State Of Washington, V Bryan Anaya-degante ( 2015 )

OOURT' OF APPEALS
DIVISION II
2015 FEB - 3 AFB 3153
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATEREVAIIMMON
DIVISION II BY
OTY
STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 44789 -4 -II
Appellant,
v.
BRYAN ANAYA- DEGANTE,
Respondent.
STATE OF WASHINGTON, Consolidated with
No. 44792 -4 -II
Appellant,
v.
WILIBALDO HERRERA -IBARRA, UNPUBLISHED OPINION
Respondent.
SUTTON, J. — In this consolidated appeal, the State of Washington appeals the superior
court' s order granting Bryan Anaya -Degante and Wilibaldo Herrera -Ibarra' s motions to suppress
the evidence against them and the superior court' s orders dismissing the charges. The State
challenges one of the superior court' s findings of facts and its conclusions of law that the officers
did not have reasonable articulable suspicion of criminal activity that justified the initial
detentions. We' hold that substantial evidence supports the challenged finding of fact and that the
1 Although the State assigns error to several findings of fact, its argument addresses only one
finding. Because the State has not presented any argument related to the other findings to which
it assigns error, we will not consider the additional assignments of error. RAP 10. 3 ( a)( 6).
No. 44789 -4 -II (consolidated with No. 44792 -4 -II)
findings support the superior court' s conclusion that the initial detentions were not justified.
Accordingly, we affirm.
FACTS
I. BACKGROUND
On the evening of January 2, 2013, officers from the Clark- Vancouver Regional Drug Task
Force served a search warrant on Dhena Albert' s apartment. The search warrant authorized the
officers to search the apartment for methamphetamine, items related to the distribution and
packaging of methamphetamine; and various records, including records that would reveal " the
identity of co- conspirators and suppliers." Clerk' s Papers ( Herrera -Ibarra) ( CP( H)) at 19. The
2
search warrant did not identify any of the possible " co- conspirators or suppliers " by name or
provide any descriptions.
The officers serving the search warrant had information that there was a " possibil[ ity]" that
a Hispanic male could arrive at Ms. Albert' s apartment to deliver or purchase methamphetamine
that evening and that Albert' s Hispanic boyfriend might be present in violation of a no contact
order. Verbatim Report of Proceeding ( VRP) ( Feb. 28, 2013) at 22. They were also aware that
other Hispanic males had frequented the apartment to purchase and sell drugs during the
investigation, but they had no information identifying who these people were.
The officers executing the search warrant stationed an officer outside to warn them if
anyone approached the apartment. This officer advised the officers in the apartment that two
Hispanic men were approaching the apartment. Although the officer did not identify them at the
time, these men were Anaya- Degante and Herrera -Ibarra.
2 CP( H) at 19.
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No. 44789 -4 -II (consolidated with No. 44792 -4 -II)
Anaya- Degante knocked on the apartment door. When City of Vancouver Police Sergeant
Pat Moore opened the door, Anaya- Degante threw up his hands and appeared surprised to see the
officers. Clark County Sheriff's Detective Robert Latter immediately detained Anaya- Degante to
determine why he was at the apartment. When the officers searched Anaya -Degante, they found
two glass pipes that they identified as methamphetamine pipes; there was methamphetamine in the
pipes. When Anaya -Degante knocked on the door, Herrera -Ibarra was behind Anaya- Degante on
the stairs. When Herrera -Ibarra saw Sergeant Moore, he immediately turned and started to walk
away; one of the officers followed Herrera -Ibarra and told him to stop. Herrera -Ibarra did not
comply with the officer' s order to stop, but the officer caught up with him and ordered him to show
his hands. Herrera -Ibarra eventually complied and when the officer searched him he found bags
of methamphetamine on Herrera- Ibarra' s person.
