Court Opinion

ID: 2773793
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-01-27 22:08:14.874574+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:49:57.128639
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF IDAHO

                                       Docket No. 41870

STATE OF IDAHO,                                  )     2015 Unpublished Opinion No. 323
                                                 )
       Plaintiff-Respondent,                     )     Filed: January 27, 2015
                                                 )
v.                                               )     Stephen W. Kenyon, Clerk
                                                 )
JARYN MYKAL WATT,                                )     THIS IS AN UNPUBLISHED
                                                 )     OPINION AND SHALL NOT
       Defendant-Appellant.                      )     BE CITED AS AUTHORITY
                                                 )

       Appeal from the District Court of the Fourth Judicial District, State of Idaho, Ada
       County. Hon. Michael R. McLaughlin, District Judge. Hon. Theresa Gardunia,
       Magistrate.

       Order of the district court, acting in its intermediary capacity, affirming the
       magistrate court’s order denying motion to suppress, affirmed.

       Alan Trimming, Ada County Public Defender; Heidi M. Johnson, Deputy Ada
       County Public Defender, Boise, for appellant.

       Hon. Lawrence G. Wasden, Attorney General; Jessica M. Lorello, Deputy
       Attorney General, Boise, for respondent.
                 ________________________________________________
GRATTON, Judge
       Jaryn Mykal Watt appeals from the district court’s intermediate appellate decision
affirming the magistrate’s order denying his motion to suppress evidence. We affirm.
                                                I.
                     FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
       The magistrate made the following findings of fact: In February 2013, at approximately
10:15 p.m., an Ada County Sheriff’s Deputy, on routine patrol near the intersection of Eagle
Road and Easy Jet, pulled into a parking lot located behind a closed business in order to
complete some paperwork. The deputy observed a car parked next to the business’s dumpster.
There were no other cars in the parking lot. The deputy observed a male, later identified as Watt,
standing outside of the dumpster’s surrounding fence.        Watt walked into the dumpster’s
enclosure and then exited walking towards the parked car.

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       The deputy parked his vehicle and approached Watt. The patrol vehicle’s overhead lights
were not engaged. The deputy asked Watt what he was doing there. Watt responded that he was
going to a friend’s house and had stopped to throw away some trash. Immediately upon contact,
the deputy noted that Watt’s eyes were dilated, did not react to the light of his flashlight, and that
his eyes appeared bloodshot and watery.         When asked, Watt indicated he was not taking
prescription medications. The deputy did not detect any odor of an alcoholic beverage.
       The deputy obtained Watt’s driver’s license and returned to his patrol car to check for
wants and warrants. The deputy also requested the assistance of a nearby deputy and drug dog.
Thereafter, the deputy proceeded to conduct field sobriety tests which revealed Watt’s inability
to correctly estimate passage of time, eyelid tremors, and an elevated pulse; all indicative of
intoxicant use. The other deputy and his drug dog arrived just prior to the completion of the field
sobriety tests. Watt then admitted to possession of a small amount of marijuana and a pipe that
were located in his car. It took approximately seven minutes from first contact with Watt for the
drug dog to arrive.
       Watt was cited for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. Watt filed a motion to
suppress evidence, arguing the deputy lacked reasonable suspicion to justify a detention to
continue a drug investigation. The magistrate denied the motion. Watt entered a conditional
guilty plea to both charges, reserving the right to appeal. The district court, sitting in its
intermediate appellate capacity, affirmed the magistrate’s denial of Watt’s motion to suppress.
Watt timely appeals.
                                                 II.
                                            ANALYSIS
       When reviewing the decision of a district court sitting in its appellate capacity, our
standard of review is the same as expressed by the Idaho Supreme Court:
       The Supreme Court reviews the trial court (magistrate) record to determine
       whether there is substantial and competent evidence to support the magistrate’s
       findings of fact and whether the magistrate’s conclusions of law follow from
       those findings. If those findings are so supported and the conclusions follow
       therefrom and if the district court affirmed the magistrate’s decision, we affirm
       the district court’s decision as a matter of procedure.

