Court Opinion

ID: 9847937
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 04:10:10.793017+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:17:47.993815
License: Public Domain

McMurray, Presiding Judge,
dissenting.
I must respectfully dissent.
The majority opinion correctly observes that reasonable suspicion to justify a Terry stop may exist on the collective knowledge of the police. See, e.g., United States v. Allison, 616 F2d 779 (5th Cir. 1980). However, the majority’s analysis mistakenly stops there. A tip does not create a reasonable suspicion of criminality simply because it is relayed amongst members of the police force. See Parker v. State, 161 Ga. App. 37, 39 (3) (288 SE2d 852), wherein it is said, “In cases where an informant supplies the information to one officer who then relays it to a fellow officer, the question has revolved around the reliability of the informant.” The majority opinion leaves the question begging: Did the tip carry sufficient indicia of reliability to justify a Terry stop?
The State had the burden of providing evidence sufficient to answer this question affirmatively. See Duckworth v. State, 246 Ga. 631, 634 (272 SE2d 332) (1980). As the majority opinion notes, the record is silent on this question. Thus, the reliability of the informant has not been demonstrated.
It has been held that a “tip from an informant of unknown reliability ordinarily will not create a reasonable suspicion of criminality.” United States v. Kent, 691 F2d 1376, 1379 (11th Cir. 1982), cert. denied 462 U. S. 1119 (103 SC 3086, 77 LE2d 1348) (1983). “Such a tip will often give no indication of the informant’s past reliability, nor will it indicate the basis for the informant’s information and conclusion that criminal conduct is taking place.” United States v. Gomez, 776 F2d 542, 546 (5th Cir. 1985). Thus, it is clear that “[s]ome tips, completely lacking in indicia of reliability, would either warrant no police response or require further investigation before a forcible stop of a suspect would be authorized.” Adams v. Williams, 407 U. S. 143, supra at 147. In my opinion, the tip in the case sub judice falls into this category.
I recognize that in numerous cases investigatory stops have been upheld where the information given by an unknown tipster is corroborated by the observation of innocent details. See, e.g., United States v. Gomez, 776 F2d 542, supra; United States v. White, 648 F2d 29, 43 (D.C. Cir.), cert. denied 454 U. S. 924 (102 SC 424, 70 LE2d 233) (1981); United States v. Sierra-Hernandez, 581 F2d 760 (9th Cir.), cert. denied 439 U. S. 936 (99 SC 333, 58 LE2d 333) (1978); State v. *606Jernigan, 377 S2d 1222 (La. 1979), cert. denied Jernigan v. Louisiana, 446 U. S. 958; Groves v. United States, 504 A2d 602 (D.C. App. 1986). Two common factors can be found in these cases.
The first factor is the danger to the public. The information received from the unknown informant often presents an immediate and real danger to the public if, in fact, it is correct. See, e.g., United States v. White, 648 F2d 29, supra at 45; State v. Jernigan, 377 S2d 1222, supra at 1225; McGhee v. State, 253 Ga. 278, 279 (1) (319 SE2d 836). (In this regard, it should be noted that the “need” for a stop lies in direct proportion to the seriousness of the offense. See United States v. Oates, 560 F2d 45, 59 (2nd Cir. 1977).) The second factor is the reliability of the informant. The question is whether it is reasonable to infer from the information received that the informant “is sufficiently well-acquainted with the individual to know that he may be involved in criminal activity.” United States v. Gomez, 776 F2d 542, supra at 547. In other words, the information given by the informant must not be of “the sort readily available to the public.” Id.
Neither one of these factors can be found in this case. The only information given by the informant which was corroborated by the officer before he made the investigatory stop was the make and model of an automobile bearing a particular license plate. This information was readily available to any passerby. It did not suggest that the informant could have known more personal facts about defendant. It was not specific as to time or place. Even if correct, the information did not demonstrate an immediate and real danger to the public. (The informant did not intimate the vehicle would be operated in a negligent manner or that the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Compare Griggs v. State, 167 Ga. App. 581 (1) (307 SE2d 75). The only assertion made by the informant was that the driver of the vehicle had a suspended driver’s license. This crime does not pose an imminent threat to the safety of the public. See OCGA § 40-5-121 (a).)
The recent case of State v. Noble, 179 Ga. App. 785 (347 SE2d 722), upon which the majority relies, is not apposite. First, “Unlike a person who makes an anonymous telephone call, [the Noble] informant confronted the agent directly. By thus presenting himself to the agent and doing so while driving a car from which his identity might easily be traced, the informant was in a position to be held accountable for his intervention. The reliability of the information was thus increased.” United States v. Sierra-Hernandez, 581 F2d 760, 763 (9th Cir. 1978). Second, the temporal and spatial accuracy of the information was not a matter of conjecture. Third, the crime charged, driving under the influence, presented a clear danger to the public.
I would reverse the judgment of the trial court.
*607Decided October 20, 1986.
Benjamin W. Studdard III, for appellant.
E. Byron Smith, District Attorney, Thomas McBerry, Assistant District Attorney, for appellee.