II. SUPPRESSION MOTION
The State charged Anaya- Degante with possession of a controlled substance -
3), and charged Wilibaldo Herrera -Ibarra with possession of a
methamphetamine3 (
count
controlled substance with intent to deliver- methamphetamine4 ( count 4). 5 Anaya- Degante and
Herrera -Ibarra challenged their warrantless initial detentions.
3 RCW 69. 50. 4013( 1).
4
RCW 69. 50. 401( 1), ( 2)( b).
5
The State also charged Albert with various drug offenses ( counts I and II); Albert is not part of
this appeal.
3
No. 44789 -4 -II (consolidated with No. 44792 -4 -II)
At the suppression hearing, Vancouver Police Department Detective Shane Hall, Detective
Latter, and Sergeant Moore testified about executing the search warrant and detaining Anaya-
Degante and Herrera- Ibarra.6 Neither of the defendants presented any witnesses.
Following the hearing, and without making an oral ruling from the bench, the superior
court issued a written " Decision of the Court" and ordered the parties to present written findings
of fact and conclusions of law.7 CP( H) at 61. This written decision described the execution of the
search warrant and Anaya- Degante and Herrera -Ibarra' s initial detentions. 8 The decision also
stated that at the time of the initial detentions, the officers had no information specifically
identifying Anaya -Degante or Herrera -Ibarra as suspects and that the officers knew only that ( 1)
Albert' s Hispanic ex- boyfriend might be in or arriving at the apartment in violation of a no contact
order, and ( 2), based on information obtained during the investigation that led to the warrant,
Hispanic males bought and sold controlled substances in Albert' s apartment. Specifically, the
superior court stated:
Detective [ Sergeant] Moore testified that any Hispanic males who showed
up at the apartment while they were executing the warrant were going to be
considered suspicious. Detective [ Sergeant] Moore immediately detained
defendant Anaya -Degante after he knocked on the door. Detective [ Sergeant]
Moore also indicated he was going to detain the person walking down the steps.
Even though he did not know the person was associated with the apartment being
searched, the bases for the detention was the information provided to them during
the course of their investigation and the fact that they arrived at the apartment
during the execution of the warrant.
6 We describe the relevant portions of this testimony in more detail below.
7 This written decision related to all three superior court cause numbers and all three defendants.
8 The written findings of fact entered under Herrera- Ibarra' s cause number and described below
were essentially the same. To avoid repetition, we have summarized the written decision.
4
No. 44789 -4 -II (consolidated with No. 44792 -4 -II)
CP at 63 -64 ( emphasis added). The remaining factual findings were substantially similar to those
in the written findings of fact entered under Herrera- Ibarra' s superior court cause number.
The trial court concluded that under State v Broadnax, 98 Wn.2d 289, 654 P. 2d 96 ( 1982),
overruled on other grounds by Minnesota v. Dickerson, 508 U.S. 366, 113 S. Ct. 2130, 124 L. Ed.
2d 334 ( 1993), and State v Gatewood, 163 Wn.2d 534, 182 P. 2d 426 ( 2008), the initial detentions
were improper because the officers lacked individualized suspicion. The trial court then ordered
the prevailing parties to prepare and present written findings of fact and conclusions of law
consistent with the written decision. After the superior court issued its written decision, the State
moved to dismiss the charges against Anaya -Degante and Herrera -Ibarra without prejudice. The
superior court granted the motion.9
Herrera -Ibarra later presented written findings of fact and conclusions of law to the superior
court. 10 In addition to setting out the facts described above, the superior court found:
7. Detective [ Sergeant] Moore testified that any Hispanic males who showed
up at the apartment while they were executing the warrant were going to be
considered suspicious. Detective [ Sergeant] Moore immediately detained
defendant Anaya -Degante after he knocked on the door.
8. Detective [Sergeant] Moore also indicated he was going to detain the person
walking down the steps. Even though he did not know the person was associated
with the apartment being searched, the basis for the detention was the information
provided to them during the course of their investigation and the fact that they
arrived at the apartment during the execution of the warrant.