Pelayo v. Pelayo, 154 Idaho 855, 858-59, 303 P.3d 214, 217-18 (2013) (quoting Bailey v. Bailey,
153 Idaho 526, 529, 284 P.3d 970, 973 (2012)). Thus, the appellate courts do not review the

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decision of the magistrate court. Bailey, 153 Idaho at 529, 284 P.3d at 973. Rather, we are
procedurally bound to affirm or reverse the decisions of the district court. State v. Korn, 148
Idaho 413, 415 n.1, 224 P.3d 480, 482 n.1 (2009). 1
       The standard of review of a suppression motion is bifurcated. When a decision on a
motion to suppress is challenged, we accept the trial court’s findings of fact that are supported by
substantial evidence, but we freely review the application of constitutional principles to the facts
as found. State v. Atkinson, 128 Idaho 559, 561, 916 P.2d 1284, 1286 (Ct. App. 1996). At a
suppression hearing, the power to assess the credibility of witnesses, resolve factual conflicts,
weigh evidence, and draw factual inferences is vested in the trial court. State v. Valdez-Molina,
127 Idaho 102, 106, 897 P.2d 993, 997 (1995); State v. Schevers, 132 Idaho 786, 789, 979 P.2d
659, 662 (Ct. App. 1999).
A.     Reasonable Suspicion
       Watt argues the deputy lacked reasonable suspicion to detain him beyond the initial
encounter.   The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and its counterpart,
Article I, Section 17 of the Idaho Constitution, guarantee the right of every citizen to be free
from unreasonable searches and seizures.       Under the Fourth Amendment, an investigative
detention is a permissible seizure if it is based on specific articulable facts which justify
suspicion that the detained person is, has been, or is about to be, engaged in criminal activity. 2
Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 26 (1968); State v. Sheldon, 139 Idaho 980, 983, 88 P.3d 1220, 1223
(Ct. App. 2003).     The quantity and quality of information necessary to create reasonable
suspicion for such a “Terry stop” is less than that necessary to establish probable cause, Alabama

1
         Watt claims the State “asks this Court to apply an incorrect standard of review and to
improperly rubber stamp the district court’s decision as a matter of procedure.” (Emphasis
removed.) Watt also claims that the State attempts to “cloud” the issue by arguing the incorrect
standard. However, the State properly identified the standard of review, as articulated in Pelayo
v. Pelayo, 154 Idaho 855, 303 P.3d 214 (2013), for when an appellate court reviews a decision of
a district court sitting in its appellate capacity. Watt’s claims are meritless.
2
        Although Watt contends that both constitutions were violated, he provides no cogent
reason why Article I, Section 17 of the Idaho Constitution should be applied differently than the
Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution in this case. While Watt correctly asserts
that, under certain circumstances, the Idaho Constitution may provide more protection than the
United States Constitution, he presents no basis for doing so in this case. Therefore, the Court
will rely on judicial interpretation of the Fourth Amendment in its analysis of Watt’s claims. See
State v. Schaffer, 133 Idaho 126, 130, 982 P.2d 961, 965 (Ct. App. 1999).

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v. White, 496 U.S. 325, 330 (1990) and State v. Bishop, 146 Idaho 804, 811, 203 P.3d 1203, 1210
(2009), but must be more than a mere hunch or unparticularized suspicion. Terry, 392 U.S.
at 27. The justification for an investigative detention is evaluated upon the totality of the
circumstances then known to the officer. Sheldon, 139 Idaho at 983, 88 P.3d at 1223. Further, to
meet the constitutional standard of reasonableness, an investigative detention must not only be
justified by reasonable suspicion, but must also be reasonably related in scope to the
circumstances that justified the stop in the first place. Id.
       However, not all encounters between the police and citizens involve the seizure of a
person. Terry, 392 U.S. at 19 n.16; State v. Jordan, 122 Idaho 771, 772, 839 P.2d 38, 39 (Ct.
App. 1992). Only when an officer, by means of physical force or show of authority, restrains the
liberty of a citizen may a court conclude that a seizure has occurred. State v. Fry, 122 Idaho 100,
102, 831 P.2d 942, 944 (Ct. App. 1991). A seizure does not occur simply because a police
officer approaches an individual on the street or other public place, asks if the individual is
willing to answer some questions, or puts forth questions if the individual is willing to listen.
Florida v. Bostick, 501 U.S. 429, 434 (1991); Florida v. Royer, 460 U.S. 491, 497 (1983).
       Watt does not dispute that the initial encounter was consensual in nature when the deputy
approached him and began asking him questions. Instead, Watt argues that the deputy lacked
reasonable suspicion to detain him at the point when the deputy took his driver’s license. The
State does not contend that Watt was not seized, but that the seizure was justified by reasonable
suspicion. The district court agreed with the magistrate’s conclusion that reasonable suspicion
existed based on the evidence showing Watt may have been under the influence of intoxicants.
This Court has previously indicated that an individual’s bloodshot and glassy eyes would not,
standing alone, provide reasonable suspicion of intoxication. See State v. Perez-Jungo, 156
Idaho 609, 616, 329 P.3d 391, 398 (Ct. App. 2014) (“Indeed, few additional facts are needed
beyond bloodshot and glassy eyes to provide reasonable suspicion of impaired driving or illegal
drug activity.”); see also State v. Grigg, 149 Idaho 361, 364, 233 P.3d 1283, 1286 (Ct. App.
2010). However, here, the deputy possessed sufficient other information to allow the deputy to
make a determination of whether Watt was under the influence. See Grigg, 149 Idaho at 363,
233 P.3d at 1285 (holding reasonable suspicion existed where the “officer testified that, based on
his training and experience, glassy bloodshot eyes, eye twitching, and reddening of the
conjunctiva are indicators of alcohol or drug use”).

