Court Opinion

ID: 9785664
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-30 22:15:24.104915+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:36:31.152414
License: Public Domain

Justice SCHROEDER,
concurring in result.
I concur in the result but would base the decision on a determination that Nickel was seized, as determined by the district court, but that the seizure was an appropriate investigatory stop based upon a reasonable suspicion that Nickel might be involved in illegal activity.
The Court has determined that Nickel was not seized for Fourth Amendment purposes. However, the totality of the circumstances indicates that he was deprived of his freedom to a degree that should be considered a seizure. In practical terms he could not leave. The dirt road ahead of him dead-ended. The area around was very muddy. The deputy’s vehicle behind him and a backup sheriffs vehicle blocked his exit. The deputy took possession of his property. While the expired temporary permit might have had little use, it was Nickel’s property, and it was held by the deputy. The totality of the circumstances indicates Nickel was seized, despite the deputy’s disclaimers. However, the seizure was warranted.
It was appropriate for the deputy to go to the location upon the anonymous call. By itself the anonymous report was insufficient to seize Nickel. However, this was a high crime area. When the deputy approached Nickel she observed that he appeared to be under the influence of something. He was in the driver’s seat at the time. He was uncooperative in identifying why he was there. The deputy had reasonable suspicion to make an investigatory seizure in the belief that there might be illegal activity. That led to discovery of an arrest warrant and the subsequent discovery of incriminatory evidence.