Court Opinion

ID: 4429097
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-08-20 19:18:02.762465+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:51:09.599284
License: Public Domain

RECORD IMPOUNDED

                             NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
                            APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
     This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court." Although it is posted on the
  internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

                                                      SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                                      APPELLATE DIVISION
                                                      DOCKET NO. A-3864-17T4

STATE OF NEW JERSEY,
IN THE INTEREST OF E.J.,

     a Juvenile.
________________________

                 Submitted March 4, 2019 – Decided March 15, 2019

                 Before Judges Haas and Sumners.

                 On appeal from Superior Court of New Jersey,
                 Chancery Division, Family Part, Warren County,
                 Docket No. FJ-21-0016-18.

                 Richard T. Burke, Warren County Prosecutor, attorney
                 for appellant State of New Jersey (Matthew P. Tallia,
                 Assistant Prosecutor, of counsel and on the brief).

                 Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney for
                 respondent E.J. (Neil A. Gillespie, Assistant Deputy
                 Public Defender, of counsel and on the brief).

PER CURIAM

       By leave granted, the State appeals from the Law Division's March 28,

2018 order granting E.J.'s motion to suppress evidence found in a house after an
occupant of the home asked the police to perform a welfare check to make sure

the other occupants were safe. Having considered the State's arguments in light

of the record and applicable principles of law, we reverse.

      At approximately 9:24 a.m. on July 4, 2017, Officer William Lance

responded to a residence in a public housing project after dispatch received a

911 call. He was met there by Officer Hulse.

        Upon arrival, Officer Lance saw a man he knew as Terrell Johnson

pacing in front of the home. There was another man, Walter Chisholm, who was

in front of a house "a couple of doors down" from Johnson's home. The men

were about twenty feet away from each other and they "were swinging their arms

around" and "speaking gibberish." Both men appeared to be intoxicated.

      Officer Lance recognized Johnson because he had had prior encounters

with him. The officer knew that Johnson lived in the house with his girlfriend

Deanna, and her children. When Officer Lance spoke to Johnson, he confirmed

he resided there.

      Johnson told Officer Lance that he "was concerned with the welfare of his

girlfriend Deanna . . . and her children who were inside the residence." Although

Johnson was "slurring his words," Officer Lance testified that Johnson lucidly

stated "that he was afraid for his life. There were knives in the house. He was

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concerned for the children and Deanna." Johnson kept repeating, "[t]hey have

knives. There are people after me. They want to kill me." Johnson then asked

the officers to go into his home and check on his girlfriend and the children. 1

Officer Lance testified that based upon Johnson's request and the information he

provided, he believed "[t]hat there could be people with knives inside the home,

and that there were children that could be in jeopardy, children and the girlfriend

Deanna."

      The officers found that the screen door at the front of the house was

unlocked, and they could see an individual lying on a couch in the living room.

Officer Lance announced himself as a police officer in a "loud boisterous voice,"

but the individual did not move. The officers then went into the house. Officer

Lance explained that the officers needed to quickly "clear" all the rooms in the

home to protect their safety and that of the occupants.

      Once inside the home, Officer Lance woke the individual on the couch,

who identified himself as one of Deanna's children. Officer Lance asked if there

was anyone else in the house, and the juvenile replied, "yes, there were people

upstairs." The officer then heard "a shuffling coming from the upstairs room."

1
  Officer Lance also explained that Johnson did not assert that he was afraid of
Chisholm or that Chisholm was the source of his fear that his girlfriend and her
children were in danger inside the home.
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        Officer Lance continued to announce that he was a police officer in a loud

voice and the officers proceeded to the second floor. As they were walking up

the stairs, the officers could smell marijuana.

        Officer Lance knew the layout of the home and that there were three

bedrooms. In the first bedroom, the officers found Deanna "passed out, almost

face down on the bed." Officer Lance could see that the second bedroom was

empty. He then heard "a commotion going on in the middle bedroom."

