Court Opinion

ID: 9638965
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 16:00:06.631902+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:10:11.013589
License: Public Domain

BIGGS, Chief-Judge
(concurring in part, dissenting in part).
According to the testimony of Narcotic Agent Roder when he and the other narcotic officers, accompanied by two uniformed policemen of the Philadelphia Police Force, arrived at the defendant’s room in the Attacks Hotel they found the door open and a light burning. The defendant and Tucker were inside. The officers walked into the room and Agent Roder and the other narcotic agent showed their credentials to Asendio and Tucker. Roder then informed Asendio that he had reliable information that he [Asendio] and Billie Holliday were in possession of narcotic drugs. Asked if he used narcotic drugs, Asendio denied that he did. Roder further testified he asked Asendio’s permission to make an examination of his arms. Asendio did not, to use the words of the transcript, “deny the examination,” but took off his coat and rolled up his sleeves. Roder testified, “I did not find any marks from the hypodermic needle”, on his arms. Roder stated that he then asked Asendio’s permission to make a search of his room and person. Asendio replied: “Now wait a minute; will you please identify yourself again, who you are.” Roder stated he showed Asendio his commission as a narcotic officer and his shield and that Asendio then said: “Well, that is satisfactory to me. Go ahead and make a search.” The search and seizure immediately followed. The testimony of the other narcotic agent corroborated Roder.
The law is clear that the right guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution to the people against unreasonable searches and seizures is a privilege and immunity personal to the individual which may be waived by the individual’s consent, if given voluntarily. See Davis v. United States, 328 U.S. 582, 593, 594, 66 S.Ct. 1256, 90 L.Ed. 1453; Ingram v. United States, 9 Cir., 113 F.2d 966; Grainger v. United States, 4 Cir., 158 F.2d 236; Grice v. United States, 4 Cir., 146 F.2d 849; In re Fried, 2 Cir., 161 F.2d 453, 1 A.L.R.2d 996; 47 Amer.Jur., Searches and Seizures, Section 71. Whether, in the case at bar, Asendio voluntarily consented to the search of his hotel room by the narcotic agents, thereby waiving his constitutional right, is a question of fact, which the court below, on remand, specifically should find under the circumstances of the instant case. See Rule 23(c), Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Cf. Davis v. United States, supra, 328 U.S. 582, at pages 587, 593, 66 S.Ct. 1256, 90 L.Ed. 1453; In re Fried, supra, 2 Cir., 161 F.2d 453, at page 457, 1 A.L.R.2d 996.
The majority opinion takes the view that Asendio’s consent is not an issue. I think that this position is erroneous for, as indicated in the preceding paragraph, he could have waived his constitutional right.
I conclude that the judgment of the court below should be vacated and the cause remanded to the end that the trial court may *126make the special finding referred, to. A full-dress new trial is unnecessary. If the trial court finds that Asendio voluntarily consented to search by the narcotic agents, the court below could enter judgment against Asendio as before. If the court were to find that he had not voluntarily consented to the search it should enter judgment of acquittal.