CP( H) ( Findings of Fact ( FF) 7, 8) at 73 ( emphasis added).
9 A second judge signed the orders dismissing the charges.
10 Anaya -Degante did not present the superior court any written findings of fact or conclusions of
law. And the findings of fact and conclusions of law entered in Herrera- Ibarra' s case do not refer
to Anaya -Degante or Anaya -Degante' s superior court cause number.
5
No. 44789 -4 -II (consolidated with No. 44792 -4 -II)
In regard to the suppression motion, the superior court made the following conclusions of
law:
1. The facts clearly demonstrate that the officers were going to detain any
Hispanic male who arrived at the residence while they were executing the search
warrant.
2. The officers pre- determined that no individualized suspicion or probable
cause was going to be needed for them to detain anybody who arrived at the
residence.
3. Herrera -Ibarra' s action by turning and walking down the steps does not
justify his arrest or detention.
4. Therefore, the motion to suppress based on the warrantless search is
granted. All evidence obtained as a result of the warrantless search of Mr. Herrera -
Ibarra should be suppressed.
CP( H) ( Conclusions of Law ( CL) ( b) 1 - 4)) at 74 ( emphasis added).
The State appeals.
ANALYSIS
The State challenges the superior court' s decision and order granting Anaya- Degante and
Herrera- Ibarra' s motions to suppress. It argues that the superior court erred in finding that
Sergeant] Moore testified that he would seize any Hispanic person without individualized
suspicion due to that person' s ethnicity "11 and in concluding that the officers lacked reasonable,
articulable suspicion to initially detain Anaya -Degante and Herrera -Ibarra. We disagree.
I. STANDARD OF REVIEW
We review the superior court' s decision on a motion to suppress by considering whether
substantial evidence supports the challenged findings and whether those findings support the
11 Br. of Appellant at 20 n. 5.
6
No. 44789 -4 -II (consolidated with No. 44792 -4 -II)
superior court' s conclusions of law. State v. Ross, 106 Wn. App. 876, 880, 26 P. 3d 298 ( 2001),
review denied, 145 Wn.2d 1016 ( 2002). Substantial evidence is evidence sufficient to persuade a
fair -minded person of the truth of the finding. State v. Levy, 156 Wn.2d 709, 733, 132 P. 3d 10762006). We consider unchallenged findings as verities on appeal. Ross, 106 Wn. App. at 880.
II. FINDINGS OF FACT
The State argues that the superior court' s finding that " Sgt. Moore testified that he would
seize any Hispanic person without individualized suspicion due to that person' s ethnicity," is not
supported by substantial evidence. 12 Br. of Appellant at 20 n.5. We disagree.
Moore testified that he decided to detain Anaya -Degante and Herrera -Ibarra based on the
totality of the circumstances," which included his knowledge that ( 1) a Hispanic male may have
been living in Albert' s apartment in violation of a restraining order, (2) Hispanic males frequented
Albert' s apartment, (3) Albert' s suppliers were Hispanic males, and ( 4) there was a possibility that
the suppliers would arrive at the apartment during the search. VRP ( Feb. 28, 2014) at 78.
Specifically, when the State asked Moore at what point he had decided to " have contact with"
Herrera -Ibarra, Moore testified the officers had decided to " stop and detain and at least identify
those individuals to see if they were potentially involved in a crime" because ( 1) the officers had
12 Although the superior court did not enter written findings of fact and conclusions of law in
Anaya- Degante' s case, the superior court' s written decision is sufficient to allow review. State v.
Smith, 76 Wn. App. 9, 16, 882 P. 2d 190 ( 1994) ( " A court' s failure to enter written findings of fact
and conclusions of law following a suppression hearing as required by CrR 3. 6 is harmless error
if the court' s oral opinion and the record of the hearing are ` so clear and comprehensive that written
findings would be a mere formality. "' ( quoting State v. Smith, 68 Wn. App. 201, 208, 842 P.2d
494 ( 1992)); see also State v. Head, 136 Wn. 2d 619, 622, 964 P. 2d 1187 ( 1998) ( trial court' s
written memorandum opinion is equivalent of a trial court' s oral expression of its informal
opinion).
