Court Opinion

ID: 4454363
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-11-08 15:03:50.818485+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:25:26.947221
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF IOWA
                              No. 18–1353

                         Filed November 8, 2019

STATE OF IOWA,

      Appellee,

vs.

JUAN DANIEL SALCEDO,

      Appellant.

      Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Johnson County, Patrick R.

Grady, Judge.

      A defendant challenges the district court’s denial of his motion to

suppress. REVERSED AND REMANDED.

      Sean P. Spellman and Mary K. Spellman of Spellman Law, P.C., West

Des Moines, for appellant.

      Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Louis S. Sloven, Assistant

Attorney General, Janet M. Lyness, County Attorney, and Elizabeth Beglin,

Assistant County Attorney, for appellee.
                                     2

CHRISTENSEN, Justice.

      The defendant was stopped for violating Iowa Code section

321.297(2) (2017). That section provides, “Any vehicle proceeding at less

than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the

conditions then existing shall be driven in the right-hand lane then

available for traffic upon all roadways . . . .” The deputy asked defendant

and his passenger questions and found their answers suspicious.         In

response to drug interdiction questions, defendant indicated, “You can do

what you got to do.” The deputy sought further permission for a consent

search. Within fourteen minutes of being pulled over, he consented.

      After conducting a full search of defendant’s car, the deputy located

over eighty pounds of marijuana in the trunk. Defendant was arrested

and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.

Defendant filed a motion to suppress all evidence stemming from the stop.

The district court denied defendant’s motion in its entirety.

      We granted defendant’s application for discretionary review.     On

review, defendant raises four issues: (1) whether the deputy obtained

reasonable suspicion of other criminal activity in order to permit the

prolonged detention, (2) whether his consent to search was voluntary,

(3) whether Iowa Code section 321.297(2) is void for vagueness, and

(4) whether probable cause existed for the traffic stop.

      Upon review, we reverse the district court’s judgment as to whether

the deputy developed reasonable suspicion of other criminal activity before

unreasonably prolonging the stop. Consequently, we need not address the

other issues.

      I. Background Facts and Proceedings.

      Deputy Sherriff Cody O’Hare of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office

was traveling eastbound on Interstate 80 in response to a reported reckless
                                    3

driver. It was approximately 9:00 p.m. on November 2, 2017, when Deputy

O’Hare—en route to that call—encountered a different car traveling in the

left lane of Interstate 80’s two eastbound lanes. Deputy O’Hare’s attention

was drawn to this car because, despite the deputy’s approach, the car did

not move to the right-hand lane to let him pass. Deputy O’Hare testified

he approached the car in the left lane, the same lane as his direction of

travel. Deputy O’Hare was informed by dispatch that the car was a rental.

The posted speed limit on this stretch of interstate was seventy miles per

hour. Deputy O’Hare was traveling about seventy-five miles per hour in

response to the dispatch call.      He estimated the car was traveling

approximately sixty miles per hour in the seventy miles-per-hour zone.

      Deputy O’Hare testified he was forced to move to the right-hand

lane. He paced the car for three miles at approximately two car lengths

behind the car. The car remained in the left most lane throughout the

duration of Deputy O’Hare’s pacing, even when Interstate 80 became three

eastbound lanes. No other traffic, weather, or condition made it unsafe

for the car to move to the right-hand lane.

      Deputy O’Hare switched back to the left most lane, followed the car

for a moment, and then initiated a traffic stop for violation of Iowa Code

section 321.297(2). The car complied without difficulty. At approximately

9:05 p.m., Deputy O’Hare approached the passenger side of the car. He

explained he initiated the stop for driving too slow in the left-hand lane

and asked the driver for his license and rental car agreement. Due to the

loud interstate traffic and cold November weather, Deputy O’Hare asked

the driver to accompany him back to the patrol car. The driver indicated

he had no weapons on him and allowed Deputy O’Hare to conduct a pat-

down search when requested to do so. Following that pat-down, the driver
                                     4

let himself into the unlocked front seat passenger door of the patrol car.

It was approximately 9:06 p.m.

      The driver identified himself as Juan Salcedo.        Deputy O’Hare

initiated a conversation with Salcedo and asked about his travel plans.

