Court Opinion

ID: 9686295
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 15:39:56.429969+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:17.329002
License: Public Domain

SHORT, Judge
(dissenting).
I respectfully dissent. The trial court erred by suppressing the blood test evidence because Officer Wayne had probable cause to believe Lee had committed criminal vehicular operation. In determining whether an officer has probable cause, the trial court should consider the totality of the circumstances, recognizing that a trained officer may make inferences and deductions that might elude an untrained person. See State v. Kvam, 336 N.W.2d 525, 528 (Minn.1983) (quoting United States v. Cortez, 449 U.S. 411, 418, 101 S.Ct. 690, 695, 66 L.Ed.2d 621 (1981)). Officer Wayne could infer from (1) the nature of the accident, (2) Lee’s earlier mishandling of the motorcycle, and (3) Lee’s attendance at a party where drinking had occurred, that Lee was probably impaired due to intoxication.
While one objective indicia of intoxication is sufficient to establish probable cause to believe a person is intoxicated, it should not be a rigid requirement. Cf. Heuton v. Commissioner of Pub. Safety, 541 N.W.2d 361, 363 (Minn.App.1995) (concluding police officer needs only one objective indication of intoxication to have probable cause to believe person under influence). To so hold would deprive trial courts of the benefits of inferences and deductions made by trained police officers. Although circumstantial evidence may be as strong as direct evidence and may support a conviction, a rule requiring a physical symptom to establish probable cause limits trained police officers to close-hand observations tantamount to direct evidence of intoxication merely to have probable cause to arrest. See 10 Minnesota Practice, CRIM-JIG 3.05 (1990) (instructing jury that law does not prefer either direct or circumstantial evidence); cf. Kvam, 336 N.W.2d at 528 (officers may make inferences that would elude an untrained person). Such a rule is particularly strained here, where confrontation with extremely serious injuries and application of emergency life-saving procedures could have distracted the officer from focusing on indicia of intoxication.
Based on his experience, Officer Wayne had ample circumstantial evidence from which to conclude there was probable cause to believe Lee was intoxicated. Accordingly, I would reverse.