Court Opinion

ID: 9466033
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 01:03:52.169883+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:39:30.874472
License: Public Domain

J. BLAINE ANDERSON,
concurring and dissenting:
I concur in the reversal as to Ortiz and respectfully dissent from the affirmance as to Munoz. If Ortiz is entitled to a reversal, and she is, Munoz is also entitled to reversal on this record.
We hold that no reasonable suspicion of criminal activity existed as to either defendant up to the time that the Ortiz vehicle was stopped. Just prior to this stop, Officers Roy and Camacho had pulled in between the two automobiles and followed the Ford being driven by Munoz for four to five minutes. The officers observed only lawful activity. Nothing of a suspicious nature was noted. No unlawful speed, no overloading, no furtive movements or glances and no efforts at evasion then, or a brief time later, when the Ford was stopped after finding the aliens in the Ortiz vehicle.
The finding of aliens in Ortiz’s Pontiac furnishes no inference that the Munoz vehicle was also loaded with aliens in the absence of some reasonably suspicious articu-lable fact to connect Ortiz and Munoz together in common purpose or relationship' and there was none. Mere driving in close proximity to another vehicle, both of which are without suspicion, cannot be a predicate for such an inference.
I would reverse as to Munoz.