Salcedo explained he was driving back from California after visiting his

girlfriend. Salcedo further explained his home was New York City and he

and the passenger, who Salcedo identified as his cousin, were traveling

together.   Deputy O’Hare repeatedly thumbed through the rental car

agreement. In response to Salcedo’s questioning about the reason for the

stop, Deputy O’Hare said there was no reason for Salcedo to be driving in

the fast lane.   The conversation continued while Deputy O’Hare again

quickly and repeatedly flipped through the rental car agreement. Salcedo

stated he initially flew from New York to Florida and then flew from Florida

to California. Salcedo and his cousin rented a car in California to drive

back to New York City. It appeared, based on the body camera footage,

that Deputy O’Hare put forth no effort to process the traffic infraction.

      Within seven minutes of Salcedo being pulled over, another patrol

car arrived and Deputy O’Hare exited his car to speak with Deputy Lenz.

Salcedo remained in the front seat of Deputy O’Hare’s car.           Deputy

O’Hare’s body camera leaves no doubt that he was quite disappointed to

learn a drug dog was not available. He briefly explained Salcedo’s travel

plans to Deputy Lenz, indicated he was going to ask for a consent search,

and then asked Deputy Lenz to watch Salcedo while he verified the travel

details with the passenger.

      Deputy O’Hare asked for the passenger’s identification, which the

passenger provided, and identified him as Jairo Rodriguez.        Rodriguez

confirmed the travel plans outlined by Salcedo but indicated Salcedo’s

girlfriend, who was not present, actually signed the rental agreement.
                                        5

Deputy O’Hare noted the presence of three cell phones for a car containing

only two people. He also observed the back seat of the rental car contained

“a lot of luggage.” Deputy O’Hare asked Rodriguez if all of their personal

property was situated in the back seat, to which Rodriguez responded it

was. At the suppression hearing upon cross-examination, Deputy O’Hare

testified he noticed these red flags “right away” from his initial observation

of the rental car but only further inquired about them while speaking with

Rodriguez.

      Rodriguez remained in the passenger seat of the rental car while

Deputy O’Hare returned to his patrol car to speak with Salcedo. Deputy

O’Hare asked further questions about the rental car, and Salcedo clarified

it was his girlfriend who signed the rental agreement because it was more

cost effective to rent the car to someone over the age of twenty-five.

Salcedo explained more of his travel details and then Deputy O’Hare asked

Salcedo if he was transporting any weapons of mass destruction. Salcedo

answered in the negative and stated, “No. You can do what you got to do.”

Salcedo was also asked if he was transporting any marijuana.               He

answered, “No. You can go . . . you can go do what you got to do.” Deputy

O’Hare testified he understood Salcedo’s answers to mean Salcedo was

allowing a search of the rental car. Deputy O’Hare continued and asked

about the presence of heroin, methamphetamine, and large amounts of

cash. Salcedo answered no to each, except that he was carrying $300 in

cash. Deputy O’Hare asked, “You said we can search the vehicle then?”

Salcedo responded, “Yeah, you can do what you got to do. There is no

reason . . . I don’t have no reason to . . . .”

      Salcedo remained in the passenger seat of the patrol car while

Deputy O’Hare approached the rental car. It was approximately 9:19 p.m.,

fourteen minutes after Salcedo was pulled over. Deputy O’Hare advised
                                     6

Rodriguez of Salcedo’s consent to the search and asked Rodriguez to step

out of the car. Rodriguez also consented to the search of his personal

property when asked by Deputy O’Hare, and he remained outside the

rental car.

      Deputy O’Hare conducted a full search of the rental car, and in the

trunk he found garbage bags containing eighty-two pounds of marijuana.

Salcedo and Rodriguez were then arrested.

      The State’s two-count trial information charged Salcedo and

Rodriguez with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver in violation

of Iowa Code section 124.401(1)(d) and failure to affix drug tax stamp in

violation of Iowa Code chapter 453B.

      Salcedo entered a plea of not guilty and later filed a motion to

suppress all evidence stemming from the stop.          His motion asserted

Deputy O’Hare lacked probable cause or reasonable suspicion for the stop,

Iowa Code section 321.297 is unconstitutionally void for vagueness, his

continued     and   prolonged   detention   violated   Federal   and   Iowa

Constitutions, and his consent to search was not voluntarily given.

