Court Opinion

ID: 9461406
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 22:14:01.262102+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:37:03.121404
License: Public Domain

CHOY, Circuit Judge
(dissenting):
I respectfully dissent. Although I agree with my Brothers Duniway and Smith that the police observations did not amount to an illegal search and seizure, I find that the sightings contributed very little to the Government’s attempt to establish probable cause. The four-hour surveillance of the house which revealed the clinking of glasses, the movement of laboratory equipment- and boxes, and the smell of ether and acetone, proves nothing more than that the Martins may have been operating some type of laboratory in their home.1 *1215But such an inference was already justified by the mere fact that Martin picked up a quantity of laboratory supplies and unloaded them at his house.
The only significant sighting by the police was the jug containing an orange liquid with a white precipitate. The jug, however, no more establishes probable cause than does the mere evidence of Martin’s purchase of chemicals and equipment. Although a colored liquid with a light precipitate is an element common to a methamphetamine laboratory, it is equally true that countless chemical processes result at some point in such a liquid.
Even considering the colored liquid evidence in conjunction with the evidence of chemicals and laboratory equipment and the smell of ether and acetone, the only reasonable inference is merely that a chemical laboratory was in operation. According to undisputed expert testimony at the suppression hearing, there was no more reason that such evidence pointed to methamphetamine production than to a legitimate chemical reaction, such as the isolation of the essence of roses.2 Thus, absent evidence that Martin ordered or possessed precursors of methamphetamine or other ingredients critically important to its manufacture, that Martin used a fictitious name in ordering the chemical, or that appellants’ conduct was otherwisé suspicious,3 the agents lacked probable cause to arrest.4
I would, reverse the convictions.

. The expert testimony was as follows:
Q. Now taking that list and combining it, is there any particular chemical reaction that comes to mind when you smell acetone and ether at the same time?
A. Well, for one thing, ether has a very pungent smell and 1 question I would be able to detect acetone.
Q. What?
A. I don’t recall how you smell both at one time.
*1215Q. Assuming that you did smell both acetone and ether, would that lead you to conclude, or even conjecture that any particular chemical reaction was going on?
A. No.
(Pre-trial Tr. 86-87)

. The expert testimony was as follows:
Q. If you took that list of chemicals and knew that they were at a place from which you could smell both ether and acetone and added to that the sighting of an orange liquid with a white precipitant [sic], what conclusion would you then draw?
A. I would still conclude I am working in a chemical laboratory.
Q. Is there anything about those facts, standing alone, that would point you to the direction of illegal drug manufacture, as opposed to a chemical laboratory working?
A. Standing alone, a chemical laboratory, nothing more.
(Pre-trial Tr. 87)

. The Government contends that the appearance of Martin’s and NPS’s names on the DEA list submitted to chemical supply houses tends to support a finding of probable cause. However, the fact that DEA may have suspected Martin or the company of illegal activity is entitled to no weight. See Spinelli v. United States, 393 U.S. 410, 414, 89 S.Ct. 584, 21 L.Ed.2d 637 (1969).

. The facts available to the agents in this case were far less incriminating than those found to establish probable cause in the following methamphetamine cases: United States v. Welebir, 498 F.2d 346 (4th Cir. 1974) (purchase of precursors; informer tip that defendant intended to set ■ up laboratory for illicit drug manufacture); United States v. Noreikis, 481 F.2d 1177 (7th Cir. 1973), cert. denied, 415 U.S. 904, 94 S.Ct. 1398, 39 L.Ed.2d 461 (1974) (police affidavit that defendants possessed precursors; lithium aluminum hydride traced to the house); United States v. Moore, 452 F.2d 569 (6th Cir. 1971), cert. denied, 407 U.S. 910, 92 S.Ct. 2435, 32 L.Ed.2d 684 (1972) (delivery of precursors to mail drop; use of fictitious names; activities within building outside normal working hours). Cf. United States v. Ortiz, 445 F.2d 1100 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, 404 U.S. 993, 92 S.Ct. 541, 30 L.Ed.2d 545 (1971) (presence of precursors inside defendant’s cabin and discovery of methamphetamine outside nearby found sufficient to sustain conviction for manufacturing illicit drug).
And at least one court has ruled that facts much more incriminating than those shown in this case failed to establish probable cause. United States v. Failla, 343 F.Supp. 831 (W.D. N.Y.1972). In that case, the agents knew at the moment of arrest that defendant had ordered lithium aluminum hydride, used another’s name, and operated a laboratory in his basement.