Court Opinion

ID: 4564396
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-09-10 16:10:19.388476+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:34:36.057033
License: Public Domain

J. S23045/20

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION – SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA             :     IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                         :           PENNSYLVANIA
                   v.                    :
                                         :
LAURANCE ANTHONY BROWN,                  :          No. 3435 EDA 2018
                                         :
                        Appellant        :

     Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered February 1, 2018,
          in the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County
             Criminal Division at No. CP-46-CR-0004086-2016

BEFORE: NICHOLS, J., McCAFFERY, J., AND FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E.

MEMORANDUM BY FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E.:              Filed: September 10, 2020

      Laurance Anthony Brown appeals from the February 1, 2018 aggregate

judgment of sentence of two and one-half to five years’ imprisonment imposed

after he was found guilty in a bench trial of two counts of possession of a

firearm with altered manufacturer’s number, and one count each of criminal

use of communication facility (“CUCF”), possession with intent to distribute a

controlled substance (“PWID”), possession of a controlled substance, and

possession of drug paraphernalia.1      After careful review, we affirm the

judgment of sentence.

      The lengthy factual history of this case was set forth by the trial court

in its June 25, 2019 opinion and we need not reiterate it here. (See trial court

118 Pa.C.S.A. §§ 6110.2(a), 7512(a), and 35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(30), (a)(16),
and (a)(32), respectively.
J. S23045/20

opinion, 6/25/19 at 1-11.) Appellant was charged with a litany of firearm and

drug-related offenses following the February 2016 search of his person,

vehicle, and residence by members of the Lower Merion Township Police

Department. On November 10, 2016, appellant filed an omnibus pre-trial

motion to suppress all the physical evidence seized as a result of these

searches. An evidentiary hearing was held on appellant’s suppression motion

on July 24 and 25, 2017. On September 21, 2017, the suppression court

denied appellant’s suppression motion by issuing findings of fact and

conclusions of law on the record. Thereafter, appellant waived his right to a

jury and proceeded to a stipulated bench trial on December 6, 2017. As noted,

the trial court found appellant guilty of two counts of possession of a firearm

with altered manufacturer’s number, and one count each of CUCF, PWID,

possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

On February 1, 2018, the trial court sentenced appellant to two and one-half

to five years’ imprisonment.     Appellant filed a post-sentence motion for

reconsideration of sentence that was denied by the trial court on March 13,

2018. Following the reinstatement of his direct appeal rights nunc pro tunc,

this timely appeal followed on November 21, 2018.2

2 On November 26, 2018, the trial court ordered appellant to file a concise
statement of errors complained of on appeal, in accordance with
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b). Appellant filed a timely, albeit lengthy, Rule 1925(b)
statement on November 30, 2018. On June 25, 2019, the trial court filed its
Rule 1925(a) opinion.

                                     -2-
J. S23045/20

     Appellant raises the following eight claims of suppression court error for

our review:

              1.     Did the suppression court err in holding that the
                     Commonwealth presented sufficient evidence
                     that [a]ppellant was not subject to an unlawful
                     custodial detention lacking probable cause when
                     he was interrogated and marijuana, keys, a
                     cellphone, and a wallet were removed from his
                     person?

              2.     Did the suppression court err in holding that the
                     Commonwealth presented sufficient evidence
                     that [a]ppellant was not subject to an unlawful
                     investigative detention lacking reasonable
                     suspicion when he was interrogated and
                     marijuana, keys, a cellphone, and a wallet were
                     removed from his person?

              3.     Did the suppression court err in holding that the
                     Commonwealth presented sufficient evidence
                     that [a]ppellant gave valid consent prior to the
                     search of his vehicle when he was unduly
                     coerced by the circumstances of the encounter?

              [4].   Likewise, did the suppression court err in
                     holding that the Commonwealth presented
                     sufficient evidence that [a]ppellant gave valid
                     consent prior to the search of his home when he
                     was unduly coerced by the circumstances of the
                     encounter?

              [5].   Did the suppression court err in holding that the
                     Commonwealth presented sufficient evidence
                     that [a]ppellant’s consent to search extended to
                     items that were recovered from inside a locked
                     box inside of his vehicle?

              [6].   Did the suppression court err in denying the
                     motion to suppress all evidence seized from
                     Philadelphia County where law enforcement
                     officers violated the Municipal Police Jurisdiction
                     Act [(“MPJA”), 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 8953]?

                                        -3-
J. S23045/20

            [7].   Did the suppression court err in denying the
                   motion to suppress statements made regarding
                   [a]ppellant’s cell phone password and any
                   evidence located within the cell phone after an
                   unlawful search of the phone while transporting
                   [a]ppellant to Philadelphia[?]

            [8].   Did the suppression court err in denying the
                   motion to suppress statements to law
                   enforcement during the course of the encounter
                   as involuntary?

Appellant’s brief at 5-6.3

      Our standard of review when addressing a challenge to a denial of a

suppression motion is well settled.

            [Our] standard of review in addressing a challenge to
            the denial of a suppression motion is limited to
            determining whether the suppression court’s factual
            findings are supported by the record and whether the
            legal conclusions drawn from those facts are correct.
            Because the Commonwealth prevailed before the
            suppression court, we may consider only the evidence
            of the Commonwealth and so much of the evidence
            for the defense as remains uncontradicted when read
            in the context of the record as a whole. Where the
            suppression court’s factual findings are supported by
            the record, [the appellate court is] bound by [those]
            findings and may reverse only if the court’s legal
            conclusions are erroneous.

Commonwealth v. Jones, 121 A.3d 524, 526 (Pa.Super. 2015) (citation

omitted; brackets in original), appeal denied, 135 A.3d 584 (Pa. 2016).

3 For the ease of our discussion, we have elected to renumber some of
appellant’s issues.

                                      -4-
J. S23045/20

      Following a thorough review of the record, including the briefs of the

parties, the applicable law, and the well-reasoned opinion of the trial court, it

is our determination that appellant’s claims warrant no relief. The trial court

authored a comprehensive, 34-page opinion wherein it thoroughly discussed

all of the alleged errors of the suppression court. We find that the trial court’s

conclusions are supported by competent evidence and are clearly free of legal

error. Specifically, we agree with the trial court that the police had reasonable

suspicion, based on the totality of the circumstances, to believe that appellant

was the person from whom the confidential informant arranged to purchase

marijuana, sufficient to conduct an investigative detention. (See trial court

opinion, 6/25/19 at 19-20; Issue 2, infra.) Additionally, we agree with the

trial court that the police had probable cause to arrest appellant after he

informed them during the course of their investigation that he had marijuana

on his person. (Id. at 20-21; Issue 1, infra.) We also agree with the trial

court that there is no arguable merit to appellant’s myriad of reasons that his

consent to search his vehicle and home was not voluntary. (Id. at 21-24;

Issues 3-5, infra.) Likewise, the record supports the trial court’s conclusion

that appellant “erroneously alleged that [his] mother gave consent for the

search of the basement[,]” when, in fact, it was appellant’s grandmother, the

homeowner, who consented to the search. (Id. at 25; Issues 3-5, infra.)

Next, we agree with the trial court that the MPJA did not apply to the search

of appellant’s residence because law enforcement’s actions in this matter fell

                                      -5-
J. S23045/20

outside the scope of the MPJA. (Id. at 25-28; Issue 6, infra.)4 We further

agree that the suppression court did not err in denying appellant’s motion to

4We agree with the trial court that Commonwealth v. O’Shea, 567 A.2d
1023 (Pa. 1989), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 881 (1990), is instructive:

           In O'Shea, the court stated

                 we do not believe section 8953 prohibits
                 police officers from leaving their primary
                 jurisdiction to go into other jurisdictions to
                 ask questions therein, or to enter a
                 residence therein upon the consent of its
                 owners (and full disclosure of the officers’
                 purpose) and observe what they observe
                 therein. Such unobtrusive police conduct is
                 outside the scope of section 8953, and is
                 not    illegal.     Any    citizen   of    the
                 Commonwealth could do what Detectives
                 Freeman and Hediger did herein, namely
                 drive to the O’Shea residence, ask them
                 questions, enter their home with their
                 consent and look around. In the absence
                 of explicit legislative directives to the
                 contrary, we will not prohibit police officers
                 from doing that which a private citizen
                 could do.