7
No. 44789 -4 -II (consolidated with No. 44792 -4 -II)
probable cause to search the apartment for narcotics, ( 2) they had conducted one or two controlled
buys at the apartment, (
3) they had seen " other Hispanic males come and go from" the apartment,
4) they had information from informants that " other Hispanic males frequent[ ed]" the apartment,
and ( 5) they had found narcotics and " other evidence" when they searched the apartment. VRP
Feb. 28, 2013) at 62, 63.
In addition, when the State asked Moore what safety concerns he had upon Herrera- Ibarra' s
arrival, Moore testified that, based on his experience with the drug unit, in the majority of drug
operations there are firearms involved, "[ s] o anybody who shows up at a search warrant is gonna
be highly suspicious" and the officers would want to know why that person was there. VRP (Feb.
28, 2013) at 67. He further stated:
And, again, the information we had ahead of time was we knew thisthe
particular defendant who was renting the apartment where we had a search warrant
for, I mean, we knew who she was assoc — we didn' t have particular names, but we
knew she was associated with other Hispanic males who frequent her residence, so
with all that, we stopped and detained the —the two individuals that arrived.
VRP ( Feb. 28, 2013) at 67 -68.
Moore admitted, however, that although the officers knew that Albert' s boyfriend might
be living in the apartment and that Albert' s suppliers might be Hispanic males, the officers did not
have descriptions of Albert' s boyfriend or the Hispanic males who were potentially Albert' s drug
suppliers nor did the officers have the suppliers' names. He also admitted that the officers had
merely observed unidentified Hispanic males coming and going from the apartment during the
controlled buys.
8
No. 44789 -4 -II (consolidated with No. 44792 -4 -II)
Additionally, Moore testified, "[ Anaya -Degante] was detained from the moment he
knocked on the door and I answered the door. ... My sole purpose was to detain him." VRP
Feb. 28, 2013) at 78. Moore then stated,
Based on the totality of the circumstances, the time and the knowledge and
the training and experience I had at the time, based on [ Terry v. Ohio, 392 U. S. 1,
21, 88 S. Ct. 1868, 20 L. Ed. 2d 889 ( 1968)], I believed a crime has been committed,
was about to be committed, and that' s why I detained him.
And the mind -set was, I was already going to detain the individual knocking
at the door and the individual walking down the stairs. Okay?
I know the facts of the case of [ Terry v. Ohio], and at that time I felt we had
articulable, reasonable suspicion and evidence and facts leading up to that to allow
me, a police officer, to stop, detain and [ identify] the two individuals that arrived
at that apartment.
VRP ( Feb. 28, 2013) at 79 ( emphasis added). When Anaya- Degante' s counsel asked Moore if he
believed he could detain the defendants because they were Hispanic, Moore responded, " That' s —
that' s part of the facts. Hispanic males that we know frequent the apartment." VRP ( Feb. 28,
2013) at 80. Moore admitted, however, that there was no " documentation" that Anaya- Degante
was among the men who frequented the apartment, but he asserted, " But I think I have a right to
detain and to find out and [ identify] who that individual is and why he is coming to that apartment
based on what I' ve already testified to." VRP ( Feb. 28, 2014) at 80. Moore also admitted that
Anaya -Degante was not near any money or drugs when he arrived at the apartment.
Furthermore, when Anaya- Degante' s counsel asked Moore if he had any personal
knowledge that Anaya- Degante was involved in any criminal activity at the time of the detention,
Moore responded, " I didn' t know that. He arrived at the apartment. That' s why I detained him."
VRP (Feb. 29, 2013) at 82. He also admitted that when he stopped Herrera -Ibarra, he did not know
who Herrera -Ibarra was.
