Court Opinion

ID: 4649265
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-01-05 21:17:29.674424+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:01:23.554273
License: Public Domain

Filed
                                                                                        Washington State
                                                                                        Court of Appeals
                                                                                         Division Two

                                                                                         January 5, 2021
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

                                         DIVISION II
 STATE OF WASHINGTON,                                               No. 53681-1-II

                               Respondent,

        v.

 AUSTIN A. CIGANIK,                                           UNPUBLISHED OPINION

                               Appellant.

       WORSWICK, J. — Austin Ciganik appeals his conviction for unlawful possession of a

controlled substance—heroin, arguing that the trial court erred by denying his motion to exclude

heroin evidence obtained from his truck in which he was sleeping. Ciganik argues that police

officers had neither probable cause to arrest him, nor any other authority to open his truck door,

and consequently the heroin evidence should have been suppressed. We hold that substantial

evidence supports the contested findings of fact, and the findings support the conclusions that

Officer Keller had probable cause to arrest Ciganik and that no illegal search of Ciganik’s truck

occurred. Consequently, we affirm Ciganik’s conviction.

                                             FACTS

       On May 2, 2018, at approximately 5:40 a.m., Poulsbo police officer Craig Keller

responded to a call of a man who had been sleeping in a truck since 4:00 a.m. Upon arriving at

the scene, Officer Keller noticed that the truck was running, and he observed Ciganik

unconscious and slumped forward. On the passenger seat, Officer Keller saw a piece of foil with

a black substance on it which he believed to be heroin. Officer Keller’s belief was founded on
No. 53681-1-II

his training and experience, as well as the size and shape of the foil, the location of the dark

substance on the foil, and burn marks, which were all consistent with the substance being heroin.

       Officer Keller knocked on the driver’s window, then opened the truck door, and arrested

Ciganik. Officer Keller peered into the truck through the open door using a flashlight but did not

enter any part of the truck. Officer Keller impounded Ciganik’s truck and obtained a search

warrant to search the truck. During the subsequent search, Officer Keller found heroin and

methamphetamine in the truck.

       The State charged Ciganik with one count of unlawful possession of a controlled

substance—heroin. Ciganik filed a CrR 3.6 motion seeking to suppress all evidence found in his

truck. At the CrR 3.6 hearing, Ciganik argued that because his arrest was not supported by

probable cause, the subsequent search warrant was improper. Additionally, Ciganik stated that

should the trial court find his arrest to be lawful, he had no basis to contest the search warrant.

       Officer Keller was the only witness to testify at the CrR 3.6 hearing. He testified to the

facts stated above, and also said that he had participated in hundreds of drug offense cases. He

further testified that he was trained to recognize heroin, and that while the substance he saw

could have been a brownie, he believed it to be heroin. Officer Keller went on to explain that

based on his observation of the foil, he believed Ciganik was under the influence of heroin.

Officer Keller also testified that he knocked on Ciganik’s truck window and quickly opened and

detained him because he was concerned Ciganik may panic and threaten his safety. Officer

Keller was also concerned that a person who is awakened in a running car may drive off.

       The trial court determined Officer Keller had probable cause to arrest Ciganik and

therefore the arrest was lawful. This determination was based on the facts that Ciganik was

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unconscious in his truck at 5:40 a.m., that the truck was running, and that Officer Keller

recognized the substance on the passenger seat as heroin before he knocked on the window.

       The trial court entered findings of fact and conclusions of law following the hearing.

These findings included findings of fact V and IX which state:

                                                V.
               Sitting next to the defendant on the passenger’s seat, Officer Keller
       observed a piece of foil with a small dark substance on it, which he believed to be
       approximately 2/10 of 1 gram of heroin. His belief was based on the size and shape
       of the foil and the location of the dark substance on the foil were [sic] consistent
       with foil commonly used to ingest heroin, and the dark substance appeared to be
       consistent with heroin. The burn marks were consistent with heroin burns from
       heating the substance and smoking the fumes.

               ....
                                                IX.
               Officer Keller had a legitimate safety concern when waking up an
       unconscious person in a running vehicle, where it is unknown if they are under the
       influence of alcohol or heroin, as people are often startled when they are awakened
       after being under the influence of alcohol or heroin.

Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 60-61.

       The court also concluded that the search warrant for Ciganik’s truck was supported by

probable cause.