                 Accordingly, the initial search of the O’Shea
                 residence and seizure of the items viewed
                 in plain sight therein was not illegal under
                 section 8953, nor under the constitutions of
                 this state or of the United States. That
                 warrantless search was reasonable and
                 justified by the freely given and informed
                 consent of the owners of the residence,
                 James and Marion O’Shea, who obviously
                 had authority to show the detectives their
                 gameroom-basement area.

Trial court opinion, 6/25/19 at 27-28, quoting O’Shea, 567 A.2d at
1029-1030.

                                    -6-
J. S23045/20

suppress various statements he voluntarily gave to police at the station. (Id.

at 28-32; Issue 8, infra.)    As recognized by the trial court, appellant’s

statements were gratuitously offered while he was not under custodial

interrogation, or made following a valid waiver of his right to remain silent.

(Id.) Lastly, we agree with the trial court’s conclusion that appellant’s phone

was properly searched pursuant to a valid search warrant supported by

sufficient probable cause. (Id. at 32-33, Issue 7, infra.)

      Based on the foregoing, we discern no error on the part of the

suppression court in denying appellant’s motion to suppress. Accordingly, we

adopt the trial court’s comprehensive June 25, 2019 opinion as our own for

purposes of appellate review of appellant’s claims.

      Judgment of sentence affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 9/10/20

                                     -7-
                                                                            Circulated 08/04/2020 10:24 AM
                                                                 OPINION
                                                 Filed 6/27/2019 11:07:00 AM Superior Court Eastern District
                                                                                           3435 EDA 2018

      IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
                          PENNSYLVANIA
                        CRIMINAL DIVISION

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA               : I                  NO. 4086-16
                                                                                                   ,:;-,,
              V.                           : I
                                           • I                  3435 EDA 2018

LAURANCE BROWN

                                   OPINION
O'Neill, J.

      The Defendant, Laurance Brown, appeals from the judgment of sentence

entered on February 1, 2018, as made final by the denial of his post-sentence

motion on March 13, 2018. For the reasons set forth below, the judgment of

sentence should be affirmed.

      I.      Facts and Procedural History
                                             I

      Detective Cameron Parker testified that early in the month of February

2016, a confidential informant approached him and offered to set up a

purchase of marijuana. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 11; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 7. On

February 10, 2016, the informant texted Detective Parker and indicted that

they had arranged a deal with "L.B.," for a quarter pound of marijuana.' Id.

The transaction was arranged for February 11, 2016 between 11 a.m. and 2

p.m. at the Haverford Gable Apartments, in Haverford, Montgomery County

located at 312 W. Montgomery Avenue. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 12; N.T. Sept. 21,

201 7 at 7. The informant could only descri9e the seller as a black male in his
                                                 '

20s who went by "L.B." N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 12; N .T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 3.
      On the morning of February 11, 20161 Detective Parker directed several
                                             I

law enforcement officers to establish surveillance in the area near the

Haverford Gables Apartments. N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 4. Detective Walter Kerr

and his team were in the parking lot of the 1djacent Haverford House
                                              I
Apartments located at 302 W. Montgomery tvenue. Id. Detective Kerr and his
                                              '
team had a full view of Haverford Gables. N1.T. Jul. 24, 2017 at 13; N.T. Sept.

21, 2017 at 4. Detective Parker stayed with! the informant in the vestibule of

the Haverford Gables Apartments. Id.      During the operation, the informant

and L.B. were in continuous communicatiori via text message, which Detective
                                              I

Parker observed. N.T. Jul. 24, 2017 at 14; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 7. L.B. told
                                              '

the informant when he arrived at the locatio'n. Id. Detective Parker relayed
                                             ' -
that information to the surveillance officers. Id.

      At approximately 1 :30 p.m., Detective Parker radioed to the surveillance

team that L.B. texted the confidential inforrriant that he was arriving and was
                                                  I
                                                  I
in the parking lot. N.T. Jul. 24, 2017 at 13; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 7. The
                                           '
surveillance team observed a dark Chrysler 300 pull into the parking lot of the

Haverford House Apartments. N.T. Jul. 24, 2017 at 14, 28; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017

at 4. The driver was the only passenger in the car. N.T. Jul. 24, 2017 at 14.
                                                  '

The driver exited the car and began to walk kround the parking lot as if he
                                                  I

were looking for someone. Id. He fit the description of the seller-a young black
                                                  I
male in his 20s. N.T. Jul. 24, 2017 at 14-15; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 4.

Detective Kerr identified Laurance Brown as the driver. N.T. Jul. 24, 2017 at

                                         2
14. The driver of the car began to walk toward the location arranged by the

confidential informant. N.T. Jul. 24, 2017 at 15; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 4.

      At this point, Detective Kerr, Officer Turek, Officer Larosa and a second

detective on surveillance decided to approach the Defendant. N.T. Jul. 24,

2017 at 15; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 4.   Officer Turek was in full uniform;

Detective Kerr wore a jacket identifying him as police. N.T. Jul. 24, 2017 at 17;

N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 5. As they approached the Defendant, Detective Kerr

had his gun drawn, pointing down at the side of his leg. N.T. Jul. 24, 2017 at

17.   Officer Turek was wearing an AR-15 rifle in a sling across the front of his

body. N.T. Jul. 24, 2017 at 17; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 5. Neither Kerr nor

Turek pointed their weapons at the Defendant. N.T. Jul. 24, 2017 at 17; N.T.

Sept. 21, 2017 at 5. The other officers checked the car for additional

occupants. N.T. Jul. 24, 2017 at 17.

      Officer Turek asked the Defendant if he was L.B., to which the Defendant

responded, "yes." N.T. Jul. 24, 2017 at 17; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 5. Detective

Kerr explained that they were detectives and asked the Defendant if he had

anything on him that he should not have. N.T. Jul. 24, 2017 at 18; N.T. Sept.

21, 2017 at 5. The Defendant indicated that he had an ounce of marijuana in

his coat pocket. Id. For officer safety, Kerr continued to ask the Defendant if

he had any weapons or anything that could harm officers on his person. Id.

Detective Kerr explained to the Defendant what was going to happen, reached

into his pocket and removed the marijuana. N.T. Jul. 24, 2017 at 19; N.T.

Sept. 21, 2017 at 5. Detective Kerr also removed the Defendant's keys, cell

                                        3
phone and wallet from his pockets. N.T. JuH 24, 2017 at 34; N.T. Sept. 21,

2017 at 5.

      Detective Kerr took the Defendant to the car that they had been in during
                                             '
the surveillance and asked him to wait in tHe backseat to await Detective

Parker's arrival.I N.T. Jul. 24, 2017 at 19; N.T. Sept. 21, 201 7 at 5. Detective

Kerr got into the backseat with the Defendant and continued to speak to him.

N.T. Jul. 24, 2017 at 19. He asked him basic demographic questions and did

not question him about the case. N.T. Jul. ?4, 2017 at 39; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017

at 6. The Defendant was never handcuffed during this interaction; the car
                                             I
doors were not locked and the Tahoe was ncit a police vehicle. N.T. Jul. 24,

2017 at 19, 34; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 5. However, Detective Kerr testified that

the Defendant was detained at that point. N.T. Jul. 24, 2017 at 35; N.T. Sept.
                                                 '

21, 2017 at 6. None of the law enforcement officers present during this part of

the investigation ever raised their voices or threatened the Defendant. N.T. Jul.

24, 2017 at 21.

      Detective Parker arrived at the scene; he was dressed in casual clothing

with a police jacket. N.T. Jul. 24, 2017 at 20; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 5.

Detective Parker never drew his gun or pointed a gun at the Defendant. Id.