9
No. 44789 -4 -II (consolidated with No. 44792 -4 -II)
Although Moore asserted that the detentions were based on the circumstances as a whole,
his testimony described above clearly demonstrates that the key circumstance was that the
defendants were Hispanic men who approached Albert' s apartment. These facts, taken as a whole,
support the superior court' s finding that Moore would have detained any Hispanic male would
who arrived at the apartment during the search without any individualized suspicion. Accordingly,
this argument fails.
III. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
The State next asserts that the totality of the evidence established that the officers' initial
detentions13 of Anaya- Degante and Herrera -Ibarra were " reasonable and based on articulable facts
14
individually applied to Anaya -Degante and Herrera -Ibarra, " and did not amount to " racial
profiling." Br. of Appellant at 20 n.5. Essentially, the State argues that the officers had reasonable
suspicion because Anaya- Degante and Herrera -Ibarra " fit the description of the drug suppliers who
were expected to arrive at the apartment during the time period when they did" and the apartment
was a known drug area. Br. of Appellant at 20. This argument fails.
A. Reasonable Suspicion Standards
To avoid violating the Fourth Amendment15 guarantee against unreasonable searches and
seizures, the State bears the burden of showing that a warrantless seizure fits one of a few limited
and jealously guarded exceptions to the warrant requirement. State v. Williams, 102 Wn.2d 733,
13 Although neither party discusses at what point the actual detentions occurred, the parties appear
to assume that Anaya -Degante was detained immediately after Moore opened the door and that
Herrera -Ibarra was detained when he started to walk down the stairs and was ordered to stop.
14 Br. of Appellant at 21.
15 U. S. CONST. amend. IV.
10
No. 44789 -4 -II (consolidated with No. 44792 -4 -II)
736, 689 P. 2d 1065 ( 1984). The detention or search of someone other than an occupant during a
valid search of a residence may be justified by what the courts have referred to as "` presence
plus "' —the presence of independent factors " tying the person to illegal activities being
investigated or raising a reasonable suspicion that the person is armed and dangerous." State v.
Smith, 145 Wn. App. 268, 276, 187 P. 3d 768 ( 2008) ( emphasis added) ( citing Broadnax, 98 Wn.2d
at 300 -301).. " The `plus' consists of independent factors, other than arrival at the scene, tying the
person to the illegal activities being investigated or raising a reasonable suspicion." Smith, 145
Wn. App. at 276 ( emphasis added).
B. No Individualized Reasonable Suspicion
We agree with the superior court that the facts here do not establish the necessary
reasonable, individualized suspicion. Although the officers had knowledge that Hispanic men
were connected to the illegal activities taking place in Albert' s apartment and might arrive during
the search and that Albert' s Hispanic boyfriend might be present in violation of a restraining order,
the only factors tying Anaya-Degante or Herrera -Ibarra to any illegal activity were their presence
at the apartment, their race and gender, their apparent surprise at encountering the officers, and
Herrera- Ibarra' s attempt to walk away. That is clearly insufficient to establish individualized
suspicion.
The State contends that this case is similar to State v. Pressley, 64 Wn. App. 591, 825 P. 2d
749 ( 1992). We disagree. Unlike here, the officers in Pressley had observed the defendant
personally engaging in what appeared to be criminal activity before detaining her. Pressley, 64
Wn. App. at 593 -94. The Pressley court did not hold that the defendant' s mere presence in a high
crime area, her apparent surprise when she noticed the officers, or her attempt to walk away from
11
No. 44789 -4 -II (consolidated with No. 44792 -4 -II)
the officers was sufficient to justify the detention. Pressley, 64 Wn. App. at 594. Thus, Pressley
is not helpful to the State.
The State further contends that the trial court erred when it relied on Gatewood. Again, we
disagree.
In Gatewood, officers observed Gatewood appear to be surprised and turn his body as if he
was trying to hide something after he noticed the officers driving by the bus shelter he was in.
