526 F.2d 1314 | 5th Cir. | 1975
This is an appeal by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from a decision of the district court granting appellee’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus
Appellee’s habeas corpus petition was grounded on the claim that the state trial court improperly denied his pretrial motion to suppress evidence which was later introduced against him. Evidence from two separate searches is at issue in this case: a warrantless search of an automobile which petitioner had driven before his arrest, and a search conducted pursuant to a warrant of his apartment. The district court held that the evidence from these searches was illegally obtained and should have been suppressed. After a review of the record in this case we reverse.
The petitioner was arrested by Boston police officer Robert Hughes on January 12, 1970. There was evidence of the following events prior to the arrest. In November 1969, the apartment of one Mona Lacey on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston was robbed. Among the articles stolen from the apartment was a check-cashing courtesy card issued by the Star Market Company.
Officer Hughes also had information that the petitioner, whom he had previously known, was involved in the passing of worthless checks. He received information from many informants (including one or more of the victims of the transactions involving worthless checks) that •the woman who appeared in the photographs was accompanied by a male who fitted petitioner’s general description; at the suppression hearing the judge found petitioner’s haircut and mustache to present “definitely identifiable features.”
On January 12, 1970, a Boston real estate agent called officer Hughes and reported that a woman resembling the one in the circulated Star Market photograph had been in his office and was expected to return later that day. Officer Hughes and detective Sullivan took up a surveillance position outside the realtor’s office. At about 5:45 that evening the two officers observed a car parked on Commonwealth Avenue approximately fifty feet from the office. Hughes recognized the driver as petitioner-appellee and his passenger as the woman in the Star Market photograph. The two got out of the car and went
Following the arrest, Hughes went out to the car “to find who the owner of the car was.” With a flashlight he looked through a closed window and saw an envelope on the floor with checks sticking out approximately one inch. He could not see anyone’s name on the checks. He then opened the car door, took out the checks and observed the name “Joseph Shain” printed on them. These checks form the basis of one of the seven indictments on which petitioner was convicted. Hughes also opened the glove compartment looking for the registration
After the arrest of the pair Hughes went to an address given him by petitioner. This proved to be a rooming house and the proprietor informed him that petitioner and the female arrestee lived in room 3 on the first floor. Detective Sullivan then secured a search warrant for the room from the Roxbury District Court. The warrant was executed later that same evening.
First, we examine the automobile search which yielded evidence that formed the basis for one of the seven indictments on which petitioner was convicted.
The critical question then is whether there were sufficiently exigent circumstances confronting the police to justify a warrantless search. In determining what constitutes exigent circumstances the Supreme Court has examined a variety of factors. Cardwell v. Lewis, 417 U.S. 583, 94 S.Ct. 2464, 41 L.Ed.2d 325 (1974) represents the Court’s most recent analysis of the issue of exigent circumstances. In that case, after the police arrested the defendant they impounded his car from a nearby public, commercial parking lot, and thereafter made a warrantless examination of the exterior. The Court, in a plurality opinion, distinguished Coolidge v. New Hampshire, 403 U.S. 443, 91 S.Ct. 2022, 29 L.Ed.2d 564 (1971) on the ground that there the police had entered on the defendant’s private property and seized the car which was parked in his driveway, and applied Chambers v. Maroney, supra, to uphold the validity of the warrantless seizure, Cardwell v. Lewis, supra 417 U.S. at 593, 94 S.Ct. 2464.
In the present case the district court, overturning the judgment of the Supreme Judicial Court, held there were no exigent circumstances.
The other critical factor for the district court in its finding of no exigent circumstances was that since both suspects were arrested and officer Hughes’ prior investigation had not indicated any confederates who might approach the car, there was no necessity to move it immediately nor any indication the evi
The second issue presented by this case is the validity of the search of petitioner’s apartment pursuant to a warrant obtained by detective Sullivan. The articles seized in this search form the basis of the remaining six indictments on which petitioner was convicted. The district court held that since the automobile search was improper, the “warrant therefore was the fruit of an illegal search.” Since we uphold the validity of the car search, the district court’s analysis is inapposite. The affidavit accompanying the warrant presented ample information on which a magistrate could find probable cause to believe that stolen property was being concealed at petitioner’s apartment.
Petitioner claims that the averment in the affidavit that the “subjects”
The decision of the district court granting appellee’s petition for habeas corpus is reversed.
. Petitioner was sentenced, pursuant to Mass. G.L. c. 266, § 62, to a consolidated term of a minimum of three years and a maximum of seven years and was committed to the Massachusetts Correctional Institution (MCI), Walpole, on May 28, 1970. He was released on parole on February 16, 1971. Upon revocation ofr parole, he was returned to MCI, Walpole, on October 29, 1973; he was again released on December 17, 1973, and continues on parole. In his parole status he is still “in custody” within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 2241 pursuant to which he sought habeas corpus relief. Jones v. Cunningham, 371 U.S. 236, 83 S.Ct. 373, 9 L.Ed.2d 285 (1963).