Detective Parker got into the car with the Defendant and introduced himself

and explained they were investigating drug activity in the area. N.T. Jul. 25,
                                                     !

'Detective Parker removed the informant from the location and ultimately went
to the location where Detective Kerr's team had detained the Defendant. N.T.
Jul 25, 2017 at 14; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 7.

                                        4
                                             I

                                             I

                                             I
                                             •
                                             I
                                           '
2017 at 15; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 8. The Defendant was not handcuffed. Id.
                                             '

There were no marked vehicles in the area Jnd no vehicles activated their lights
                                             'i
and sirens. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 16; N .T. S¢pt. 21, 2017 at 8. Detective

Parker asked the Defendant about the marijuana that Detective Kerr recovered

from his person. Id. Detective Parker asked the Defendant for permission to

search his car because the amount of marijuana recovered from the Defendant

was substantially less than the amount the informant arranged to purchase.

N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 16, 18; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 8.      The Defendant

consented to the search of his car and exec1!lted a consent to search from. N.T.
                                             I
Jul. 25, 2017 at 18; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 8.       Detective Parker explained to
                                             I

the Defendant that he had the right to refu~e the search. Id. The Defendant

asked Detective Parker what would happen if he refused, Parker told him they
                                             '
                                             i
would decide whether to impound the car a~d apply for a search warrant. Id.
                                             '
The Defendant consented and signed the co~sent to search form. Id.; Exhibit
                                             '
CS-1.   At the time he consented to the search, he was not under the influence

of any intoxicants or mental illness or distress. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 19; N.T.

Sept. 21, 2017 at 8.   Detective Parker testified that in his training and

experience, the Defendant voluntarily consented to the search of his car. Id.

Throughout their interaction, Detective Parker maintained a conversational

tone of voice and did not raise his voice or n\.ake any threats or promises to

obtain consent. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 20. dmcers searched the Defendant's
                        .                        I

car and recovered four sealed bags of marijuana from a locked box in the trunk

                                         5
that the Defendant's keys were used to open. N.T. Jul. 21, 2017 at 21; N.T.

Sept. 21, 2017 at 9.

      Knowing that drug traffickers typically have a base of operations,

Detective Parker asked the Defendant if there were any additional drugs or

anything related to his sale of marijuana in his home.    N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at

21-22; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 9. Prior to inquiring about any additional drugs

in his home, Detective Parker verbally advised the Defendant of his Miranda2

rights. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 22; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 9.    At that point, the

Defendant indicated that he had some marijuana and packaging materials in

his home. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 23; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 9.     Detective Parker

asked the Defendant if he could accompany him to the home to retrieve the

items. Id. Detective Parker told the Defendant that they would only retrieve

the items; the Defendant lived with his mother and grandmother in a home

owned by his grandmother. Id.      Detective Parker did not make any threats or

promises to induce the Defendant to take them to his home in Philadelphia.

N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 24; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 9. At the time the Defendant

consented to accompany Detective Parker to his home, Detective Parker added

the Defendant's bedroom in the home to the consent to search form. N.T. Jul.

25, 2017 at 25; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 10. Detective Parker did not have the

Defendant sign the form or initial after this addition. Id.   After the Defendant

consented to a search of his bedroom, Detective Parker and the Defendant got

into the back of an unmarked detective's car. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 26; N.T.

2 Miranda   v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966).
                                         6
Sept. 21, 2017 at 10. The Defendant walked himself to the unmarked car and

was not handcuffed during that walk or during the drive to Philadelphia. Id.
                                             '

Detective Parker sat in the back seat with him. Id. The car was an unmarked

sedan that did not have a cage and the doors were not locked. N.T. Jul. 25,

2017 at 85.

      During the drive, Detective Parker initially agreed that the Defendant

could call the home to let his mother know they were on their way. N.T. Jul.

25, 2017 at 27; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 10. The Defendant provided Detective

Parker with the passcode to unlock his phone. Id.    While Detective Parker did

unlock the phone before deciding against the call, he did not look at any of the

phone's contents. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 28; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 10. They

arrived at the home approximately ten minutes later. Id.

      Upon arriving at the home, Detective Harker spoke with the Defendant's

mother at the front door and told her that they were there to retrieve drug

related items with the Defendant's permission. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 28-29;

N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 10. The Defendant's mother invited them in to.the

home.' N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 30; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 10. They did not search

the first floor. N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 10. The Defendant was present and was

not handcuffed. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 30; Nil'. Sept. 21, 2017 at 10.

      Detective Parker further explained to the Defendant's mother that the

Defendant told them there was additional marijuana and some paraphernalia

in his bedroom that they sought to retrieve; he told her they did not intend to

search her whole house. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 32; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 11.

                                        7
The Defendant led Parker to a second floor bedroom. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 33;

N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 11. The Defendant went in and moved a few things

around in the room; Defendant manipulated items while Parker observed. Id.

The Defendant could not find anything in his room; he indicated maybe it was

in the study downstairs. Id. The Defendant was leading Detective Parker

around the house, the other officers remained on the first floor. Id. There was

nothing in study, the Defendant opined that perhaps his brother had taken it.

Id.   At this point, Parker asked what was going on and told the Defendant to

stop playing games. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 34; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 11. The

Defendant swore that the items had been in his bedroom but now they were

gone. Id.

      As Detective Parker was preparing to leave the home and return to the

police station, he asked the Defendant's grandmother, the homeowner, if the

home had a basement. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 35; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 11.

She said that it did and Detective Parker asked her if they could check to make

sure there was nothing illegal in the basement. Id. She consented; there was

no evidence that she was under influence or in mental distress. Id.   The

Defendant was present at this time and did not say anything when she

consented to the search of the basement. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 36; N.T.Sept.

21, 2017 at 11. Two officers went down to the basement, Detective Parker

remained on the first floor with the Defendant's mother and grandmother. N.T.

Jul. 25, 2017 at 35; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 12. One of the officers returned and

asked Detective Parker to come to the basement. Id.

                                       8
      Detective Parker went down to the basement where he found a section of

the basement that was set up like a bedroom. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 36; N.T.

Sept. 21, 201 7 at 12. From where he was standing, Detective Parker could see
                                             I

                                             i
additional marijuana packaging material in 'plain view. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at
                                             I

37; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 12.   Detective Patker returned the first floor of the

home where the Defendant's grandmother confirmed that the Defendant

sometimes used the basement as his bedroom. Id. Detective Parker then

asked the Defendant if that was his bedroom; the Defendant confirmed that he

sometimes stayed down there. Id.

      Detective Parker asked the Defendant'for consent to search the

basement. Id. He told the Defendant and his family that they could refuse and

that if they refused Detective Parker would stay as long as it took for
                                                 I

Philadelphia or the State Police to get a warrtant. Id. The Defendant's
                                                 '

grandmother indicated that she wanted the things out of the house. N.T. Jul.
                                            '
25, 2017 at 37; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 12. At that point, the Defendant

consented to a search of the basement. Id.               Detective Parker added the

basement to consent form. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 38; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 12.

The Defendant signed and initialed the form before the search. Id.
                                                 I                             Detective
                                                 '

Parker's tone remained conversational and he did not make any threats to

obtain consent; the Defendant was never handcuffed. Id.

      After obtaining consent to search the basement, Detective Parker, Officer

Garner and the Defendant went into the basement. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 40;
                                                     I

N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 13. A search of the area uncovered, approximately 70

                                        9
plastic jars containing 1 /2-1 gram of marijuana, unopened cases of bottles,

packaging, 2 guns, vacusealed bags of marijuana labeled by strain, and

currency. Id. The items were collected and taken into evidence. N.T. Jul. 25,

2017 at 45; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 13.    Detective Parker and the other officers

returned to the police station with the Deferidant. Id.

      While law enforcement was inside thel home, the Defendant's phone

remained in the unmarked vehicle in which he was driven to the home. N.T.
                                              1

                                              '

Jul. 25, 2017 at 39. No one accessed the plane or got it out of the car. Id.
                                              I
                                              '
This Court found, specifically, that there wa!s no search of the Defendant's
                                              '

                                              !

phone. N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 21.