      Deputy O’Hare testified at the suppression hearing. Videos from his

body camera and patrol car camera were admitted into evidence. Deputy

O’Hare explained his drug interdiction training courses. As a result of this

training, Deputy O’Hare knew California was a common entry point for

illegal drugs. With respect to drug runners, he also knew “[a] lot of times

you see them using rental cars.” Deputy O’Hare testified that it would take

him “[p]robably anywhere from 10 to 20, 25 minutes” to complete a run-

of-the-mill traffic stop. He further admitted, throughout the duration of

Salcedo’s traffic stop, he never asked Salcedo any specific questions about

the traffic infraction.
                                     7

       Deputy O’Hare admitted that it was his intention to investigate

issues other than the traffic infraction. He based this view on the fact that

“it was a rental vehicle, the three phones, luggage in the back seat, and it

becoming a third-party rental.” Deputy O’Hare explained generating traffic

citations required entering information into the computer. In response to

whether he had ever entered Salcedo’s information into the computer,

Deputy O’Hare stated, “No. I was never—never entered information into a

traffic citation.”

       After the suppression hearing, the district court denied Salcedo’s

motion to suppress. It determined section 321.297(2) was not vague and

found reasonable and articulable suspicion existed that a traffic law was

violated. It also found the stopping deputy received a valid consent to

search the stopped car.

       Salcedo sought discretionary review of the district court’s order

denying his motion to suppress.          We granted his application for

discretionary review.

       II. Standard of Review.

       A district court’s denial of a motion to suppress based on the

depravation of a constitutional right is reviewed de novo. State v. Coleman,

890 N.W.2d 284, 286 (Iowa 2017). “This review requires ‘an independent

evaluation of the totality of the circumstances as shown by the entire

record.’ ” State v. Pals, 805 N.W.2d 767, 771 (Iowa 2011) (quoting State v.

Turner, 630 N.W.2d 601, 606 (Iowa 2001)). “In doing so, we give deference

to the factual findings of the district court due to its opportunity to

evaluate the credibility of the witnesses, but are not bound by such

findings.” State v. Lane, 726 N.W.2d 371, 377 (Iowa 2007).
                                      8

      III. Analysis.

      Salcedo raises several challenges to the district court’s denial of his

motion to suppress. First, Salcedo argues the scope and duration of his

stop were impermissibly extended absent reasonable suspicion of other

criminal activity.   Second, Salcedo maintains he did not voluntarily

consent to the search of his car. Third, Salcedo claims Iowa Code section

321.297(2) offends due process because it is impermissibly vague. Lastly,

Salcedo contends he did not violate Iowa Code section 321.297(2) and

there was no probable cause for the stop. We address these issues as

necessary.

      We first address Salcedo’s challenge to the scope and duration of his

traffic stop.   Salcedo argues the scope and duration of his stop were

impermissibly extended by questions unrelated to the purpose of the

underlying traffic infraction. He raised his claim under the Federal and

Iowa Constitutions in the district court and urges this court to construe

article I, section 8 of the Iowa Constitution in a “broad and liberal spirit.”

He contends any request for a consent search, absent reasonable

suspicion of criminal activity, is in violation of the Iowa Constitution. The

State argues Deputy O’Hare developed reasonable suspicion at the start of

the traffic stop, permitting expansion of its scope and duration.

      Article I, section 8 guarantees the right to be secure against

unreasonable searches and seizures, and it contains language nearly

identical to the Fourth Amendment counterpart. See State v. Short, 851
N.W.2d 474, 500–01 (Iowa 2014). Compare Iowa Const. art. I, § 8, with

U.S. Const. amend. IV. “When both federal and state constitutional claims

are raised, we may, in our discretion, choose to consider either claim first

in order to dispose of the case, or we may consider both claims

simultaneously.” State v. Ochoa, 792 N.W.2d 260, 267 (Iowa 2010).
                                      9

      In this case, we need not reach Salcedo’s challenge to the scope and

duration of the stop based on article I, section 8 of the Iowa Constitution.

See In re Prop. Seized from Pardee, 872 N.W.2d 384, 391 & n.6 (Iowa 2015).