        Officer Lance testified that the door to that bedroom was slightly open,

and he "used [his] left foot to push the door ajar." As soon as he did so, he saw

E.J. "standing in front of . . . the doorway with a handgun in his hand pointing

it in my direction." Officer Lance shouted "gun" to Officer Hulse, and E.J. threw

the gun on the bed next to him. When he did so, the officer could see there was

a female laying under the covers.

        Officer Lance ordered E.J. to get on the floor, but he failed to comply.

The officer kicked E.J. in the chin and he went to the floor. The officers then

handcuffed and arrested him. At that point, E.J. told the officers that he was a

juvenile.2 After the officers gave E.J. his Miranda3 rights, he stated he had not

2
    It does not appear that E.J. was one of Deanna's children.
3
    Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).
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                                         4
heard the officers announce themselves, and that "[h]e thought someone was

coming to rob him." Officer Lance then saw several bags of marijuana on the

bedroom dresser, in an open dresser drawer, and on the floor of the bedroom.

No one else was found in the home.

      The police charged E.J. with committing acts which, if committed by an

adult, would constitute second-degree possession of a weapon by a convicted

person, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7(a); second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun,

N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5(b)(1); third-degree aggravated assault by pointing a firearm at

a police officer, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b)(9); fourth-degree possession of a defaced

firearm, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3(d); fourth-degree possession of hollow-nosed bullets,

N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3(f)(1); and possession of less than fifty grams of marijuana, a

disorderly persons offense under N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10(a)(4).

      Officer Lance was the only witness at the suppression hearing. At the end

of the proceeding, the trial judge stated "that the officer who had testified

appeared to be credible. There didn't appear to be and from what I have heard

any evidence of any ulteri[or] motive here."

      Nevertheless, the judge granted E.J.'s motion to suppress the gun and

marijuana found in the house. Even though the officers knew that Johnson lived

in the house with his girlfriend and her children, and even though Johnson

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confirmed this fact when he asked Officer Lance to conduct a welfare check to

ensure that his loved ones were safe, the judge found that "[t]here [was]

insufficient evidence from which to conclude that [Johnson] lived there or had

any lawful right to invite the police to search." In his brief written opinion, the

judge also stated that because Johnson appeared to be intoxicated, he could not

"find that [Johnson] had the mental capacity to consent to a search."

      Despite Officer Lance's undisputed testimony that Johnson never claimed

that Chisholm was the source of his fear, the judge stated that "[a]ny perceived

threat came from Mr. Chisholm, who was outside in the presence of other police

officers." The judge also noted that the "house was not on fire"; there was "[n]o

screaming"; "[n]o arguments"; "[n]o smell of smoke or gas"; and "[n]o one

appeared to be choking or otherwise in distress." Therefore, the judge concluded

that no exigent circumstances existed to permit the officers to enter the home to

check on the welfare of Johnson's girlfriend and her children. This appeal

followed.

      On appeal, the State argues that "the trial court erroneously granted [E.J.'s]

motion to suppress." We agree.

      When reviewing an order granting or denying a motion to suppress

evidence, we accept a trial court's findings of fact if they are supported by

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sufficient credible evidence in the record. State v. Gamble, 218 N.J. 412, 424

(2014) (citing State v. Elders, 192 N.J. 224, 243 (2007)). Deference should be

afforded to a trial judge's findings when they are "substantially influenced by

his [or her] opportunity to hear and see the witnesses and to have the 'feel' of the

case, which a reviewing court cannot enjoy." State v. Johnson, 42 N.J. 146, 161

(1964). If the trial court's decision is based upon a legal conclusion, "we conduct

a de novo, plenary review." State v. Rockford, 213 N.J. 424, 440 (2013). "A

trial court's interpretation of the law . . . and the consequences that flow from

established facts are not entitled to any special deference." Gamble, 218 N.J. at

425.

       Under the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution and

Article I, Paragraph 7 of the New Jersey Constitution, "[a] warrantless search is

presumed invalid unless it falls within one of the recognized exceptions to the

warrant requirement." State v. Cooke, 163 N.J. 657, 664 (2000) (citing State v.

Alston, 88 N.J. 211, 230 (1981)). The same is true of the warrantless seizure of

a person or property. Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 19-21 (1968) (seizure of a

person); see State v. Hempele, 120 N.J. 182, 216-17 (1990) (seizure of property).