      Once they returned to the station, Detective Parker readvised the
                                              I

Defendant of his Miranda rights and had hiin sign a Constitutional rights form.
                                              I

N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 46; Exhibit CS-9; N .T. 1Sept. 21, 2017 at 13. After
                                              I
                                              I

reviewing the form with the Defendant, Detective Parker instructed the

Defendant to read a sentence out loud to en;,ure that he was following along

and understood the form. N.T. Jul. 25, 201!7 at 47-48. The Defendant initialed
                                              '

the sentence that he read aloud. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 48. He indicated "yes"

on the form when asked if he understood his constitutional rights. Id.       He

also wrote "yes" when asked if he was still willing to speak to law enforcement

and to give a voluntary statement. N.T. Jul.125, 2017 at 48; N.T. Sept. 21,
                                              I

2017 at 13.

      The statement began at 4:20 p.m. anc\ concluded at 5:08 p.m. Exhibit

CS-10. The interview took place in a room riext to the booking room at the

                                         10
Lower Merion Police station. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 54; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at

13. The door was closed to allow for privacy. Id.   Detective Parker's tone

remained conversational throughout his entire interaction with the Defendant.

N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 55; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 14.

      The Defendant was not confrontational or argumentative. N.T. Jul. 25,

2017 at 54; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 14. He was not happy to be at the police

station, but he never refused to answer any Iquestions. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at

55; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 14. The Defendant chose to give a statement to

police about the drugs and guns recovered. Id. He never indicated that the

wanted to stop talking to police. Id. He never asked for an attorney. Id. The

Defendant was awake and alert during his statement. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at

55-56; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 14. The Defendant appeared to understand what

he was doing. Id. The Defendant initialed next to most, if not all, of the

questions on his written statement and sign;ed the bottom of each page.      N.T.
                                             I

Jul. 25, 2017 at 56.

      On March 22, 2017, Detective Parker applied for a search warrant for the
                                             '
Defendant's cell phone. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 62; N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 14. At

the time of Defendant's arrest on February 11, 2016, the Defendant's phone

was taken in to police custody where it remained. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 65;

N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 14. At .the time of the search warrant, Detective Parker
                                             I

believed the contents of the phone would still be in existence as the device was

placed in airplane mode. Id. In airplane mode, the phone cannot be accessed

remotely. Id.

                                       11
        The Defendant and his mother both tbstified at the Suppression Hearing.

They presented a version of events that this:Court did not find credible. N.T.
                                                I

Sept. 21, 2017 15-18, 20.

        The Defendant was charged with seven firearm and drug related charges.
                                                I

Following a suppression hearing on July 24~and 25, 2017, this Court denied
                                                I
the Defendant's Motion to Suppress by issuing findings of fact and conclusions

of law on the record on September 21, 2017; Thereafter, the Defendant
                                                    '

proceeded to a stipulated bench trial on December 6, 2017 and was convicted

of two counts of Possession of a Firearm with Altered Manufacturer's Number, 3
                                                    '
                                                    '
one count of Criminal use of a Communicatibn Facility, 4 one count of
                                                    i
Possession with the Intent to Deliver, 5 one count of Possession of a Controlled

Substance6 and one count of Possession of Brug Paraphernalia. 7 On February
                                                        '
                                                        I

1, 2018 he was sentenced to two and one hajlf to five years' incarceration in a

State Correctional Institution. The Defendant filed a post sentence motion on

March 1, 2018. This Court denied the Motio~ on March 13, 2018. The

Defendant filed a timely notice of appeal on March 22, 2018. However, counsel

failed to file a docketing statement and the appeal was dismissed.

        On September 5, 2018, the Defendant lfi!ed a PCRA seeking

reinstatement of his direct appeal nunc pro tune, which this Court granted by

order of October 24, 2018. On November 21j 2018, Defendant filed a notice of
                                                            I

3 18   Pa.   C.S.A.   § 6110.2 (a).
4 18   Pa.   C.S.A.   § 7512 (a).
s 35   Pa.   C.S.A.   § 780-113 (a)(30).
6 35   Pa.   C.S.A.   § 780-113 (a)(16).
7 35   Pa.   C.S.A.   § 780-113(a)(32).

                                           12
                                             I

appeal. By Order of November 26, 2018, thi's Court directed the Defendant to
                                             I
                                             I

file a Concise Statement of Errors Complainld of on Appeal. He has since

complied with that directive.

      II.   Issues
                                             I
                                             I
                                             I
The Defendant raises the following issues, reproduced verbatim:
                                             I

      1. The Defendant must be awarded       l
                                            new trial as the trial court
         erred in denying Mr. Brown's niotion to suppress physical
         evidence and statements based on !a lack of probable cause and
         reasonable suspicion to be stopped by the police under the 4 th
                                          '
         and 14 th Amendments of the United    States and Pennsylvania
         Constitutions.

            a. The Defendant's encounter ~ith police 'at Haverford House
               Apartments was so coercive
                                    '        '
                                                as to be the functional
               equivalent of an arrest, and ;therefore the Defendant was
               subject to a custodial detention that required police to
               possess probable cause. Police that stopped Mr. Brown did
               not possess the requisite belief that more likely than not
               the Defendant committed a crime at the point the
               Defendant was approached by five officers, with guns
               drawn, surrounded by multiple unmarked police vehicles,
               placed into handcuffs, physically searched and his
               belongings removed from his person, and instructed to sit
               inside a police vehicle where he was not free to go.

            b. In the alternative, the Defendant's encounter with police at
               Haverford House Apartments was an investigatory
               detention that required police to possess reasonable
               suspicion. Police that stopped Mr. Brown did not possess
               the requisite belief that criminal activity was afoot at the
               point he was approached by five officers, with guns drawn,
               surrounded by multiple unmarked police vehicles, placed
               into handcuffs, physically searched and his belongings
               removed from his person, and sat inside a police vehicle
               where he was not free to go.

                                        13
         c. Police lacked reasonable su~picion and probable cause to
            stop the Defendant. The soly basis for the stop was vagqe
            identifying information that Iwas not corroborated at the
            time that the police conducted the stop. Further, the
            reliance solely on a confidential informant, when the
            information from the confidential information does not
            match law enforcement's observations, is insufficient for
            reasonable suspicion or prooable cause.
                                            I

         d. All physical evidence and s!tatements acquired after the
            initial illegal stop must be· suppressed as fruits of the
            poisonous tree.

2. The Defendant must be awarded :a new trial as the trial court
   erred in denying Mr. Brown's motion to suppress physical
   evidence recovered from his person based on lack of reasonable
     •                                      !

   suspicion and probable cause.            1

         a. Police lacked reasonable suspicion and probable cause to
            search the Defendant's person and recover narcotics.
            There was no evidence that: the search was conducted in
            accordance with the Terry v. ,Ohio standards nor was there
            sufficient probable cause dt the time of the search to
            believe the Defendant had narcotics on his person,-

         b. Police lacked reasonable suspicion and probable cause to
            search the Defendant's person and recover keys, wallet and
            a cell phone. At the time of ithe search there was no basis
            to support these items being removed pursuant to Terry v.
            Ohio nor was there sufficient probable cause at the time of
            the search to believe that the items were connected to
            criminal activity.

3. The Defendant must be awarded :a new trial as the trial court
   erred in denying Mr. Brown's inotion to suppress physical
   evidence recovered in his vehicle based on invalid consent.

         a. Mr. Brown's consent to search was invalid as the consent
            was acquired as a result of coercion and duress. See
            Commonwealth v. Acosta, 815 A.2d 1078 (Pa. Super.
            2003). Mr. Brown's consent to search did not include
                                        !

                                   14
         locked items inside of his vehicle. See Commonwealth v.
         Randolph, 151 A.3d 170 (Pa; Super. 2016).