Deputy O’Hare failed to obtain individualized suspicion of other criminal

activity before unreasonably prolonging the stop. The unreasonableness

of the stop was in violation of Salcedo’s Fourth Amendment rights.

      The detention of an individual during a traffic stop, even if brief and

for a limited purpose, is a seizure within the meaning of the Fourth

Amendment. See State v. Kreps, 650 N.W.2d 636, 641 (Iowa 2002). This

seizure, consistent with the constitutional requirement, must be

reasonable under the circumstances. Id. “[I]t is well settled that a traffic

violation, however minor, gives an officer probable cause to stop a

motorist” and is therefore a reasonable seizure. State v. Aderholdt, 545
N.W.2d 559, 563 (Iowa 1996). We assume without deciding that Salcedo’s

failure to yield the left-hand lane, which is conduct prohibited by Iowa

Code section 321.297(2), provided probable cause to initiate the stop.

Thus, the initial detention of Salcedo was reasonable.

      Once lawfully stopped, inquiries reasonably related to the mission

of addressing the traffic infraction “and attend[ing] to related safety

concerns” are permissible. See Rodriguez v. United States, 575 U.S. ___,

___, 135 S. Ct. 1609, 1614 (2015); Illinois v. Caballes, 543 U.S. 405, 407,

125 S. Ct. 834, 837 (2005); Aderholdt, 545 N.W.2d at 563–64. This court

has recognized, “[A] reasonable investigation includes asking for the

driver’s license and registration, requesting that the driver sit in the patrol

car, and asking the driver about his destination and purpose.” Aderholdt,
545 N.W.2d at 563–64 (quoting United States v. Bloomfield, 40 F.3d 910,

915 (8th Cir. 1994) (en banc)); see United State v. Murillo-Salgado, 854 F.3d
407, 414–15 (8th Cir. 2017), cert. denied, 138 S. Ct. 245 (2017); see also
                                     10

Rodriguez, 575 U.S. at ___, 135 S. Ct. at 1615 (“Beyond determining

whether to issue a traffic ticket, an officer’s mission includes ‘ordinary

inquiries incident to [the traffic] stop.’ ” (alteration in original) (quoting

Caballes, 543 U.S. at 408, 125 S. Ct. at 837)); Delaware v. Prouse, 440
U.S. 648, 658–59, 99 S. Ct. 1391, 1398–99 (1979) (license and registration

checks ensure safe operation of vehicles). Ultimately, the mission of the

stop is to address the traffic infraction and “may ‘last no longer than is

necessary to effectuate th[at] purpose.’ ” Rodriguez, 575 U.S. at ___, 135

S. Ct. at 1614 (alteration in original) (quoting Florida v. Royer, 460 U.S.
491, 500, 103 S. Ct. 1319, 1325 (1983) (plurality opinion)).

      The reasonable investigation, however, may be expanded to satisfy

suspicions of criminal activity unrelated to the traffic infraction based

upon responses to reasonable inquires. Aderholdt, 545 N.W.2d at 564.

“But the officer must identify ‘specific and articulable facts which, taken

together with rational inferences from those facts,’ amount to reasonable

suspicion that further investigation is warranted.” Murillo-Salgado, 854
F.3d at 415 (quoting United States v. Woods, 829 F.3d 675, 679 (8th Cir.

2016)). We evaluate the existence of reasonable suspicion based on the

totality of circumstances confronted by the officer. See State v. McIver,

858 N.W.2d 699, 702 (Iowa 2015).

      This is not to say law enforcement may prolong a stop indefinitely.

They clearly may not. See Pardee, 872 N.W.2d at 397. Our decision in

Pardee applied recent Supreme Court precedent to address whether,

consistent with the Fourth Amendment, an Iowa trooper “developed

reasonable suspicion of other criminal activity—if at all—only by

prolonging the initial stop beyond the time reasonably necessary to

execute the traffic violation warnings.” Id. at 391. Pardee compared and

contrasted a number of federal circuit court cases weighing reasonable
                                     11

suspicion. See id. at 393–96 (discussing in order United States v. Briasco,

640 F.3d 857 (8th Cir. 2011); United States v. Beck, 140 F.3d 1129 (8th

Cir. 1998); United States v. Evans, 786 F.3d 779 (9th Cir. 2015); and

United States v. Peralez, 526 F.3d 1115 (8th Cir. 2008)). We determined

individualized suspicion of criminal activity did not exist at the outset of

the stop when the trooper first encountered the vehicle’s occupants. Id. at

395. We then concluded the twenty-five minute traffic stop was prolonged

within the meaning of Rodriguez. Id. at 396. Lastly, we held reasonable

suspicion did not exist within the time necessary to address the traffic

infraction. Id. at 396–97.

