Court Opinion

ID: 4545234
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-06-30 18:13:51.95619+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:50:59.454617
License: Public Domain

Filed
                                                                                            Washington State
                                                                                            Court of Appeals
                                                                                             Division Two
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
                                                                                              June 30, 2020
                                          DIVISION II
 STATE OF WASHINGTON,                                                  No. 52344-2-II

                                 Respondent,

         v.
                                                           ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO
 RACHEL C. RAWLEY,                                       PUBLISH AND PUBLISHING OPINION

                                 Appellant.

        Respondent, State of Washington, filed a motion to publish this court’s opinion filed on

March 23, 2020. After consideration, the court grants the motion. It is now

        ORDERED that the final paragraph in the opinion which reads “A majority of the panel

having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the Washington Appellate Reports, but will

be filed for public record pursuant to RCW 2.06.040, it is so ordered.” is deleted. It is further

        ORDERED that the opinion will now be published.

        FOR THE COURT

        PANEL: Jj. Worswick, Lee, Cruser

                                                      Lee, C.J.
 We concur:

 Worswick, J.

 Cruser, J.
                                                                                               Filed
                                                                                         Washington State
                                                                                         Court of Appeals
                                                                                          Division Two

                                                                                           March 3, 2020

      IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

                                         DIVISION II
    STATE OF WASHINGTON,                                             No. 52344-2-II

                                Respondent,

           v.

    RACHEL CINDA RAWLEY,                                      UNPUBLISHED OPINION

                                Appellant.

        LEE, A.C.J. — Rachel C. Rawley appeals from the denial of her CrR 3.6 suppression

motion and the resulting felony driving under the influence conviction following a head-on

collision. Rawley argues that the trial court erred when it denied her suppression motion because

exigent circumstances did not exist to justify the warrantless blood draw done at the scene of the

accident. We affirm.

                                              FACTS1

        At 2:55 PM, Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Andrew Aman responded to a two-car,

head-on collision. Rawley had crossed the center line, causing her vehicle to collide with another

vehicle. Rawley was trapped in her vehicle. As Deputy Aman spoke to Rawley, he noted a strong

smell of alcohol and that her speech was slurred and repetitive. Rawley admitted to drinking

alcohol.

1
  The following facts rely in part on the trial court’s CrR 3.6 findings of fact, which are, with the
exception of finding of fact XV, unchallenged and, therefore, are verities on appeal. State v.
O’Neill, 148 Wn.2d 564, 571, 62 P.3d 489 (2003).
No. 52344-2-II

         During this time, paramedics were working to stabilize Rawley and get her out of the car.

Deputy Aman contacted one of the paramedics, who told him that they would be “transporting

[Rawley], because obviously she’s been involved in a very, very serious collision.” Verbatim

Report of Proceedings (VRP) (July 16, 2018) at 26. The paramedic told Deputy Aman that he

“believed he was going to start an IV [intravenous fluids] on [Rawley], but he would know more

once he got her in the back of the medic unit.” VRP (July 16, 2018) at 26. Deputy Aman was

aware that if an IV is going to be administered, “generally there’s concern about internal injuries.”

VRP (July 16, 2018) at 28.

         The paramedics freed Rawley from the vehicle and placed her in the ambulance. Deputy

Aman went to the ambulance and learned that IV fluids and medications were about to be

administered to Rawley. Deputy Aman did not ask the paramedics what IV fluids or medications

they would be administering to Rawley. Deputy Aman stated that it is possible that a different

substance could affect the blood differently, but he is “not a medical expert.” VRP (July 16, 2018)

at 37.

         In Deputy Aman’s experience, the shortest time it had taken him to obtain a telephonic

search warrant to draw blood was “[m]aybe 20 minutes.” VRP (July 16, 2018) at 31. Also, the

longest time it had taken him to obtain a telephonic search warrant to draw blood was “about 45

minutes to an hour.” VRP (July 16, 2018) at 31. Furthermore, when requesting a warrant during

the day “attorneys and judges tend to be busy, and sometimes they’re available really quick.

Sometimes they’re not.” VRP (July 16, 2018) at 39.