4. The Defendant must be awarded a new trial as the trial court
   erred in denying Mr. Brown's motion to suppress physical
   evidence recovered in his home.

      a. The police flagrantly violated the MPJA when they searched
                                        1

         and recovered items m the Defendant's home.
         Commonwealth v. Fiume, 292 Pa. Super. 54 (1981). A
         flagrant violation of the MPJA, made not during hot pursuit
         or to effectuate an arrest, necessitates the suppression of
         all physical evidence and ~tatements obtained after the
         illegal police activity outside of the appropriate jurisdiction.

      b. Police did not obtain valid consent to search any part of the
         home, particularly the Defendant's bedroom/basement.
         Mr. Brown's consent to search the bedroom/basement was
         invalid as the consent was acquired as a result of coercion
         or duress. Further, Mr. Brown's consent to search the
         basement was invalidly requested after police had already
         searched the area. Finally, any items recovered in the
         Defendant's home must be suppressed as police
         unconstitutionally accessed and searched, without a
         warrant or consent, the Defendant's phone in order to
         obtain information directing law enforcement to
         contraband in the basement of the Defendant's home.

     c. Nor could did [sic] the Defendant's mother provide a valid
        consent. Ms. Laurie Lindsey's consent to search was
        invalid as she did not have the authority to grant
        permission to search the Defendant's bedroom/basement.
        Ms. Laurie Lindsey's consent to search was invalid as the
        consent was acquired as a result of coercion and duress.

5. The Defendant must be awarded a new trial as the trial court
   erred in denying Mr. Brown's motion to suppress physical
   statements regarding his possession of narcotics, guns and his
   phone passcode

                                  15
a. If the Court believes the Defendant made an admission to
   possessing marijuana on his person during the initial stop
   at Haverford House Apartments in response to an alleged
   question about whether he .had any dangerous items on
   his person, that statement must be suppressed due to lack
   of Miranda warnings, as the questioning done by Detective
   Kerr was designed to elicit an incriminating response and
   the Defendant was the subject of custodial interrogation.

b. If the Court believes that the Defendant made Statements
   to Detective Parker, before, during, and after the vehicle
   search and before, during, and after the search of Mr.
   Brown's home, those statements must be suppressed. The
   statements made by the Defendant regarding any items
   kept at his Philadelphia home must be suppressed due to
   lack of Miranda warnings, as there is no evidence that
   Miranda was given and understood by the Defendant at
   that time.    The statements made by the Defendant
   identifying what rooms and property were his must be
   suppressed due to lack of Miranda warnings, as there is no
   evidence that Miranda was given and understood by the
   Defendant at that time. Finally, the passcode provided by
   the Defendant for his cell phone was illegally obtained and
   must be suppressed since it was obtained without Miranda
   warnings. To the extent that his cellphone was later
   searched using that passcode, any evidence on his phone
   or any evidence recovered based on the content of his
   phone must be suppressed. To the extent that law
   enforcement was able to put the device in "airplane mode"
   pending search warrant, preventing other persons from
   remotely accessing the phone, the contents of the phone
   must be suppressed.

c. The Defendant's statements made to Detective Parker at
   the police station must be suppressed. The Defendant's
   statement was made after an illegal search and arrest and
   must be suppressed.       Additionally, the Defendant's
   statement was made after unknowing and involuntary
   Miranda warnings and therefore must be suppressed.

                          16
                                                                    i
                                                                    I

      6. The Defendant must be awarded ~ new trial as the trial court
         erred in denying the Defendant's m.otion to suppress the physical
         evidence recovered from an invalid! search of the Defendant's cell
         phone.
                                                                I
             a. The Defendant's passcode wls unlawfully obtained without
                Miranda warnings and then iused to manipulate his phone
                prior to the application and 1approval of a search warrant.
                The search warrant for the contents of the phone was
                facially insufficient for a sho,/ving of probable cause and the
                                                                I
                information contained within the search warrant was stale.

      III.   Discussion

      The Court notes preliminarily that pursuant to Pa. R. A. P. 1925 (b)(4)(ii),
                                                            '

a Statement of Errors Complained of on Appeal shall "shall concisely identify

each ruling or error that the appellant inteAds to challenge with sufficient

detail to identify all pertinent issues for th~ judge." (emphasis added). Likewise,

"[t]he Statement should not be redundant dJr provide lengthy explanations as to
                                                        '

any error." 1925 (b)(iv).
                                                        i
      Initially, the Court notes that at the butset of the hearing on his

suppression motion the Defendant indicat~d that he sought to challenge: "the

initial stop, the search of the vehicle, the s~arch of the house on consent
                                                    '
grounds, and the search of the house under violation of the MPJA." N.T. Jul.

25, 2017 at 6. Subsequently, during the hearing on the motion, he indicated
                                                I

that he also wished to challenge the four cprners of the search warrant
                                                i
obtained for his cell phone. N.T. Jul. 25, 2017 at 59. While his concise
                                             I
statement is verbose and redundant and factually incorrect in many instances,

it appears that the Defendant seeks to challenge the same on appeal.
                                            I

                                         171
      Additionally, he has raised, for the first time on appeal, three issues,
                                              I

which this Court submits are waived. First~ he challenges the purported

search of his person which recovered his keys, wallet and cell phone (Concise

Statement Issue 2 (b)); next, he appears to .:\.liege that the passcode to his

phone was illegally obtained without Miranda warnings (Concise Statement

Issue 5(b)) 8 ; finally, he makes an indecipherable claim relating to his phone

being placed in "airplane mode" by police until they obtained a search warrant

(Concise Statement S(b)). None of these claims were made at the hearing on
                                                  I

his written motion, thus constituting waiver'. "Issues not raised in the lower
                                                  I
                                                  '
court are waived and cannot be raised for the first time on appeal." Pa. R.A.P.

302(a). For the reasons set forth below, the iremaining claims are without merit
                                                  '

and must fail.

      The standard of review for the denial of a suppression motion is well
                                                      I

settled. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court hks stated:

      [o]ur standard of review in addressing a challenge to a trial court's
      denial of a suppression motion is limit1yd to determining whether the
      factual findings are supported by the :record and whether the legal
      conclusions drawn from those facts are correct. Since the
      prosecution prevailed in the suppression court, we may consider
      only the evidence of the prosecution and so much of the evidence for
      the defense as remains uncontradicted when read in the context of
      the record as a whole. Where the record supports the factual

'The Court made a specific finding that there was no search of the Defendant's
phone conducted prior to the execution of the search warrant for the phone.
N.T. Sept. 21, 2017 at 21. The only evidence adduced at the suppression
hearing was that the Defendant requested to 1 call his mother when en route to
the home, Detective Parker asked for the passcode to unlock it to make the call
and then changed his mind about making the call. Detective Parker did not
search the phone and the phone remained in' the car during the entire
interaction at the Defendant's residence.    '
                                        18
      findings of the trial court, we are bqund by those facts and may
      reverse only if the legal conclusions drawn therefrom are in error.

Commonwealth v. Bomar, 826 A.2d 831, 84:2 (Pa. 2003) (citing Commonwealth
                                               I
v. Fletcher, 750 A.2d. 261 (Pa. 2007); Commonwealth v. Hall, 701 A.2d 109,
                                               I
                                             '
197 (Pa. 1997), cert. denied, 523 U.S. 1082 ''(1998)).

      1. The initial stop and search of the Defendant was lawful.
             (Concise Statement Issues 1 and 2 (a))

      The Defendant's first contention is that his initial encounter with police

was not supported by reasonable suspicion or probable cause, thus, any

evidence and statements obtained after the illegal stop must be suppressed.