      Pardee reiterated the rule set forth in Rodriguez: “Authority for the

seizure . . . ends when tasks tied to the traffic infraction are—or

reasonably should have been—completed.” Id. at 392 (quoting Rodriguez,

575 U.S. at ___, 135 S. Ct. at 1614). Rodriguez made clear the Fourth

Amendment will tolerate certain unrelated investigations that do not

extend the roadside stop, but the stop will remain lawful only “so long as

[unrelated] inquiries do not measurably extend the duration of the stop.”

Rodriguez, 575 U.S. at ___, 135 S. Ct. at 1615 (alteration in original)

(quoting Arizona v. Johnson, 555 U.S. 323, 333, 129 S. Ct. 781, 788

(2009)). Addressing the traffic infraction is the purpose of the stop and “it

may ‘last no longer than is necessary to effectuate th[at] purpose.’ ” Id. at

___, 135 S. Ct. at 1614 (alteration in original) (quoting Royer, 460 U.S. at

500, 103 S. Ct. at 1325).

      Salcedo argues his stop was prolonged beyond what was reasonably

necessary to resolve his traffic infraction, absent reasonable suspicion of

other criminal activity.     The State asserts Deputy O’Hare developed

reasonable suspicion of criminal activity while speaking with Salcedo and

points to a number of factors in support of its position. We conclude
                                    12

Deputy O’Hare failed to develop individualized suspicion of other criminal

activity before unreasonably prolonging the stop.

      At the outset of the stop, Deputy O’Hare knew Salcedo’s car was a

California rental. However, it is not clear when Deputy O’Hare observed

the three cell phones and luggage.       Initially, Deputy O’Hare stated he

viewed the “red flags” on his second trip to the rental car but then later

clarified that he observed them “right away.” Regardless, even assuming

Deputy O’Hare was aware of the red flags when he first approached the

rental car, they do not provide reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.

See Beck, 140 F.3d at 1137 (car rented by a third party not present,

licensed in California, presence of fast-food wrappers, no luggage in

passenger compartment, nervous demeanor of motorist, trip from drug-

source state to drug-demand state, and disbelief of travel plans did not

generate reasonable suspicion).

      The same lack of reasonable suspicion persisted after Deputy O’Hare

initially conversed with Salcedo. Salcedo explained he was driving back to

New York after flying to California. Deputy O’Hare noted Salcedo’s travel

plans were odd and another potential red flag of drug trafficking. During

the conversation, Salcedo asked why he was pulled over, and Deputy

O’Hare indicated there was no reason to drive in the fast lane. Meanwhile,

Deputy O’Hare continued to quickly and repeatedly thumb through

Salcedo’s rental agreement but did not inquire about the party that signed

the agreement. Interestingly, the body camera revealed Deputy O’Hare’s

surprise when he learned from Rodriguez that the rental agreement was

signed by a nonpresent third party. Only after Rodriguez explained the

rental agreement did Deputy O’Hare return to Salcedo a second time and

inquire into the agreement. At the conclusion of the first conversation with

Salcedo, the only additional factor Deputy O’Hare developed as a possible
                                     13

red flag of other criminal activity was Salcedo’s odd travel plans. This

factor, combined with the previous factors, did not provide Deputy O’Hare

with reasonable suspicion of other criminal activity. See Beck, 140 F.3d

at 1137; cf. Briasco, 640 F.3d at 860 (reasonable suspicion created by

luggage in back seat, strong odor of air freshener, back of vehicle squatting

from excessive weight, one-way rental car, nervousness of motorists). We

cannot conclude Deputy O’Hare developed reasonable suspicion of other

criminal activity after his first conversation with Salcedo.