         Deputy Aman felt exigent circumstances existed to draw Rawley’s blood to check her

blood alcohol content (BAC) before administering IV fluids. The paramedic drew Rawley’s blood

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No. 52344-2-II

at 3:07 PM. IV fluids started at 3:23 PM. The ambulance left for the hospital at 3:23 PM. Rawley’s

BAC was .35—over 4 times the legal limit under RCW 46.61.502(1)(a).

       The State charged Rawley with felony driving under the influence.2 Pretrial, Rawley made

a CrR 3.6 motion to suppress the results of the blood draw. The trial court denied her motion,

entering findings of fact and conclusions of law.

       The trial court found in finding of fact XV that, “[O]n average, it can take up to 45 minutes

to obtain a telephonic blood draw warrant.” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 123. The trial court then

concluded in conclusions of law III and IV that, “[T]he warrantless blood draw was lawful under

[the] exigent circumstances based on State v. Inman, 2 Wn. App. 2d 281, 409 P.3d 1138, review

denied, 190 Wn.2d 1022 (2018)” and “no legal authority requires [Deputy Aman] to inquire what

IV fluids or medications paramedics would introduce in [Rawley].” CP at 124.

       Following a stipulated facts bench trial, the trial court found Rawley guilty of felony

driving under the influence. Rawley appeals.

                                            ANALYSIS

       Rawley argues that the trial court erred in denying her CrR 3.6 motion to suppress the BAC

test results because exigent circumstances did not exist to justify a warrantless blood draw. She

challenges finding of fact XV and conclusions of law III and IV. We disagree.

2
  The State also charged Rawley with second degree driving while license suspended or revoked,
operation of a motor vehicle without ignition interlock device, and reckless driving. Rawley
pleaded guilty to the second degree driving while license suspended or revoked and operation of a
motor vehicle without ignition interlock device charges and, upon a stipulated facts trial, the trial
court found Rawley guilty of the reckless driving charge. These convictions are not the subject of
this appeal.

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No. 52344-2-II

A.     STANDARD OF REVIEW

       We review a trial court’s decision on a CrR 3.6 motion to suppress to determine whether

the court’s findings of fact are supported by substantial evidence and whether those findings

support the conclusions of law. State v. Russell, 180 Wn.2d 860, 866, 330 P.3d 151 (2014).

Substantial evidence is evidence sufficient to persuade a fair-minded, rational person of the

finding’s truth. State v. Stevenson, 128 Wn. App. 179, 193, 114 P.3d 699 (2005). We review

conclusions of law de novo. State v. Garvin, 166 Wn.2d 242, 249, 207 P.3d 1266 (2009).

Similarly, whether exigent circumstances exist is a legal question we review de novo. Inman, 2

Wn. App. 2d at 290.

B.     LEGAL PRINCIPLES

       Warrantless searches and seizures are per se unreasonable and in violation of the Fourth

Amendment and article I, section 7 of the Washington State Constitution. State v. Duncan, 146

Wn.2d 166, 171, 43 P.3d 513 (2002). A recognized exception to the warrant requirement allows

a warrantless search or seizure when exigent circumstances exist. Missouri v. McNeely, 569 U.S.

141, 148-49, 133 S. Ct. 1552, 185 L. Ed. 2d 696 (2013). The State has the burden of showing

exigent circumstances by clear and convincing evidence. Inman, 2 Wn. App. 2d at 290.

       A court examines the totality of the circumstances to determine whether they exist.

McNeely, 569 U.S. at 149. Exigent circumstances exist where “the delay necessary to obtain a

warrant is not practical because the delay would permit the destruction of evidence.” State v.

Baird, 187 Wn.2d 210, 218, 386 P.3d 239 (2016).

       A blood test is a search and seizure. State v. Curran, 116 Wn.2d 174, 184, 804 P.2d 558

(1991). But the natural dissipation of alcohol in the blood may support a finding of exigency in a

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No. 52344-2-II

specific case, for example, when delay results from the warrant application process. McNeely, 569

U.S. at 156.

C.     FINDING OF FACT XV

       Rawley first challenges the trial court’s finding that “on average, it can take up to 45

minutes to obtain a telephonic blood draw warrant.” CP at 123.