To the extent that the Defendant alleges that his person was searched without

reasonable suspicion or probable cause, this claim was not raised before this

Court, thus constituting waiver. The remaining claims are without merit and

must fail.
                                               '
                                               I

      It is well settled that there are three cltegories of police-citizen
                                               I

interactions,
                                               i
      The first of these is a 'mere encounter' (or request for information)
      which need not be supported by any level of suspicion, but carries
      no official compulsion to stop or to respond. The second, an
      'investigative detention' must be supported by a reasonable
      suspicion; it subjects a suspect to a stop and a period of detention,
      but does not involve such coercive conditions as to constitute the
      functional equivalent of an arrest. Finally, an arrest or 'custodial
      detention' must be supported by probable cause.
                                               Ii
Commonwealth v. Ranson, 103 A.3d 73, 76,77 (Pa. Super. 2014), reargument

denied (Dec. 16, 2014), appeal denied, 117 A.3d 296 (Pa. 2015) (citations

omitted). Furthermore,

                                         19
      [a] police officer may detain an individual in order to conduct an
      investigation if that officer reasonably suspects that the individual
      is engaging in criminal conduct. This 1standard, less stringent than
      probable cause, is commonly known' as reasonable suspicion. In
      order to determine whether the police officer had reasonable
      suspicion, the totality of the circumstances must be considered. In
      making this determination, we must give due weight to the specific
      reasonable inferences the police officer is entitled to draw from the
      facts in light of his experience. Also, the totality of the circumstances
      test does not limit our inquiry to an examination of only those facts
      that clearly indicate criminal conducf Rather, even a combination
      of innocent facts, when taken together, may warrant further
      investigation by the police officer.

Id. at 77. (citations omitted).

      Instantly, while conducting surveillance as a part of a controlled buy

operation, law enforcement received word ttlat the intended target texted the

confidential informant that he had arrived at the designated location. Law

enforcement observed the Defendant to be ihe only person in the area,

additionally, he matched the description of the dealer, identified by the
                                                     '
                                                     I
confidential informant as "L.B."   Police approached him initially to determine if
                                                     '

he was, in fact, L.B.   The Defendant answered affirmatively that he was L.B.

At this point, police had adequate reasonable suspicion to believe that the

Defendant was the person from whom the informant arranged to buy

marijuana. Armed with that suspicion, police lawfully detained the Defendant
                                                 '

to continue that investigation. During the course of that investigation,

Detective Kerr asked the Defendant if he hcfd anything on his person, to which

the Defendant replied that there was an ounce of marijuana in his pocket.
                                                I
Detective Kerr retrieved the marijuana froni his pocket and emptied his

pockets. At that point, police had probable cause to arrest the Defendant for

                                             '
                                        20 '.
                                              I
                                              1
possession of narcotics. Instead, they conti nued their investigation. Thus,

based on the totality of the circumstances, the initial stop of the Defendant was
                                              I
supported by reasonable suspicion and the 'continued investigation was
                                              I

supported by probable cause and this claim! must fail.

      2. The Defendant's consent to search his and his home car was
         validly obtained. (Concise Statetnent Issue 3 and 4 (b) and (cl).
                                                  I

      The Defendant makes multiple contentions related to the consensual
                                                  I

searches of his car and home. First, he allei?;es that the consent to search his

vehicle was coerced and did not include the locked box in his trunk. Next, he
                                                  I

claims that his consent to search his home was coerced and his consent to
                                                      I

search the basement was obtained after the area had already be searched.9

Finally, he claims that his mother did not have the authority to consent to a
                                                      i
search of the basement. He is mistaken.

      Generally, a search without a warrant !is constitutionally impermissible.
                                                          I

However, there are exceptions to the warran _requirement, including a
                                                  7I
consensual search. Commonwealth v. Valdivia, 195 A.3d 855, 861 (Pa., 2018)

To establish a valid consensual search "the Jrosecution must first prove that
                                              I
                                              '
the consent was given during a legal police interaction, or if the consent was
                                                              I

given during an illegal seizure, that it was not a result of the illegal seizure; and

second, that the consent was given voluntariliy." Commonwealth v. Reid, 811
                                              I
A.2d 530, 544 (Pa. 2002) (citations omitted). Validity of consent based on

9 Additionally, he alleges that the basement was searched as a result of a
search of his phone that this Court specifica111/ found did not occur. N.T. Sept.
21, 2017 at 21.                                '
                                         21
totality of circumstances. Id. at 546 (citatioil omitted). "When an official

search is properly authorized, the scope of the search is limited by the terms of

its authorization. The standard for measuring the scope of a person's consent

is based on an objective evaluation of what a reasonable person would have

understood by the exchange between the officer and the person who gave the

consent." Id. at 549 (citations omitted).    The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has
                                               '

declined to adopt per se rule that consent in context of a lawful custodial

detention is involuntary. Commonwealth v .. Mack, 796 A.2d 967 (Pa. 2002).

Statement by police that they would have to get a search warrant is a non-

dispositive factor to consider in the totality of the circumstances to determine if

consent was coerced. Id. "For a finding of voluntariness, the Commonwealth

must establish that the consent given by th.e defendant "is the product of an

essentially free and unconstrained choice - not the result of duress or coercion,

express or implied, or a will overborne - under the totality of the

circumstances." Valdivia, 195 A.3d at 862 (citations omitted).

      First, the Defendant voluntarily consented to the search of his vehicle.

As discussed above, law enforcement legally detained the Defendant prior to

seeking his consent to search his vehicle. Thus, the issue turns on the

voluntariness of his consent. At the time of the consent, Detective Parker had

gotten into the back seat of an unmarked police Tahoe where the Defendant

was seated. There were no other law enforcement officers in the vehicle.

Detective Parker did not have a weapon drawn. There were no marked cars in

the area, no police vehicles deployed their lights and sirens. The Defendant

                                        22
was not handcuffed; he had been in the car for one to two minutes before
                                                            I
Detective Parker arrived. The car was an uninarked detective car with no cage;
                                                            '

the door could be opened from the inside anr the door was not locked.

      Detective Parker explained th(! investi~ation and asked him if he would

ctmsent to a search of his car since the amofnt of marijuana found on his
                                                        '

person was much less than the confidential informant had arranged to buy.
                                                        1

Detective Parker explained to the Defendant that he could refuse consent; the
                                                        '
                                                        I

Defendant asked what would happen if he refused. Detective Parker explained

that they would decide whether to impound[the car and to apply for a search

warrant. Detective Parker testified that he maintained a conversational tone

throughout and made no threats or promisJs to induce the Defendant to
                                                    I

consent. Detective Parker testified that in his opinion it appeared that the
                                                    i
Defendant voluntarily consented to the seatlch of the vehicle. The Defendant

consented to the search of the vehicle and did not limit or revoke his consent at

any time.

       The Defendant signed a consent to search form that further advised him
                                              ' '

of his right to refuse to sign the form and iridicated that no promises, threats,

force or physical or mental coercion were ured. Exhibit CS-1. Based on the
                                                '

totality of the circumstances, the Defendan~ voluntarily consented to the

search of his car, including the locked box )n the trunk, from which drugs were
                                            I

ultimately recovered. Thus, this claim is without merit and must fail.

      Likewise, the Defendant gave a voluritary consent to search his home to
                                        .   I

recover the drugs and paraphernalia he told police were there. Before driving

                                       23
to Philadelphia, the Defendant's bedroom was added to the consent to search

form. While the Defendant did not sign or initial at that time, he had recently

read and signed the same form when he corisented to the car search. The form
                                                     I

informed him of his right to refuse the searcih. The Defendant was aware that
                                                     I

                                                     '

he could refuse, but agreed to accompany p~lice to his home to remove the

items he told them were in his possession.

      When they arrived at the home, the D,efendant's mother invited them in

and Detective Parker explained to her that the Defendant had given permission
                                                  '
                                                 I'

to retrieve some items from his bedroom. A~ that point, the Defendant led

Detective Parker upstairs and began to looJ around his room. He was unable

to find the items he said were there. He then led Detective Parker to another

room in the house, before stating that his brother must have taken the items.

      After the initial search of his bedrooJ did not recover the items he said
                                                 '
                                                 I

were there, law enforcement obtained cons9nt from the homeowner and the
                                                 I

Defendant to search the basement. The Defendant and his mother were both

present and did not object. Upon learning that the Defendant used part of the

room as a bedroom, this area was added to Jthe consent to search form and he
                                             I

signed and dated the form. Again, the form explained that he had the right to
                                             I

refuse consent.   No threats or promises were made to obtain consent to search

the basement. The family was informed that law enforcement would obtain a

warrant if they refused consent. There was no evidence that the Defendant or

his grandmother were under the influence c)f any substances or mental or
                                             I
                                             '
emotional disorders. Based on the totality of these circumstances, this Court
                                             I
                                             '

                                       24
found that the consent to search the home                as voluntary and this claim must
                                                     I

fail.

