Court Opinion

ID: 9551606
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 18:56:13.215844+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:24:17.275103
License: Public Domain

Collins, L,
concurring:
I concur in the result of the opinion by Mr. Justice Zenoff and add the following:
Things seized for which there are reasonable grounds for suspicion by a police officer that they are the implements or *106fruits of a crime, other than that for which the arrest was lawfully made, require the officer to make further investigation. And where, as here, the suspicion proved true, the evidence may be lawfully admitted. Its seizure, following a lawful arrest, does not violate the constitutional prohibition of either Nevada or the United States against unlawful searches and seizures. See State v. Elkins, 422 P.2d 250 (Ore. 1966). The crux of this rule is “reasonable suspicion” in the officer’s mind. If he can point to facts, circumstances or even statements of the person arrested as basis for the reasonable suspicion, then his duty to pursue the investigation further is clear. That is exactly what happened here, and the arresting officer’s suspicion as to the two passports and certificates of registration was reasonable as being fruits and implements of another crime. Without further investigation he could not and would not know what other crime was committed or where. The impression or suspicion gained from a consideration of all the circumstances of the case created his obligation and right to inquire further. It might be argued he was obligated to get a search warrant from a magistrate before searching the car further or seizing the evidence, but how could he state under oath sufficient facts to get a search warrant at that moment? He did not know and could not know the passports and registration certificates were products of a burglary in Washoe County, Nevada, or any other crime committed in any other place. As a matter of practical necessity, the officer had to continue his investigation based upon the reasonable suspicion present. When the investigation was completed, he had no need for the search warrant. He then had actual knowledge of the commission of a felony burglary in Washoe County, Nevada, and reasonable grounds to believe appellant committed it. It is said in Abel v. United States, 362 U.S. 217 (1960), “When an article subject to lawful seizure properly comes into an officer’s possession in the course of a lawful search it would be entirely without reason to say that he must return it because it was not one of the things it was his business to look for.” Also see Carroll v. United States, 267 U.S. 132 (1925). It seems to me it would be “entirely without reason” to require the officer to return the two passports and registration to appellant or to expect the trial court to suppress them as evidence.