. In addition there were checks with Mona Lacey’s name printed on them, an out-of-state driver’s license, and six or seven credit or identification cards.
. Officer Hughes’ investigation also disclosed that petitioner and the woman in question were using an automobile which had not been reported stolen, but which was registered to a Mr. Kaler.
. Although Hughes was not aware of the fact at the time of the arrest, the woman was the daughter of the owner of the automobile and was using the car with her father’s permission.
. The Supreme Judicial Court, in upholding the validity of the search of the car, held that Hughes had a valid reason to intrude into the car “for the limited purpose of investigating ownership.” Commonwealth v. Haefeli, supra 279 N.E.2d at 921. However, we do not uphold the search on that basis. See discussion infra.
. The Commonwealth contends that when officer Hughes saw the checks protruding from the envelope on the floor of the car they were in “plain view” and could be seized without a warrant. Harris v. United States, 390 U.S. 234, 88 S.Ct. 992, 19 L.Ed.2d 1067 (1968). While we are inclined to think the plain view doctrine is inapplicable to this case, see Coolidge v. New Hampshire, 403 U.S. 443, 465-68, 91 S.Ct. 2022, 29 L.Ed.2d 564 (1971), we need not reach the question in view of our holding on the automobile exception aspect.
. While Cardwell ruled that the police action was not a search within the meaning of the fourth amendment, 417 U.S. at 588-92, 94 S.Ct. 2464, its discussion of the application of the automobile exception in general, and of Chambers v. Maroney in particular, drew no distinctions between searches and seizures in this context.
. In finding no “exigent circumstances” the district court emphasized the fact, indicated in the transcript of the suppression hearing, that Hughes was not alone at the scene of the arrest, but was accompanied by detective Sullivan who could have assisted in obtaining a warrant. The district court noted that neither the Superior Court’s findings after the suppression hearing nor the opinion of the Supreme Judicial Court mentioned a second police officer. Consequently, the district court obtained a stipulation from the parties that the arrest and search were carried out by more than one officer. The court also stayed the federal proceedings in order to give the Supreme Judicial Court an opportunity to reconsider its earlier decision. The parties thereafter filed a joint request for a rehearing in the Supreme Judicial Court which was denied.
While we are satisfied that the record indicates two officers were present, this does not affect our holding that in light of Cardwell v. Lewis, supra, the situation in this case involved “exigent circumstances.”
In denying the request for a rehearing, the Supreme Judicial Court suggested petitioner could seek discretionary relief at the trial court level pursuant to Mass.G.L. c. 278, § 29. On the basis of this suggestion the Commonwealth contends that petitioner has not exhausted his state remedies pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. The district court properly rejected this claim.
Evidence of the second officer’s presence was available and was not withheld by petitioner in the state court proceeding. As the Eighth Circuit has recently held: “[ajbsent a willful withholding of evidence by the defendant in the state proceeding, the requirement of exhaustion does not preclude the District Court from entertaining the issue previously raised in state court and deciding the habeas claim upon the basis of new evidence.” Austin v. Swenson, 522 F.2d 168 at 170 (8th Cir. 1975); see Townsend v. Sain, 372 U.S. 293, 83 S.Ct. 745, 9 L.Ed.2d 770 (1963).
. The recent per curiam reversal in Texas v. White,-U.S.-, 96 S.Ct. 304, 46 L.Ed.2d 209, in which the Court below had emphasized the absence of exigent circumstances but the Court found it unnecessary to even discuss the issue, further supports our conclusion.
- “January 12, 1970
I, William H. Sullivan, being duly sworn, depose and say:
1. I am a detective, Boston Police Department, District 14
2. I have information based upon photographs of a female subject whom I arrested this date for Receiving Stolen Property and also for Forging & Uttering stolen checks and also a male subject whom I arrested in her company for Receiving Stolen Property. I have probable cause to believe, as a result of evidence found on these subjects (in their possession) at the time of their arrest, that these two subjects have been involved in the larcenies of mail (U.S.) on this District. These subjects (David Haefeli, 21 years, 901 Beacon Street, Boston and Janice Kaler, 19 years of 901 Beacon St., Boston) had identification in the name of one Mona Lacey, 1152 Commonwealth Ave., Allston — whose apartment had been burglarized on Nov. 24, 1969; checks and identification were reportedly stolen in this break.
3. Based upon the foregoing reliable information — and upon my personal knowledge and belief — and attached affidavits — there is probable cause to believe that the property hereinafter described— has been stolen — or is being concealed, etc. and may be found in the possession of David A. Haefeli and Janice Kaler at premises 901 Beacon St., Boston.
4. The property for which I seek the issuance of a search warrant is the following: Stolen mail, checks and identification, such as driver’s licenses, credit cards, charge plates.
WHEREFORE, I respectively request that the court issue a warrant and order of seizure, authorizing the search of Room # 3, on the first floor of a 3 story brick rooming house numbered 901 Beacon St., Boston and directing that if such property or evidence or any part thereof be found that it be seized and brought before the court; together with such other and further relief that the court may deem proper.
WILLIAM H. SULLIVAN Signature of Applicant”