         Finally, the Defendant's concise statement erroneously alleges that the

Defendant's mother gave consent for the se1rch of the basement. This Court
                                                     I
credited Detective Parker's testimony that the Defendant's grandmother, the
                                                     I
homeowner, gave consent for the search along with the Defendant himself.

Testimony adduced at the suppression heajing indicated that the Defendant's
                                                     I

mother was present and did not object to th e search.1

                                                                  Therefore, this claim

must fail.

         3. The Municipal Police Jurisdiction Act did not apply to the search
            of the Defendant's home. (Concise Statement Issue 4 (al),
                                                 ;

         The Defendant's final allegation of errrr relating to the search of his

home is .that it violated the Municipal Police['Jurisdiction Act ("MPJA"). The Act

provides,

         (a)General rule.--Any duly employed unicipal police officer who is
         within this Commonwealth, but beyond the territorial limits of his
         primary jurisdiction, shall have the power and authority to enforce
         the laws of this Commonwealth or otherwise perform the functions
         of that office as if enforcing those laws or performing those functions
         within the territorial limits of his : primary jurisdiction in the .
         following cases:                         '
         (1) Where the officer is acting pursuan;t to an order issued by a court
          of record or an order issued by ~a district magistrate whose
          magisterial district is located within the judicial district wherein
                                                 !

          the officer's primary jurisdiction is situated, or where the officer is
          otherwise acting pursuant to the requirements of the Pennsylvania
          Rules of Criminal Procedure, except that the service of an arrest or
          search warrant shall require the consent of the chief law
        . enforcement officer, or a person authorized by him to give consent,
          of the organized law enforcement agency which regularly provides

                                           25
                                                               I

      primary police services in the municipality wherein the warrant is to
      be served.                            [
                                                               I

      (2) Where the officer is in hot pursuit of any person for any offense
      which was committed, or which he l\.as probable cause to believe
                                                           I

      was committed, within his primary jurisdiction and for which
      offense the officer continues in fresh pursuit of the person after the
      commission of the offense.                           1

      (3) Where the officer has been requested to aid or assist any local,
      State or Federal law enforcement officer or park police officer or
      otherwise has probable cause to believe that the other officer is in
      need of aid or assistance.                       I

      (4) Where the officer has obtained thfr prior consent of the chief law
      enforcement officer, or a person authorized by him to give consent,
      of the organized law enforcement agency which provides primary
      police services to a political subdivision which is beyond that
                                                   '
      officer's primary jurisdiction to enter the other jurisdiction for the
      purpose of conducting official duties which arise from official
      matters within his primary jurisdiction.
      (5) Where the officer is on official business and views an offense, or
                                               I

      has probable cause to believe that ah offense has been committed,
      and makes a reasonable effort to ide,ntify himself as a police officer
      and which offense is a felony, misdeineanor, breach of the peace or
      other act which presents an immediate clear and present danger to
                                             !
      persons or property.
      (6) Where the officer views an offense which is a felony, or has
      probable cause to believe that an off~nse which is a felony has been
      committed, and makes a reasonable effort to identify himself as a
      police officer.                      I
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 8953.

     The Defendant alleged that Detective Parker's actions did not fall within
                                           I
                                           I                       •
any of the foregoing exceptions and thus the evidence seized from 5100

Woodbine Avenue in Philadelphia should !be suppressed.                 He is mistaken.
                                           '
          Specifically, this Court found Commonwealth v. O'Shea, 567 A.2d 1023

(Pa. 1989) 10 , to be instructive. In O'Shea, law enforcement travelled outside of
                                                               '

their primary jurisdiction in the course of a murder investigation. Id. at 1025.

Hoping to question the Defendant about a Homicide and robbery that took

place in Pittsburgh, City of Pittsburgh Detecltives travelled to the Defendant's

home in a neighboring jurisdiction. Id. Th~ Defendant was not home at the

time of their arrival, however, the homeowners granted consent for the
                                                           !

Detectives to look around the home. Id. The homeowners, the defendant's
                                    -    I
brother and sister-in-law let Detectives to the area of the home where the
                                                       'I
defendant slept. Id. In plain view, there were several items identical to those

stolen from the crime scene. Id. at 1025-2:6.

          In O'Shea, the court stated                  I
                                                       I
                                                       I

      we do not believe section 8953 prohibits police officers from leaving
      their primary jurisdiction to go into other jurisdictions to ask
      questions therein, or to enter a residence therein upon the consent
      of its owners (and full disclosure of the officers' purpose) and observe
                                                   '
      what they observe therein. Such unobtrusive police conduct is
      outside the scope of section 8953, and is not illegal. Any citizen of
      the Commonwealth could do what Detectives Freeman and Hediger
      did herein, namely drive to the ,O'Shea residence, ask them
      questions, enter their home with their consent and look around. In
      the absence of explicit legislative directives to the contrary, we will
      not prohibit police officers from doihg that which a private citizen
      could do.

10 This Court is aware of the Supreme Court's recent decision of
Commonwealth v. Hlublin, ---A.3d. ---- (Pa. 2019) calling the continued
                                               '

viability of O'Shea's three part test for determining whether suppression is the
appropriate remedy for a violation of Section 8953 into doubt. However,
O'Shea has not been explicitly overruled as of this date and this Court found
that there was no violation of the MPJA in: the instant matter.
                                        27,
                                           I
                                           I
                                                                          I
      Accordingly, the initial search of the O'Shea residence and seizure
      of the items viewed in plain sight therein was not illegal under
                                             '
      section 8953, nor under the constitµtions    of this state or of the
      United States. That warrantless search was reasonable and justified
      by the freely given and informed cpnsent of the owners of the
      residence, James and Marion O'Shea, who obviously had authority
      to show the detectives their gameroom-basement area.
                                                                      I

Id. at 1029-30.
                                                                      I

      Instantly, law enforcement did that which a private citizen could do

when they traveled to the Defendant's horrl in a neighboring jurisdiction

and entered the home with his consent and with that of his grandmother,
                                                                  '

the homeowner. Therefore, this Court foun 1d that their actions fell outside
                                                                  I

of the scope of the MPJA and this claim mlil.st fail.
                                                              '

      4. The Court properly denied the Defendant's Motion to Suppress
         his statements. (Concise Statetnent Issue 5).
                                                              I

      The Defendant's next contention is that his statements should have been
                                                          I

suppressed. First, he contends that his statement to Detective Kerr about the
                                                          I
                                                          I

marijuana in his pocket required Miranda warnings. Next, he contends that

any statements regarding additional drugs' or paraphernalia and their location
                                        '
in his home must be suppressed due to a lack of Miranda warnings. Finally,
                                                      I

he contends his statement at the police station must be suppressed as a fruit
                                                  I

of an illegal search and arrest and for "unknowing and involuntary Miranda
                                                  I

                                                  I
warnings." He is mistaken.
                                                  I

       In order to trigger the safeguards of Miranda, there must be both

custody and interrogation. Commonwealth v. Heggins, 809 A.2d 908,914 (Pa.

Super. 2002) (citing Commonwealth v. Turner, 772 A.2d 970, 973 (Pa. Super.
                                              '
                                              I

                                         28
                                              I
                                              I
2001) (en bane)). "The standard for determ1ping whether an encounter with
                                                I
the police is deemed "custodial" or police h~ve initiated a custodial
                                                I
interrogation is an objective one based on aitotality of the circumstances, with
                                                I
due consideration given to the reasonable impression conveyed to the person

interrogated rather than the strictly subjective view of the officers or the person

being seized." Commonwealth v. Gwynn, 555 Pa. 86, 98, 723 A.2d 143, 148

(1998).

