whether

the findings are supported by substantial evidence and whether those findings, in turn,

support the conclusions of law. State v. O'Neill, 148 Wn.2d 564, 571, 62 P.3d 489

(2003). We defer to the trier of fact on "issues of conflicting testimony, credibility of

witnesses, and the persuasiveness of the evidence." State v. Thomas, 150 Wn.2d 821,

874-75, 83 P.3d 970 (2004), abrogated in part on other grounds by Crawford v.

Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 124 S. Ct. 1354, 158 L. Ed. 2d 177 (2004). Because

Coleman does not challenge the findings of fact, we treat those findings as verities on

appeal. O'Neill. 148Wn.2d at 571. We review conclusions of law de novo. State v.
Johnson, 128 Wn.2d 431, 443, 909 P.2d 293 (1996).

       The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution and article I, section 7

of the Washington State Constitution prohibit an unreasonable search and seizure.
State v. Williams. 102 Wn.2d 733, 736, 689 P.2d 1065 (1984). Under the Washington

State Constitution, "the home enjoys a special protection." Schultz. 170 Wn.2d at 753.
       Subject to "'jealously and carefully drawn'" exceptions, a warrantless search is
unreasonable. State v. Hendrickson. 129 Wn.2d 61, 72, 917 P.2d 563 (1996) (quoting

State v. Bradley. 105 Wn.2d 898, 902, 719 P.2d 546 (1986)). The emergency aid

exception to the warrant requirement" 'allows for the limited invasion of constitutionally
protected privacy rights when it is necessary for police officers to render aid or
assistance.'" Schultz, 170 Wn.2d at 754 (quoting State v. Thompson. 151 Wn.2d 793,

802, 92 P.3d 228 (2004)).

                                               8
No. 68535-0-1/9

      The State has the burden of establishing the facts justifying the emergency aid

exception to the warrant requirement. Schultz. 170 Wn.2d at 759. The determination of

whether the emergency aid exception justifies a warrantless entry is based on the facts

of each case. Schultz. 170 Wn.2d at 755. The Court in Schultz recognized the unique

challenges police officers face when responding to a domestic violence situation.

Schultz. 170Wn.2dat755.

      Domestic violence presents unique challenges for law enforcement.
      Domestic violence situations can be volatile and quickly escalate into
      significant injury. Domestic violence often, if not usually, occurs within the
      privacy of a home. Our legislature has recognized that the risk of
      repeated and escalating acts of violence is greater in the domestic
      context. RCW 10.99.040(2)(a). The legislature has sought to provide
      "maximum protection" to victims of domestic violence through a policy of
      early intervention. RCW 10.99.010. The Court of Appeals has recognized
      that "[p]olice officers responding to a domestic violence report have a duty
      to ensure the present and continued safety and well-being of the
      occupants."

Schultz. 170 Wn.2d at 755 (quoting State v. Raines. 55 Wn. App. 459, 465, 778 P.2d

538(1989)).

      To establish the emergency aid exception, the State must show (1) the police

officer subjectively believed that someone likely needed assistance for health or safety

concerns, (2) a reasonable person in the same situation would similarly believe that

there was need for assistance, (3) there was a reasonable basis to associate the need

for assistance with the place being searched, (4) there is an imminent threat of

substantial injury to persons or property, (5) state agents must believe a specific person

or persons or property are in need of immediate help for health or safety reasons, and

(6) the claimed emergency is not a mere pretext for an evidentiary search. Schultz. 170
Wn.2d at 754. All six factors must be met in order for the emergency aid exception to
No. 68535-0-1/10

apply, and "the failure to meet any factor is fatal to the lawfulness of the State's exercise

of authority." Schultz. 170 Wn.2d at 760 n.5.

          The Court expressly identified domestic violence as an important consideration in

evaluating factor (4), the reasonableness of the officer's belief that there is an imminent

threat of substantial injury; and factor (5), the officer's subjective belief that a person is

in need of assistance.

           [T]he fact that police are responding to a situation that likely involves
          domestic violence may be an important factor in evaluating both the
          subjective belief of the officer that someone likely needs assistance and in
          assessing the reasonableness of the officer's belief that there is an
          imminent threat of injury.

Schultz, 170Wn.2dat756.