       Ciganik waived his right to a jury trial and agreed to a stipulated facts trial After the trial,

the trial court found Ciganik guilty of one count of unlawful possession of a controlled

substance—heroin. Ciganik appeals.

                                            ANALYSIS

       Ciganik contests findings of fact V and IX and argues that Officer Keller did not have

probable cause to arrest him, or any authority to open his truck door, thus, the heroin evidence

was illegally obtained and his conviction must be reversed. We disagree.

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No. 53681-1-II

                                       I. STANDARD OF REVIEW

          We review findings of fact for substantial evidence. State v. Dobbs, 180 Wn.2d 1, 10,

320 P.3d 705 (2014). “Substantial evidence exists where there is a sufficient quantity of

evidence in the record to persuade a fair-minded, rational person of the truth of the finding.”

State v. Hill, 123 Wn.2d 641, 644, 870 P.2d 313 (1994). We review a trial court’s assessment of

probable cause de novo. State v. Chamberlin, 161 Wn.2d 30, 40, 162 P.3d 389 (2007).

                                   II. FINDINGS OF FACT V AND IX

          Ciganik challenges findings of fact V and IX. He argues that finding of fact V

improperly suggests that Officer Keller had a reasonable belief that the substance contained

heroin, and that finding of fact IX is a conclusion of law. We hold that both finding of fact V

and IX are supported by substantial evidence.

A.        Finding of Fact V

          Finding of fact V addresses Officer Keller’s observations and beliefs regarding the tin

foil and the suspected heroin. At the CrR 3.6 hearing, Officer Keller testified to his extensive

training regarding drug arrests. He testified that he had handled hundreds of drug cases. He

testified that he saw a piece of foil with a dark substance on it. Based on his training, he believed

the substance to be heroin. Officer Keller testified that the foil “could have” contained another

substance, such as a brownie, but clarified that he nonetheless believed the substance to be

heroin.

          Ciganik argues that finding of fact V is not supported by substantial evidence “to the

extent it suggests Officer Keller’s belief was objectively reasonable” because no fair-minded

person would find Officer Keller’s belief objectively reasonable. Br. of Appellant at 11, n.8.

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No. 53681-1-II

This is so, he argues, because Officer Keller acknowledged that the foil could have contained

food. But this argument misses the mark because we review findings of fact for substantial

evidence, determining whether a sufficient quantity of evidence exists to persuade a fair-minded,

rational person of the truth of the finding.

       Ciganik does not dispute that Officer Keller testified to all the facts contained in finding

of fact V. This testimony is sufficient to persuade a fact finder of the truth of the finding and,

thus, support the facts contained in the finding. Finding of fact V is supported by substantial

evidence.

B.     Finding of Fact IX

       Finding of fact IX addresses Officer Keller’s concerns when walking up to Ciganik’s

truck. Ciganik argues that the word “legitimate” converts this finding of fact into a conclusion of

law which we review de novo. We disagree and hold that finding of fact IX is supported by

substantial evidence.

       Officer Keller testified that he opened the truck door immediately after knocking on the

window because he is concerned for his personal safety when he wakes up a person who is in a

running vehicle. He testified that he does not want the person to start driving. Officer Keller

said he believed Ciganik was probably under the influence, and could have possibly panicked

upon being awakened.

       This testimony is sufficient record to persuade a fair-minded, rational person of the truth

of the finding. And we view the trial court’s statement that Officer Keller’s concern was

legitimate, as a finding that Officer Keller’s testimony was credible on this point. Thus,

substantial evidence supports finding of fact IX. Because the rest of the findings of fact are

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No. 53681-1-II

uncontested, they are verities on appeal. State v. Eserjose, 171 Wn.2d 907, 912, 259 P.3d 172,

175 (2011) (plurality opinion).

                               III. CIGANIK’S ARREST WAS LAWFUL

       Ciganik argues that the arresting officer did not have probable cause to arrest him, thus,

he did not have authority to open the truck door, and any evidence obtained after that fact should

have been suppressed. We hold that Officer Keller had probable cause to arrest Ciganik.

       The trial court’s conclusions of law included conclusion of law V, which states, “In this

case, Officer Keller’s arrest of the defendant was supported by probable cause.” CP at 63. We

review de novo whether the trial court’s conclusions of law are supported by its findings of fact.

State v. Rosas-Miranda, 176 Wn. App. 773, 779, 309 P.3d 728 (2013).