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        The deputy testified that he had received training in drug recognition and DUI, and had
field experience in making these observations through his thirteen years of experience. The
deputy observed that Watt’s eyes were dilated, bloodshot, and watery. Additionally, Watt’s eyes
did not respond to the light coming from the deputy’s flashlight. The deputy confirmed that
Watt was not taking prescription medications and he did not smell of alcohol. Based on the
totality of circumstances, the deputy possessed reasonable suspicion to detain Watt to determine
if he was under the influence of a controlled substance. 3 Considering that Watt informed the
deputy he planned to continue to drive to a friend’s house, the deputy could lawfully pursue a
limited investigation into whether Watt had been or would be driving under the influence.
B.      Scope of the Investigation
        Watt also argues the stop was unlawfully extended. An investigative detention must be
temporary and last no longer than necessary to effectuate the purpose of the stop. State v. Roe,
140 Idaho 176, 181, 90 P.3d 926, 931 (Ct. App. 2004); State v. Gutierrez, 137 Idaho 647, 651, 51
P.3d 461, 465 (Ct. App. 2002). There is no rigid time limit for determining when a detention has
lasted longer than necessary; rather, a court must consider the scope of the detention and the law
enforcement purposes to be served, as well as the duration of the stop. United States v. Sharpe,
470 U.S. 675, 685-86 (1985). Where a person is detained, the scope of detention must be
carefully tailored to its underlying justification. Roe, 140 Idaho at 181, 90 P.3d at 931; State v.
Parkinson, 135 Idaho 357, 361, 17 P.3d 301, 305 (Ct. App. 2000). The scope of the intrusion
permitted will vary to some extent with the particular facts and circumstances of each case. State
v. Ramirez, 145 Idaho 886, 889, 187 P.3d 1261, 1264 (Ct. App. 2008). However, brief inquiries
not otherwise related to the initial purpose of the stop do not necessarily violate a detainee’s
Fourth Amendment rights. Roe, 140 Idaho at 181, 90 P.3d at 931.
        Watt argues that after the officer returned with his license, the officer conducted three
tests that are not part of the standard DUI field sobriety tests as a stall tactic in order to allow the
drug dog to arrive. First, the deputy testified he measured the pupil change when exposed to
light. Second, the deputy had Watt perform a “Romberg stand test,” which is designed to

3
       Watt offered various innocent explanations explaining why the evidence could show
things other than intoxication. However, when taken together, facts susceptible to innocent
explanations separately may still warrant further investigation. See State v. Brumfield, 136 Idaho
913, 917, 42 P.3d 706, 710 (Ct. App. 2001).

