Court Opinion

ID: 9445201
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-03 21:22:41.306575+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:30:10.014195
License: Public Domain

RIVES, Circuit Judge
(concurring specially).
It seems to me that we do not reach the question of whether the use of excessive force in serving a search warrant will invalidate the search and seizure, because the testimony of the federal narcotic agent, which the district court had a right to believe, showed that there was no such excessive force.1
I, therefore, concur specially.
*118'BROWN, Circuit J.udgé,,
I'concur‘fully iir the result and all that is said under Ground Two. I join Judge RIVES as to the First Ground. '

. “A. That afternoon, or rather that morning, I and Agent Bromley had obtained a federal search warrant and about 2:15 p. m. the same day we went to 1322 San Carlos Street accompanied by Agents Hooper and Hazur, Hobson and Detective Lieutenant of the City Police Department Hutton, and Detective Sergeant Saenz went along to serve the federal search warrant. Detective Saenz and Agent Hooper and myself went to the rear door and made entry there where we served the search warrant.
“Q. Who was present when you entered the room? A. Sergeant Saenz— oh, you mean the defendant?
“Q. In the home. A. In the home, in the kitchen the defendant Barrientes was sitting at the table; his wife I believe came into the room just as we came in.
“Q. Did you advise them who you were? A. Yes, that we were narcotic agents serving a search warrant.
“Q. Did you tell them what you wanted?
“Mr. Tijerina: At this time, Your Honor, may I have the witness on voir dire, may it please the Court?
“The Court: Yes, sir.

“Questions by Mr. Tijerina on Voir Dire:

“Q. Agent Dean, who had the search warrant — did you have the search warrant? A. I had the search warrant in my pocket, sir.
“Q. And you went through the back door? A. Yes, sir, Sergeant Saenz went in first. I went in second.
“Q. Sergeant Saenz broke the door or did you break the door? A. Sergeant Saenz knocked on the door and it fell open and he fell, I think, almost into the kitchen, and I came in right behind him.
“Q. And you say that broke the door down and it fell in? A. It didn’t break the door down, sir; it just swung open. It was a very flimsy door.
“Q. And you did not ask; you just went into the house then? A. Yes, sir, went right into the house.
*118“Q. And that, is when you presented your search warrant? A. Yes, I think Sergeant Saenz told everybody to remain standing, that we had a search warrant, and Sergeant Saenz remained in the kitchen and I ran into- the bathroom into the toilet to make sure there was nobody in the toilet.
“Q. Before you knocked on the door did you call to anybody in the inside and identify yourself as a federal agent? A. Not before knocking, no, sir.
“Q. Did you call toward- the inside and tell. anybody or give notice to • anybody ■that you were there with a federal search warrant? A. Nqt standing outside of the houses, sir.
“Q. Not until. y.ou were inside the house? A. It was inside of the house.
“Mr. Tijerina: May it please the Court, at this time the defendant is going to object to any testimony by this witness on -the ground that he was there illegally; he was there by virtue of a search warrant and I think that he is bound by the search warrant, and under the law it states that the door may be broken when admission is refused. The federal agent must first notify that he is there by virtue of the search warrant and if he is refused, the door then may be opened by the federal agent.
“The Court: That will be- overruled, counsel.
“Mr. Tijerina: Note our exception to the. Court’s ruling.” . .