Court Opinion

ID: 9720605
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 08:37:25.168376+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:19.899434
License: Public Domain

TODD, J.
 I concur in the majority opinion because the trial court determined Officer Boumpensiero issued a command to Roth when he asked him to approach the patrol vehicle. The majority opinion quotes the officer’s statement as being either “I would like to talk to you,” or “Come over here. I want to talk to you.” Based upon this conflicting recollection of what Officer Boumpensiero actually said to Roth, the trial court found a “command” and, thus, a detention. The officer had every right to approach Roth and determine the reason for his unusual appearance at this time and place. However, I am bound by the finding that what the trial court might have found only to be a “request” was actually a “command.” (See People v. Leyba (1981) 29 Cal.3d 591, 596-597 [174 Cal.Rptr. 867, 629 P.2d 961].)
Certainly the use of the vehicle spotlight was not enough to escalate an otherwise appropriate investigation contact into a detention. (See People v. Franklin (1987) 192 Cal.App.3d 935, 940-941 [237 Cal.Rptr. 840].) Unfortunately, Roth’s physical proximity to the officer, disclosing the jacket-covered weapon bulge and probable cause for further investigation and arrest, only resulted from the officer’s “command."