       Here, the State asserted that the officers were permitted to enter Johnson's

home because he asked them to do so. A recognized exception to the warrant

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requirement is a party's consent to search a home. State v. Cushing, 226 N.J.

187, 199 (2016). A party's ability to consent to a search "rests on his or her

'joint occupation' of and 'common authority' over the premises." Ibid. (quoting

Fernandez v. California, 571 U.S. 292, 300-301 (2014); Illinois v. Rodriguez,

497 U.S. 177, 181(1990)). "A co-habitant who possesses common authority

over or has a sufficient relationship to the premises or effects sought to be

inspected may voluntarily consent to a lawful search." State v. Lamb, 218 N.J.

300, 315 (2014) (citing United States v. Matlock, 415 U.S. 164, 171 (1974)).

These third parties may have actual authority to consent "based on their common

use of the space searched." Cushing, 226 N.J. at 200 (citing State v. Suazo, 133

N.J. 315, 319-20 (1993)).

      The judge's finding that the evidence presented at the suppression hearing

was insufficient to demonstrate that Johnson lived in the home with his

girlfriend and the children, and therefore had the ability to invite the police to

conduct a welfare check, is not supported by the record. Indeed, all of the

credible evidence is to the contrary. Officer Lance testified that he knew

Johnson from having prior encounters with him. He knew that Johnson lived in

the home and that he resided there with his girlfriend Deanna and her children.

Even if Officer Lance did not have this prior knowledge, Johnson again told the

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police he resided in the home before asking them to enter to check on the safety

of the other occupants. Under these circumstances, Johnson plainly had the

authority to request the welfare check, thereby giving his consent to the police

to enter the home. Lamb, 218 N.J. at 318.

        Moreover, even if Johnson did not have actual authority to consent, he had

the "apparent authority" to do so. Apparent authority "arises when a third party

(1) does not possess actual authority to consent but appears to have such

authority and (2) the law enforcement officer reasonably relied, from an

objective perspective, on that appearance of authority." Cushing, 226 N.J. at

199-200 (citing Rodriguez, 497 U.S. at 185-89). "The question is 'whether the

officer's belief that the third party had the authority to consent was objectively

reasonable in view of the facts and circumstances known at the time of the

search.'" State v. Coles, 218 N.J. 322, 340 (2014) (quoting Suazo, 133 N.J. at

320).

        Here, the officers knew that Johnson was a resident of the home, and knew

that he lived there with his girlfriend and her children. Johnson also told them

he lived there on the date of the incident. He explicitly asked the officers to go

into the home and make sure that the other residents were safe. The judge found

that Officer Lance was a credible witness. Thus, in light of the facts and

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                                         9
circumstances known at the time of the search, Officer Lance's belief that

Johnson had actual authority to consent was objectively reasonable. Therefore,

the officers' entry into the residence at Johnson's request was permissible under

the consent exception to the warrant requirement.

      The judge's conclusion that Johnson was too intoxicated to request , or

consent to, the welfare check is also not supported by the record or the governing

case law. To be valid, the party's consent to a search must be knowing and

voluntary. State v. Domicz, 188 N.J. 285, 305 (2006). "Voluntariness is a

question of fact to be determined from all the circumstances . . . ." Schneckloth

v. Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 218, 248-49 (1973). The intoxication of a defendant

does not automatically mean that he or she cannot knowingly and voluntarily

waive a constitutional right. State v. Warmbrun, 277 N.J. Super. 51, 61-62

(App. Div. 1994) (holding that in determining whether an intoxicated defendant

validly consented to a waiver of his Miranda rights, the court must consider the

totality of the circumstances, including whether the individual was able to

demonstrate an understanding of their actions despite their condition); see also

State v. Bauman, 298 N.J. Super. 176, 194 (App. Div. 1997) (holding that "[a]

jury charge on voluntary intoxication is required only if there exists a 'rational

basis for the conclusion that [the] defendant's "faculties" were so "prostrated"

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                                       10
that he or she was incapable of forming' the requisite intent") (quoting State v.

Mauricio, 117 N.J. 402, 418-19 (1990)).