       In Washington, “[a] police officer having probable cause to believe that a person has

committed or is committing a felony shall have the authority to arrest the person without a

warrant.” RCW 10.31.100. “Probable cause exists where there are facts and circumstances

sufficient to establish a reasonable inference that the defendant is involved in criminal activity.”

State v. Maddox, 152 Wn.2d 499, 505, 98 P.3d 1199 (2004). “[T]he validity of an arrest depends

upon the objective reasonableness of the arresting officer’s belief that probable cause exists.”

State v. Afana, 169 Wn.2d 169, 183, 233 P.3d 879 (2010).

       “It is well established that a person has a diminished expectation of privacy in the visible

contents of an automobile parked in a public place.” State v. Barnes, 158 Wn. App. 602, 612,

243 P.3d 165 (2010). An officer, without a warrant, may lawfully look into an automobile

parked in a public place. State v. Young, 28 Wn. App. 412, 417, 624 P.2d 725 (1981). Such

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No. 53681-1-II

conduct is not considered a search, even when an officer uses a flashlight. Young, 28 Wn. App.

at 417.

          Here, the trial court found that the heroin evidence was “[s]itting next to the defendant on

the passenger’s seat.” CP at 60. Ciganik did not have an expectation of privacy in the heroin

evidence that was in plain view in his vehicle which was located in a public place.

          An officer with training and experience in identifying drugs has probable cause to make

an arrest when they lawfully view material consistent with drug possession. State v. Rose, 175

Wn.2d 10, 22, 282 P.3d 1087 (2012). Mere possession of drug paraphernalia is not enough, but

the visible presence of drugs is. Rose, 175 Wn.2d at 19-20, 22.

          Here, the findings of fact support the conclusion of law that Ciganik’s arrest was

supported by probable cause. The finding of facts show that Officer Keller approached

Ciganik’s truck in the early morning hours. The truck was running, and Ciganik was

unconscious inside. Officer Keller viewed a piece of foil with a dark residue on it, which he

recognized to be heroin based on his considerable training and experience. These findings of

fact support the trial court’s conclusion that Ciganik’s arrest was based on probable cause.

Officer Keller’s experience and training show he had a reasonable belief that Ciganik was

intoxicated and was in possession of heroin. This belief was objectively reasonable based on the

facts and circumstances of the situation.

          We conclude that Ciganik’s arrest was supported by probable cause and was therefore

lawful.

          Ciganik’s remaining arguments rest on his assertion that Officer Keller had no authority

to arrest him. He argues that there was neither probable cause, nor any additional authority to

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No. 53681-1-II

search his truck or seize any items. Because Ciganik’s arrest was lawful, his remaining

arguments fail.

       Ciganik argues that Washington courts do not recognize an “automobile exception” to a

warrant requirement and that the community caretaking exception does not justify Officer

Keller’s entry into the truck. Br. of Appellant at 5. But in the trial court, the State did not rely

on an automobile exception or the community caretaking function, and the trial court made no

findings in this regard. As explained above, the heroin evidence was in plain view in Ciganik’s

truck and Officer Keller had probable cause to arrest Ciganik. We do not further address these

arguments.

       Finally, Ciganik briefly argues that because Officer Keller performed an illegal search of

his truck, the search warrant was tainted. We disagree.

       “According to the plain text of article I, section 7, a search or seizure is improper only if

it is executed without ‘authority of law.’ But a lawfully issued search warrant provides such

authority.” State v. Gaines, 154 Wn.2d 711, 718, 116 P.3d 993 (2005).

       Here, Officer Keller had authority to remove Ciganik from his truck pursuant to a lawful

arrest. See State v. Byrd, 178 Wn.2d 611, 624, 310 P.3d 793 (2013). Additionally, at the CrR

3.5 hearing, Ciganik conceded that should the trial court find his arrest to be lawful, he had no

basis to contest the search warrant. No illegal search occurred prior to the issuance of the search

warrant. Because the heroin evidence was in plain view, and because it was seized pursuant to a

lawful warrant, Ciganik’s argument fails.

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No. 53681-1-II

       We hold that substantial evidence supports the contested findings of fact, and the findings

support the conclusions that Officer Keller had probable cause to arrest Ciganik and that no

illegal search of Ciganik’s truck occurred. Consequently, we affirm Ciganik’s conviction.

       A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the

Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW

2.06.040, it is so ordered.

                                                                    Worswick, J.
 We concur:

 Sutton, A.C.J.

 Cruser, J.

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