Court Opinion

ID: 9558146
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 17:03:25.910163+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:08:22.096633
License: Public Domain

RICHARDSON, J., Concurring and Dissenting.
I concur in the judgment reversing the order of dismissal pursuant to United States v. Crews (1980) 445 U.S. 463 [63 L.Ed.2d 537, 100 S.Ct. 1244]. As explained by the majority, the identification testimony at issue here was admissible under Crews as the independent product of the victim’s observation of defendant during the robbery.
*840I respectfully dissent, however, from that portion of the opinion which concludes that the arresting officer lacked an objectively reasonable basis for detaining defendant. For the reasons well expressed by Justice Manuel in his dissenting opinion in this case (26 Cal. 3d at pp. 465-466), in which I concurred, the detention was proper. As Justice Manuel explained: “Circumstances short of probable cause to make an arrest may justify an officer stopping pedestrians or motorists for questioning. (In re Tony C. (1978) 21 Cal.3d 888, 892 [148 Cal.Rptr. 366, 582 P.2d 957]; People v. Harris (1975) 15 Cal.3d 384, 388-389 [124 Cal.Rptr. 536, 540 P.2d 632]; Cunha v. Superior Court (1970) 2 Cal.3d 352, 355 [85 Cal.Rptr. 160, 466 P.2d 704]; Irwin v. Superior Court (1969) 1 Cal.3d 423, 426-427 [82 Cal.Rptr. 484, 462 P.2d 12]; People v. Mickelson (1963) 59 Cal.2d 448, 450 [30 Cal.Rptr. 18, 380 P.2d 658]; People v. One 1960 Cadillac Coupe (1964) 62 Cal.2d 92, 95-96 [41 Cal.Rptr. 290, 396 P.2d 706].) As stated in Tony C, the application of the rules is based on a determination of ‘“the reasonableness in all the circumstances of the particular governmental invasion of a citizen’s personal security.” (Terry v. Ohio [1968] 392 U.S. at p. 19 [20 L.Ed.2d at p. 904]).’ (21 Cal.3d at p. 892; italics added.)
“In the present case there was an abundance of objective facts that justified Officer Rocha’s honest and strong belief that the occupants of the vehicle might be in violation of the curfew and ordinance. (See In re Nancy C. (1972) 28 Cal.App.3d 747 [105 Cal.Rptr. 113].) He observed a car he did not recognize, apparently occupied by juveniles, driving between 2 and 3 a.m. in the business district of a relatively small town. Although he knew that the curfew law contained a provision exempting juveniles traveling to or from ‘some lawful business or place or dance,’ he had no way of determining whether the exception applied without detaining and questioning the occupants of the vehicle. In light of the strong possibility that the exception did not apply, such detention and questioning was fully justified. In my opinion, there can be no question of ‘the reasonableness in all the circumstances of the particular governmental invasion.’”
Appellant’s petition for a rehearing was denied April 15, 1982. Reynoso, J., did not participate therein. Richardson, J., was of the opinion that the petition should be granted.