      Applying these principles, we conclude that the judge's determination that

Johnson was too intoxicated to request the welfare check is simply not supported

by the credible evidence in the record. Although Johnson was slurring his words

and "talking gibberish" when the police arrived, Officer Lance testified that he

began "making sense" when he repeatedly told the police "that he was afraid for

his life" and "[h]e was concerned for the children and Deanna."         Johnson

demonstrated he was aware of his surroundings by telling the officers that he

lived in the residence, and he was able to relate that his girlfrien d and the

children were also at home. He kept insisting that he and his loved ones were

in danger. Nothing in the record indicates that Johnson's faculties were so

prostrated that he could not form the intent to ask the police to conduct a quick

welfare check inside his home to ensure that everyone was safe.

      Because Johnson consented to the police entry into the home, the police

did not first have to obtain a warrant to follow through with his request.

However, even if this were not the case, the search was also appropriate under

the community-caretaking doctrine even if there was no valid consent.

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                                      11
      This doctrine, first enunciated by the United States Supreme Court in

Cady v. Dombrowski, 413 U.S. 433 (1973), is based on the idea that police

officers "often are called on to perform dual roles." State v. Diloreto, 180 N.J.

264, 276 (2004).     The doctrine applies when the "police are engaged in

functions, [which are] totally divorced from the detection, investigation, or

acquisition of evidence relating to the violation of a [criminal] statute." Id. at

275 (alterations in original) (quoting State v. Cassidy, 179 N.J. 150, 161 n.4

(2004)).

      The doctrine serves as an exception to the warrant requirement for a search

(1) when the officers' actions are "unconnected to a criminal investigation" and

(2) when their actions are "objectively reasonable under the totality of the

circumstances." Id. at 278. The question "is not the circumstances that brought

the police to the scene . . ., but whether the actual entry into the [home] was for

the legitimate purpose of fulfilling a community caretaking responsibility."

State v. Bogan, 200 N.J. 61, 77 (2009).

      In New Jersey, "[w]ithout the presence of consent or some species of

exigent circumstances, the community-caretaking doctrine is not a basis for the

warrantless entry into and search of a home." State v. Vargas, 213 N.J. 301, 321

(2013) (emphasis added).        Nevertheless, "[p]olice officers serving in a

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                                       12
community-caretaking role are empowered to make a warrantless entry into a

home under the emergency-aid exception to the warrant requirement." Id. at

323. The emergency-aid exception applies in exigent circumstances, allowing

an officer to enter a home without a warrant if the officer has "'an objectively

reasonable basis to believe that an emergency requires that he [or she] provide

immediate assistance to protect or preserve life, or to prevent serious injury' and

there is a 'reasonable nexus between the emergency and the area or places to be

searched.'" Id. at 323-24 (quoting State v. Edmonds, 211 N.J. 117, 132 (2012)).

      The judge incorrectly concluded that emergency aid could only be

provided to Johnson and the other occupants of the house if there was a fire, a

loud argument, the smell of smoke or gas, someone choking, or knives in plain

view in the house. As noted above, however, only "some species of exigent

circumstances" was required to enable the police to enter the home to check on

the welfare of the occupants. Vargas, 213 N.J. at 321. When the police arrived,

Johnson repeatedly told them that he feared for his life because there were

people with knives inside his home with his girlfriend and her children.

      Under those circumstances, Officer Lance reasonably believed that he

needed to enter the home, as Johnson requested, to check on the welfare of his

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                                       13
loved ones.4 Therefore, the police properly responded to Johnson's request

under the community-caretaking doctrine and the evidence they observed in

plain view as they conducted the welfare check was properly seized.

      For these reasons, we reverse the judge's decision granting E.J.'s motion

to suppress, and remand the matter for further proceedings.

      Reversed and remanded. We do not retain jurisdiction.

4
  Contrary to the judge's observation, there was nothing untoward about Officer
Lance asking the individual on the couch whether there were other people in the
home before inquiring whether the individual was in danger. As the officer
explained, the police needed to quickly ascertain who was in the home in order
to ensure their own safety and that of the other occupants.

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                                     14