       Here, the accident happened at 2:55    PM.    Deputy Aman testified that on average it took

between 20 minutes and an hour to get a telephonic search warrant. He further testified that

sometimes it took longer during the day because of the unavailability of the attorneys and judges.

This testimony is evidence sufficient to persuade a fair-minded, rational person that on average, it

can take up to 45 minutes to obtain a telephonic blood draw warrant. Therefore, substantial

evidence supports the trial court’s finding of fact XV.

D.     CONCLUSIONS OF LAW III AND IV

       Rawley next challenges the trial court’s conclusions that “the warrantless blood draw was

lawful under [the] exigent circumstances based on State v. Inman, 2 [Wn. App.].2d 281, 409 P.3d

1138 (2018)” and “no legal authority requires [Deputy Aman] to inquire what IV fluids or

medications paramedics would introduce in [Rawley].” CP at 124.

       1.      Conclusion of Law III—Exigent Circumstances

       In State v. Inman, Inman crashed his motorcycle on a rural road, injuring him and his

passenger. 2 Wn. App. 2d at 284. “Inman had facial trauma, including bleeding and abrasions on

the face, and a deformed helmet.” Id. A paramedic administered emergency treatment. Id. A

responding officer spoke with Inman and smelled intoxicants on him. Id. Inman admitted that he

had been drinking before driving his motorcycle. Id. Responders at the scene conducted a

warrantless blood draw. Id. at 285. The State charged Inman with vehicular assault. Id. Inman

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No. 52344-2-II

asked the trial court to suppress evidence of the blood draw, which the court declined to do, finding

exigent circumstances existed. Id. at 285-86. We affirmed, holding that the totality of the

circumstances supported the existence of exigent circumstances. Id. at 291. We considered that

Inman received emergency medical services and treatment for possible spine injuries, helicopters

were coming to medevac him to the nearest trauma center at the time of the blood draw, it would

have taken at least 45 minutes to prepare and obtain a warrant, and obtaining a warrant by

telephone was questionable because the responding officer lacked reliable cell phone coverage in

the rural area. Id. at 291-92. We held, “[u]nder the circumstances, obtaining a warrant was not

practical” because of delay and because Inman’s continued medical treatment could have impacted

the integrity of the blood sample. Id. at 292.

       The circumstances here are like those in Inman. Rawley was in a head-on collision and

was trapped inside her vehicle. Her speech was slurred and Deputy Aman could smell intoxicants

on her breath. Rawley admitted to drinking. One of the paramedics told Deputy Aman he would

be administering IV fluids and then taking Rawley to the hospital. Deputy Aman was aware that

IV fluids are generally administered if there is concern for internal injuries. In Deputy Aman’s

experience, a warrant request could take on average up to 45 minutes during the day. The Inman

case is similar to the present case and was properly relied upon by the trial court. Accordingly,

the trial court’s findings of fact support the trial court’s conclusion of law that exigent

circumstances justified the warrantless blood draw based on Inman.

       2.      Conclusion of Law IV—Inquiry into Type of Fluids or Medications

       Rawley argues that the State bears the burden of showing that the IV fluids would alter the

blood test results in order to prove exigent circumstances to justify a warrantless blood draw.

Rawley did not cite legal authority for this argument below. On appeal, she cites to a medical

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No. 52344-2-II

journal and an unpublished case neither of which provide binding legal authority that a police

officer must inquire into the type of IV fluid being administered in order to show that exigent

circumstance existed because the IV fluids would alter the blood test results.

        When defense counsel asked why he did not ask about the IV, Deputy Aman responded

that he was “not a medical expert.” VRP (July 16, 2018) at 37. There is no binding legal authority

requiring police officers to be knowledgeable of medicines and their effect on blood alcohol

content. DeHeer v. Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 60 Wn.2d 122, 126, 372 P.2d 193 (1962) (“Where

no authorities are cited in support of a proposition, the court is not required to search out

authorities, but may assume that counsel, after diligent search, has found none.”) We decline to

establish such requirement here.

        We affirm.

        A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the

Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW 2.06.040,

it is so ordered.

                                                     Lee, A.C.J.
 We concur:

 Worswick, J.

 Cruser, J.

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