        Absent reasonable suspicion after Salcedo’s first conversation, we

must now determine whether Deputy O’Hare unreasonably prolonged the

stop.    It was approximately 9:05 p.m. when Deputy O’Hare initiated

Salcedo’s traffic stop. Shortly after 9:06 p.m., Salcedo let himself into the

patrol car to speak with Deputy O’Hare.       It is permissible for Deputy

O’Hare to make reasonable inquires to address the traffic infraction and

“attend to related safety concerns.” See Rodriguez, 575 U.S. ___, 135 S. Ct.

at 1614. In fact, “an officer may detain the occupants of a vehicle during

a traffic stop ‘while the officer completes a number of routine but

somewhat time-consuming tasks related to the traffic violation.’ ” Murillo-

Salgado, 854 F.3d at 415 (quoting Peralez, 526 F.3d at 1119). An officer

may “run[] a computerized check of the vehicle’s registration and

insurance; run[] a similar check of the occupants’ identification

documents and criminal histories; prepar[e] the traffic citation or warning;

and ask[] the occupants about their ‘destination, route, and purpose.’ ” Id.

(quoting Peralez, 526 F.3d at 1119).          However, absent reasonable

suspicion of other criminal activity, the officer’s mission is to address the

traffic infraction and that mission may take no longer than is necessary.

See Rodriguez, 575 U.S. at ___, 135 S. Ct. at 1614.
                                     14

      What becomes immediately apparent is Deputy O’Hare’s complete

lack of effort to address Salcedo’s specific traffic infraction. Six minutes

elapsed from the time Salcedo entered the patrol car to the time Deputy

O’Hare departed to speak with Deputy Lenz. Deputy O’Hare admitted that,

throughout the duration of the stop, he did not ask Salcedo questions

regarding the traffic infraction. The body camera revealed Deputy O’Hare

repeatedly thumbing through the rental agreement. There does not appear

to be any attempt to gain understanding of the document. To the contrary,

the incessant page flipping appears to be a stalling tactic to keep the

conversation going until a drug dog arrived. During this time, he did not

attempt to run a check of Salcedo’s identifying documents or criminal

histories, and he did not prepare a traffic citation or warning. Deputy

O’Hare admitted, “I was never—never entered information into a traffic

citation.”

      The body camera further supports Salcedo’s position that Deputy

O’Hare was stringing along the stop until a drug dog arrived. Shortly after

Salcedo entered the patrol car, Deputy O’Hare requested assistance.

When Deputy Lenz arrived, Deputy O’Hare was immediately disappointed

to learn a drug dog was not available. Deputy O’Hare also testified at the

suppression hearing that he knew from the time of the stop that he would

be investigating issues other than the traffic infraction.

      We conclude the constitutionally permissible traffic stop became

unlawful when it was unreasonably prolonged. See Peralez, 526 F.3d at

1120 (holding stop was delayed because of trooper’s questions, “not

because of anything related to the investigation or processing of the traffic

violation”).   Deputy O’Hare’s mission is to address Salcedo’s traffic

infraction and it may last no longer than is reasonably necessary to

complete the mission. Rodriguez, 575 U.S. at ___, 135 S. Ct. at 1614. The
                                    15

Fourth Amendment will tolerate certain unrelated investigations that do

not extend the roadside stop, but the stop will remain lawful only “so long

as [unrelated] inquiries do not measurably extend the duration of the

stop.”    Id. at ___, 135 S. Ct. at 1615.   (alteration in original) (quoting

Johnson, 555 U.S. at 333, 129 S. Ct. at 788). After speaking with Salcedo,

it appeared Deputy O’Hare was no closer to completing the mission of the

traffic stop than he was prior to inviting Salcedo into his patrol car. The

delay of Salcedo’s stop was measurable, unreasonable, and in violation of

his Fourth Amendment rights. See id.

         IV. Conclusion.

         For the aforementioned reasons, we reverse the district court’s

judgment as to whether the deputy developed reasonable suspicion of

other criminal activity before unreasonably prolonging the stop. Because

we reverse the district court’s judgment denying Salcedo’s motion to

suppress, we need not address the other issues.

         REVERSED AND REMANDED.