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measure an individual’s perception of time. The officer testified that individuals under the
influence of a controlled substance will not be able to accurately estimate the passage of time.
Watt estimated thirty seconds elapsed, when only twenty seconds had elapsed. The deputy also
observed distinct eye tremors in Watt’s eyes. Finally, the deputy checked Watt’s pulse. Watt
does not explain why these tests were inappropriate for determining whether he was under the
influence, other than to explain that the tests are not part of the standard field sobriety tests
(horizontal gaze nystagmus, walk and turn, and one-leg stand), and “two of the offered ‘tests’
were not tests and were the subjective measuring of a pupil and a pulse.” The magistrate
implicitly accepted the deputy’s explanation of the tests when finding that the results of these
tests supported continued detention.      Given the deputy’s thirteen years of experience in
conducting DUI and drug investigations, the magistrate’s conclusion is supported by substantial
evidence in the record. Thus, the deputy’s use of these tests did not fall outside the scope of the
limited investigation into whether Watt was under the influence. 4
       Watt also argues that this case is similar to State v. Aguirre, 141 Idaho 560, 112 P.3d 848
(Ct. App. 2005). In that case, officers stopped Aguirre for failing to stop when entering the
roadway. By the time officers stopped Aguirre, they had already checked for warrants and were
given other pertinent information from dispatch. Upon informing Aguirre of the purpose of the
stop, the officers obtained Aguirre’s license and registration. However, instead of pursuing the
issuance of the citation, the officer asked if anything illegal was in the vehicle and asked for
consent to search. When denied consent, the officer employed a drug dog around the vehicle.
Though other officers were on scene, none of the officers continued the initial purpose of the
stop; rather, the officers all pursued the drug investigation. This Court noted that the “purpose
that justified the stop--the issuance of a traffic citation--was immediately abandoned.” Id. at 564,
112 P.3d at 852. From all this, we held “that the use of the drug dog impermissibly extended the
duration of the detention authorized by Terry.” Id.
       Watt’s reliance on Aguirre is misplaced.         In Aguirre, the officers abandoned the
investigation into the traffic offense to pursue a drug investigation that was not supported by
reasonable suspicion. Here, the only purpose of the detention was the investigation into whether
Watt was under the influence of a controlled substance. Watt characterizes the purpose as an

4
        In addition, Watt presented no evidence or argument that the tests could not provide
indicia of drug use or were otherwise illegitimate.

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inquiry into why he was at the dumpster. However, that encounter was consensual. The
deputy’s only purpose for the detention was the drug investigation, which was supported by
reasonable suspicion.
       Watt also argues his case is analogous to Gutierrez, wherein the initial purpose of the
detention was to issue a warning citation for speeding. However, after the officer issued the
warning citation, and thus concluded the purpose of the stop, the officer asked several questions
relating to drugs, alcohol, and weapons. In reversing the denial of the motion to suppress, this
Court reasoned:
       Although the duration of this questioning was relatively short, lasting sixty to
       ninety seconds, it was nonetheless an unwarranted intrusion upon the vehicle
       occupants’ privacy and liberty. Heeding the Supreme Court’s caution that an
       individual “may not be detained even momentarily without reasonable, objective
       grounds for doing so,” [Florida v. Royer, 460 U.S. 491, 499, 103 S. Ct. 1319,
       1325, 75 L. Ed. 2d 229 (1983)] we conclude that the detention of Cheek and his
       passengers beyond the point when the warning was issued was unlawful.

Gutierrez, 137 Idaho at 652, 51 P.3d at 466 (footnote omitted).
       Gutierrez is inapposite to Watt’s case. In Gutierrez, the purpose of the investigation
supported by reasonable suspicion had ended, and further detention to allow a drug investigation
was unjustified. Here, the purpose of determining whether Watt was under the influence had not
been dispelled. Upon calling the drug dog, the deputy administered several tests that further
showed Watt may have been under the influence. Watt’s pupils did not respond to light as the
deputy would expect, Watt inaccurately estimated the passage of time, and the deputy observed
tremors in Watt’s eyes. The need to confirm or dispel Watt’s condition continued. The drug dog
arrived shortly before completion of the tests, at which time Watt admitted to possession of
marijuana in his vehicle. At that point, the deputy had probable cause to detain Watt and search
the vehicle. The deputy had reasonable suspicion to conduct a limited investigation into whether
Watt was under the influence. The deputy acted reasonably in carrying out the investigation.
                                               III.
                                        CONCLUSION
       The deputy’s detention of Watt was supported by reasonable suspicion, and the detention
was not unreasonably extended.        Therefore, the district court’s decision affirming the
magistrate’s order is affirmed.
       Chief Judge MELANSON and Judge GUTIERREZ CONCUR.

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