Summary
In Julkowski, supra, the Court found probable cause because the defendant appeared to be nervous, hyperactive and smelled of marijuana.
Summary of this case from People v. AlfafaraOpinion
Docket No. 58435.
Decided March 22, 1983.
Frank J. Kelley, Attorney General, Louis J. Caruso, Solicitor General, William F. Delhey, Prosecuting Attorney, and David A. King, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
Don Ferris, for defendant.
Defendant was convicted in a bench trial of possession of less than 50 grams of cocaine in violation of MCL 333.7403(2)(a)(iv); MSA 14.15(7403)(2)(a)(iv), and resisting or obstructing a police officer in the discharge of his duty, contrary to MCL 750.479; MSA 28.747. Thereafter sentenced to two years probation for each conviction, defendant appeals as of right.
Defendant was validly stopped by two police officers for a traffic violation. Defendant stepped out of his automobile and met Officer Payne. Payne noticed that defendant was nervous and hyperactive and that he smelled of marijuana. Payne walked to defendant's vehicle and observed several partially smoked marijuana cigarettes in the ashtray of defendant's vehicle. As Payne began to open the door of the vehicle to obtain the cigarettes, Payne's attention was drawn back to defendant who yelled "no" and pushed Payne into the southbound lane of the U.S. 23 expressway. Thereafter, Payne observed defendant inside the vehicle attempting to retrieve a blue denim shoulder bag. Payne "grabbed onto the defendant, ordering him out of the vehicle". When defendant failed to respond to the order a struggle ensued and with the aid of Officer Owens defendant was forced to the ground, handcuffed and placed under arrest. Thereafter Payne obtained the partially smoked marijuana cigarettes and shoulder bag. Inside the shoulder bag Payne found a white, powdery substance in a folded piece of paper which was stipulated to be cocaine.
Defendant first claims the trial court erred in denying defendant's motion to suppress the cocaine.
A trial court's ruling on a motion to suppress will not be disturbed unless it is clearly erroneous. People v Grimmett, 97 Mich. App. 212; 293 N.W.2d 768 (1980). A trial court's findings are clearly erroneous if a reviewing court is left with a firm conviction that a mistake has been made. People v Goss, 89 Mich. App. 598, 601; 280 N.W.2d 608 (1978). We are not left with such conviction and affirm the trial court for the reasons that follow.
To determine the constitutionality of a warrantless search and seizure a two-part inquiry must be followed: (1) whether there is probable cause for the search and seizure; and, if so, (2) whether an exception to the warrant requirement exists. See People v Smith, 118 Mich. App. 366; 325 N.W.2d 429 (1982).
Probable cause exists when the facts and circumstances allow a man of reasonable caution to believe that an offense has been committed or is being committed. People v Rodriguez, 83 Mich. App. 606, 609; 269 N.W.2d 199 (1978). Under the circumstances herein, a man of reasonable caution would believe that the automobile and, in particular, the shoulder bag contained drugs or something else of an illegal nature and therefore defendant committed or was committing a crime. Accordingly, we hold that Officer Payne had probable cause to seize and search the shoulder bag.
Next, we hold that this warrantless search and seizure was reasonable and falls within the automobile exception to the warrant requirement. See Carroll v United States, 267 U.S. 132; 45 S Ct 280; 69 L Ed 543 (1925), where the Court held that a warrantless search of an automobile stopped by police officers who had probable cause to believe the vehicle contained contraband was not unreasonable within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment. The rationale of such exception is the movable nature of an automobile and the fact that the contents may never be found again if a warrant must be obtained. Dep't of Natural Resources v Hermes, 101 Mich. App. 517; 300 N.W.2d 307 (1980).
Under the circumstances herein Officer Payne had probable cause to seize and search the shoulder bag without first obtaining a warrant. See People v Robert L Thompson, 81 Mich. App. 54; 264 N.W.2d 118 (1978), where the Court upheld a warrantless search of the interior of that defendant's vehicle and the contents therein because the officer had probable cause to believe a crime was being committed in his presence.
Second, defendant claims there was insufficient evidence presented at trial to support defendant's conviction for resisting arrest. The elements of the crime of resisting arrest are: (1) the defendant must have resisted arrest; (2) the arrest must be lawful; (3) the person making the arrest must have been at the time an officer of the law; (4) at the time of the arrest, the defendant must have intended to have resisted such officer; (5) at the time of the arrest, the defendant must have known that the person he was resisting was an officer; and (6) at the time of the arrest, the defendant must have known that the officer was making an arrest. See CJI 13:1:02. Due process requires that the prosecutor introduce sufficient evidence to justify a trier of fact in reasonably concluding that each element of the crime is proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Specifically defendant argues there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the first and second elements above enumerated.
As to the first element, the record is clear that, while the state trooper was not attempting to arrest defendant before defendant pushed him into the expressway, from that point on Officer Payne was attempting to arrest defendant and defendant struggled vigorously during the attempt. As to the second element, police have the right to look inside a properly stopped vehicle and to seize any items inside the automobile which are plainly visible and which appear to be evidence or implements of a crime. See People v Eichenberg, 108 Mich. App. 578; 310 N.W.2d 800 (1981). Here there was no question that defendant's automobile was properly stopped, that defendant acted erratically after exiting from the vehicle and hence that the officer had a right to approach the vehicle and look inside. The partially burned marijuana cigarettes were plainly visible to the officer and accordingly he had a right to enter the vehicle to seize them. Hence, it is clear that defendant was not justified in pushing the officer away and that the subsequent arrest was lawful.
Affirmed.