Gatewood, 163 Wn.2d at 537. Suspicious that Gatewood was trying to hide something, the officers
circled back and saw Gatewood walking away. Gatewood, 163 Wn.2d at 537 -38. They then saw
Gatewood jaywalk to the other side of the street, start walking the opposite direction, and turn onto
a cross street. Gatewood, 163 Wn.2d at 538. The officers drove slowly behind Gatewood and
then pulled in front of him, blocking his path. Gatewood, 163 Wn.2d at 538. One of the officers
got out of the patrol car and told Gatewood to stop because they wanted to talk to him. Gatewood,
163 Wn.2d at 538. Gatewood continued to walk away despite the officers ordering him to stop.
Gatewood, 163 Wn.2d at 538. On appeal, the State conceded that the officers had seized Gatewood
when they first blocked his path and told him to stop. Gatewood, 163 Wn.2d at 540.
Our Supreme Court held that this initial seizure was unlawful because the officers lacked
specific, articulable facts indicating criminal activity." Gatewood, 163 Wn.2d at 541. Our
Supreme Court further held that "[ s] tartled reactions to seeing the police do not amount to
reasonable suspicion" and that, although flight from police may contribute to a finding of
reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, the State had not shown that Gatewood had fled from
the police because the officers had testified that they were unsure whether Gatewood had seen the
patrol car returning when he left the bus shelter and Gatewood was not walking very fast.
12
No. 44789 -4 -II (consolidated with No. 44792 -4 -II)
Gatewood, 163 Wn. 2d at 540. The court concluded that the officers had " seized Gatewood to
conduct a speculative criminal investigation." Gatewood, 163 Wn.2d at 542.
In this case, the State argues that the officers here " had far more facts to base their
suspicions upon" than was the case in Gatewood and that "[ the officers] did not engage in a
speculative criminal investigation." Br. of Appellant at 22 ( quotation omitted). Although the State
is correct that the officers had information establishing that there were drug related activities taking
place in Albert' s apartment and that some unidentified Hispanic men were involved, those
additional facts are not sufficient to justify the detentions here. The officers still had no
individualized suspicion that Anaya- Degante or Herrera -Ibarra were involved in any drug activity.
And, under Gatewood, mere surprise at encountering the officers does not amount to reasonable
suspicion. Gatewood, 163 Wn.2d at 540.
As to Herrera- Ibarra' s walking away, although Gatewood states that flight may contribute
to a finding of reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, here, as in Gatewood, Herrera- Ibarra' s
turning around and walking away from the officers was not dispositive. Furthermore, there was
evidence that the detentions were to allow for a speculative investigation —Moore testified
specifically that " the decision was made to stop and detain [ Hispanic males arriving at the
apartment] to see if they were potentially involved in a crime." VRP ( Feb. 28, 2013) at 63
emphasis added).
Finally, the State contends that the superior court' s reliance on Broadnax was misplaced,
arguing that the evidence showed that Anaya- Degante and Herrera -Ibarra met the individualized
suspicion requirement established in Broadnax. Braodnax, 98 Wn.2d at 295 -96 ( citing Ybarra v.
Illinois, 444 U. S. 85, 100 S. Ct. 338, 62 L. Ed. 2d 238 ( 1979)). Again, as we discuss above, the
13
No. 44789 -4 -II (consolidated with No. 44792 -4 -II)
superior court' s findings do not suggest that the officers had reasonable suspicion that Anaya-
Degante or Herrera -Ibarra were personally involved in criminal activity. The State did not present
any evidence connecting Anaya- Degante or Herrera -Ibarra to any illegal activity beyond their
presence at the apartment, their gender and race, their apparent surprise at encountering the
officers, and Herrera -Ibarra' s attempt to walk away from the officers, and we hold that this is
insufficient to establish individualized suspicion.
Accordingly, the superior court did not err when it granted the suppression motions and
dismissed the charges. We affirm.
A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW 2. 06. 040,
it is so ordered.
We concur:
14