          "The test for custodial interrogation is 'whether the suspect is physically

deprived of his freedom in any significant w~y or is placed in a situation in
                                                I

which he reasonably believes that his freedom of action of movement is
                                                I

                                                i
restricted by such interrogation."' Commonwealth v. Brown, 375 A.2d 1260,
                                                '
                                                I

1264 (Pa. 1977) (citations omitted). Thus, cµstodial interrogation does not

require that the police make a formal arrest] nor that the police intend to make
                                                I

an arrest. Id. Rather, the test of custodial i;nterrogation is whether the

individual being interrogated reasonably believes· his freedom of action is being

restricted. Id. Statements not made in response to custodial interrogation are

classified as gratuitous and are not subject to suppression for lack of Miranda

warnings. Commonwealth v. Mannion, 725 A.2d 196, 200 (Pa. Super. 1999)

(en bane) (citation omitted).

      "The test for determining the voluntar1ness of a confession and the
                                                I

validity of the waiver of the right to remain Jiient is the totality of the attending
                                                I
                                                '

circumstances." Commonwealth v. D'Amatd, 526 A.2d 300, 305 (Pa. 1987)
                                                I
                                                I

(citing Commonwealth v. Fahy, 516 A.2d 689, 695 (Pa. 1986); Commonwealth

                                          29
v. Whitney, 512 A.2d 1152 (Pa. 1986)). In jxamining the totality of the
                                                         I
                                                         I

circumstances surrounding a confession, tl:ie courts look to a myriad of factors
                                                         '

including "the duration and methods of interrogation, the conditions of

detention, the manifest attitude of the police toward the accused, the accused's
                                                     I
physical and psychological state, and 'all other conditions present which may
                                                     I

serve to drain one's powers of resistance to !suggestion and undermine his self-

determination."' D'Amato, 526 A.2d at 305 (citing Commonwealth v. Crosby,
                                                     i
346 A.2d 768 (Pa. 1975)). Other relevant factors include:
                                                     I
                                                     I
      The accused's age; his level of education and intelligence; the extent
                                                     I
      of his previous experience with polic~; the repeated and prolonged
      nature of the questioning; the length of detention prior to the
      confession; whether he was advised of his constitutional rights;
      whether he was injured, ill, drugged, or intoxicated when he
      confessed; whether he was deprived of food, sleep, or medical
                                            1
      :~t~~!'.on; and whether he was physiclally abused or threatened with

Commonwealth v. Perez, 845 A.2d 779, 78 · (Pa. 2004) (citing People v.

Cipriano, 431 Mich. 315,429 N.W.2d 781 (1988)). To be valid, a confession

must be given free of any physical or psych'ological coercion which might
                                                 I
                                             ''              .
interfere with one's will to resist. Commonwealth v. Cunningham, 370 A.2d
                                                 I

1172, 1175 (Pa. 1977) (citing Culombe v. Connecticut, 367 U.S. 568 (1961);

Commonwealth v. Cockfield, 350 A.2d 833 (Pa. 1976)).

      Initially, Detective Kerr and the survdillance team approached the
                                .            I

Defendant and asked him for identification! Upon producing said
                                             '

identification, they had reasonable suspicion to believe that he was the dealer

with whom the confidential informant arranged a drug deal. At that point, they
                                            I

detained him to continue their investigatiob. For officer safety, Detective Kerr
                                            I'

                                       3o   I
asked him if there was anything on his perJon that could harm the officers or

anything that he should not have. The DefJndant responded that there was

marijuana in his pocket. There was no custodial interrogation at this point,
                                                    I
and thus his statement regarding the marijuana in his pocket was gratuitous
                                                        I

and not subject to suppression for lack of Miranda warnings.

      As to his statements regarding additi6nal drugs in his home, Detective

Parker testified that the verbally gave the D~fendant Miranda warnings ·prior to

questioning him about items in his home. This Court credited Detective

Parker's testimony in this regard. Throughbut this interaction, Detective
                                                    I

Parker's tone remained conversational.   The Defendant continued to cooperate

with the investigat'.on ~nd told Detective Pl'rker what was in his home and

where they could fmd 1t.                                    ·

      Finally, the Defendant's statement at the police station was voluntary
                                                '               '

                                                i
and pursuant to a valid waiver of his right to remain silent. Throughout his
                   •                            I

entire interaction with police, the DefendaJt was cooperative. When they

returned to the station following the seizure of the drugs and guns from his

home, Detective Parker reviewed a written lonstitutional rights form with the
                                                I

Defendant. He testified that he had the Defendant read a sentence out loud to
                                            I

ensure that he could read and understandithe document; the Defendant

initialed the sentence he read aloud. The iitatement took place in a room off of

the booking room at the police station. The Defendant was not handcuffed
                                            I

during the statement. Detective Parker's tbne remained conversational. The
                                            I
                                            '
Defendant was not confrontational. He was awake and alert throughout the

                                       31
statement. He was not under the influence of any mental or physical distress

or any substances. He never asked for a la{vyer or to stop answering

questions. The statement took only approximately 45 minutes. There was no

extended questioning. The Defendant simply acknowledged that the items

recovered were his and that he intended to sell drugs to. the confidential

informant. He also signed and initialed next to nearly every question on his

statement after he reviewed the statement ~nd made changes where necessary.

Therefore, this claim is also without merit and must fail.

      5. The Defendant's phone was searched pursuant to a valid search
         warrant. (Concise Statement Issue 6).

      In his final issue on appeal, the Defendant makes two claims. First, that

his passcode was illegally obtained and use to search his phone. As noted

above, the Court specifically found that there was no search of the phone prior

to obtaining a warrant, thus this claim is without merit. His second contention
                                             I

is that the warrant lacked probable cause and was based on stale information.

This claim is likewise without merit.
                                             I

      It is well settled that probable cause for the issuance of a search warrant

exists "where the facts and circumstances within the affiant's knowledge and of

which he has reasonably trustworthy information are sufficient in themselves

to warrant a man of reasonable caution in the belief that a search should be

conducted." Commonwealth v. Leed, 186 A.3d 405,413 (Pa., 2018) (citation
                                             '

and internal quotations omitted).   "Affidavit for a search warrant is to be tested

by this court with common sense and a rea,listic manner, and not subjected to

                                        32
overly technical interpretations; the magistrlate's determination of probable
                                                 !
                                                 '

cause is to be accorded great deference on 1eview." Commonwealth v. Vergotz,

616 A.2d 1379, 1382 (Pa. Super. 1992) (citJtions omitted). Stale information

cannot provide probable cause in support of a warrant. The Superior Court

has stated,

      [the] age of the information supporting a warrant application is a
      factor in determining probable cause. If too old, the information is
      stale and probable cause may no longer exist. Age alone, however,
      does not determine staleness. The determination of probable cause
      is not merely an exercise in county the days or even months between
      the facts relied on and the issuance ofthe warrant. Rather, we must
      examine the nature of the crime and the type of evidence.
                                                 '

Commonwealth v. Hoppert, 39 A.3d 358          (PJ.
                                          Super. 2012) (citing
Commonwealth v. Janda, 14 A.3O 147, 158~ (Pa. Super. 2011).
                                                 '

                                                 I

      Instantly, the search warrant for the Defendant's phone contained
                                                 I

                                                 I

sufficient probable cause. While the incident that provided probable cause for

the search took place 13 months prior to th~ search, the information sought
                                                 I
was information relating to those crimes thJt was still in existence at the time

of the execution of the warrant. Law enforcement had custody of the phone

from the date of the Defendant's arrest and could the evidence could not be

accessed or altered as the phone was placed in airplane mode after it was

seized by police. Therefore, this claim fails.

                                         33
IV.   CONCLUSION

      Based upon the foregoing, the Judgment of Sentence should be affirmed.

                                                  BY THE COURT:

                                                  STEVEN T. O'NEILL   J.

Copies mailed on    ~
to the following:
Robert Falin, Esq. (District Attorney's Office)
Edw. rd C. Meehan, Esq.                       I

       1 Assistant

                                        34