317 P.3d 408
Or. Ct. App.2014Background
- Defendant challenges suppression of evidence obtained after stop and arrest for UPPA and attempted prostitution under Article I, section 9 of the Oregon Constitution.
- Officer monitored defendant on 82nd Avenue (a high-vice area) for over an hour, then stopped and arrested her based on suspected UPPA/attempted prostitution.
- Trial court denied suppression; defendant waived jury and proceeded to bench trial, resulting in conviction for UPPA.
- Appellate court found the arrest violated Article I, section 9, and reversed and remanded for suppression of all evidence obtained as a result of the stop and arrest.
- Court applied totality-of-circumstances review and relied on Valdez, Moya, Loud, Jacobs (and related precedents) to hold that the observed conduct was not a substantial basis for probable cause to arrest.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether Kula had probable cause to arrest defendant. | State argues totality supported probable cause. | Duncan contends conduct lacked substantial step toward prostitution. | Arrest unconstitutional; no probable cause. |
| Whether the stop was supported by reasonable suspicion. | State contends conduct was enough for reasonable suspicion. | Duncan asserts lack of particularized suspicion. | Stop invalid for lack of reasonable suspicion. |
| Whether suppression is required under Article I, section 9. | State maintains admissibility despite flawed stop/arrest. | Duncan urges suppression for unlawful seizure. | Evidence obtained as a result of unlawful stop/arrest must be suppressed. |
Key Cases Cited
- State v. Ebly?, 317 Or 66 (1993) (bound review of suppression decisions; facts binding when supported)
- State v. Alvarado, 257 Or App 612 (2013) (reasonable suspicion standard; totality of circumstances)
- State v. Mitchele, 240 Or App 86 (2010) (articulable facts required for stop; person-specific)
- State v. Miglavs, 337 Or 1 (2004) (conduct must be more than consistent with crime)
- State v. Kingsmith, 256 Or App 762 (2013) (reasonable suspicion; person-based assessment)
- State v. Villemeyer, 227 Or App 193 (2009) (intuition insufficient for reasonable suspicion)
- Valdez v. City of Portland, 277 Or 621 (1977) (high-crime area + ambiguous conduct not enough for stop)
- State v. Moya, 97 Or App 375 (1989) (drug-area observations insufficient for stop; similar to Valdez)
- State v. Loud, 149 Or App 250 (1997) (brief visit in high-drug-area not enough for stop)
- State v. Jacobs, 187 Or App 330 (2003) (furtiveness not enough for probable cause)
- State v. Heckathorne, 347 Or 474 (2009) (probable cause requires substantial basis; not mere suspicion)
- State v. Foster, 350 Or 161 (2011) (probable cause requires more likely explanation than unlawful one)
- State v. Owens, 302 Or 196 (1986) (probable cause standard for arrest)
- State v. Verdine, 290 Or 553 (1981) (probable cause concept in arrest context)