          Coleman asserts that because the trial court did not address whether there was

an imminent threat of injury to Tara or that she was in need of immediate help, the

emergency aid exception did not justify the warrantless search.3 While the trial court did
not explicitly address factors (4) and (5), the unchallenged findings of fact and the

record support the conclusion that the officers believed there was an imminent threat of

substantial injury to Tara, and that Tara was in immediate need of help for her health or

safety.

          The police responded to a 911 call reporting a domestic violence assault. When

the police arrived, Brittany told the officers that she saw Coleman assault Tara moments

before, and saw them leave and go to the apartment building where Tara's mother lived.

          3Coleman does notargue the remaining four factors are not met, and those four factors are
clearly supported by the unchallenged findings. The unchallenged findings of fact establish that the
officers subjectively and reasonably believed that an emergency existed: "Officers determined that they
needed to enter the apartment to determine that Tara was not injured or being held against her will." The
findings also establish the police officers "reasonably feared that Tara was in danger" and "believed it
necessary to actually see the alleged victim to see ifshe needed medical attention." Based on the
information from Brittany, the officers reasonably believed Tara and Coleman were in Patricia's
apartment, and there is no suggestion that the officers' entry was pretextual.
                                                    10
No. 68535-0-1/11

Brittany also told the officers that Coleman had a "history of assaulting and hurting

Tara," that there was a no-contact order in place, and she was very concerned Coleman

was going to "seriously hurt Tara." Based on the unchallenged findings of fact, the court

concluded the officers reasonably believed there was an imminent threat of substantial

injury to Tara and had a subjective belief Tara was in need of immediate help for health

and safety reasons.

      In this case, the police officers responding to this 911 call subjectively
      believed that Tara was in need of assistance to ensure her safety because
      [Brittany] reported to them that she had witnessed defendant Coleman
      assault Tara, that defendant Coleman had assaulted Tara in the past, and
      that there was a no contact order that prevented Coleman from contacting
      Tara. Officers had confirmed that a female was in the apartment and
      could get no response to their inquiries about her well-being after she had
      asked who was at the front door. At least one officer believed to have
      heard a man and woman arguing inside this apartment. Based on
      [Brittany's] report, they also believed that the man inside the apartment
      was defendant Coleman. A reasonable person in this situation would
      have believed, as these officers did, that they must check on the safety of
      Tara. Officers also had a reasonable basis to believe that the apartment
      was the place to be searched given the information from [Brittany] and
      their observations. None of this was a pretext for a search given the
      information from [Brittany] and the officers' observations.

       Nonetheless, Coleman contends the evidence did not establish there was an

imminent threat of injury or an immediate need for help because the officers waited

approximately 10 to 15 minutes for the manager to bring them the key to the apartment.

But the unchallenged findings show that despite the delay, there was an imminent risk

of injury and the officers believed Tara was in need of immediate help for safety

reasons. Officer Kellams testified that based on what Brittany told the officers, they

were very concerned for Tara's safety and believed she may have been seriously

injured. Officer Kellams said that they went to the apartment to check "Tara Brown's

safety" and "needed to determine if she was okay or not." Officer Kellams testified that

                                            11
No. 68535-0-1/12

they had to "make every effort to contact" a domestic violence victim. Officer Kellams

said that they asked "the management to bring a key to the apartment" and while they

thought it would be "quick," it took 10 to 15 minutes "before a manager came with a

key." Officer Kellams testified that while they waited for the key, the officers were still

concerned that Coleman was preventing Tara from opening the door. We conclude the

unchallenged findings and record establish the requirements of the emergency aid

exception, including factors (4) and (5).

           Because the emergency aid exception justified the warrantless search, we

affirm.4

                                                                   juV-eQQrx
WE CONCUR:

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                                                                                  &&-

        4Accordingly, we need not address Coleman's claim of ineffective assistance ofcounsel.
Further, in a statement of additional authorities, Coleman cites State v. Tibbies, 169 Wn.2d 364, 371-72,
236 P.3d 885 (2010), and State v. Hinshaw. 149 Wn. App. 747, 756, 205 P.3d 178 (2009), for the
proposition that the State must establish obtaining a warrant was impracticable. Coleman cannot raise a
new argument for the first time in a statement of additional authorities. RAP 10.8; Frank v. Fischer, 108
Wn.2d468, 476, 739 P.2d 1145(1987). In his brief on appeal, Coleman does not argue that the State
had not met its burden of proving that obtaining a warrant was impracticable. In any event, the record
does not support his argument.

                                                    12