From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

U.S. v. Harper

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Mar 25, 1991
928 F.2d 894 (9th Cir. 1991)

Summary

holding that officers had probable cause to believe that the parolee lived in a particular house because, among other factors, the parolee's family rented the house and two of his brothers lived there

Summary of this case from United States v. Ped

Opinion

Nos. 89-10515, 89-10516.

Argued and Submitted November 6, 1990.

Decided March 25, 1991.

Thomas M. Kummerow, Clay Hall, Oakland, Cal., for defendant-appellant Adrian Harper.

Arthur Pirelli, San Francisco, Cal., for defendant-appellant David Harper.

John J. Jordan, Asst. U.S. Atty., San Francisco, Cal., for plaintiff-appellee.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

Before ALARCON, BRUNETTI and KOZINSKI, Circuit Judges.


There's a simple way for the police to avoid many complex search and seizure problems: Get a search warrant. Had they obtained a search warrant in this case — as they could well have — there would have been no motion to suppress, no hearing, no objection at trial and no thorny issues for us to resolve on appeal. But they didn't. So once again we consume a few pages of the Federal Reporter analyzing the circumstances under which the police may enter a home without a search warrant.

Facts

The police thought David Harper was up to no good; they suspected he was manufacturing and distributing drugs. Nor was David's parole officer too happy with him; David had violated the conditions of his parole and the parole board had issued a warrant for his arrest. But David's parole officer didn't have a current address for him and couldn't locate him, so David remained at large.

Acting on a tip, the police began surveillance of a house at 10 Manzanita Street, Daly City, California. David was seen entering the house with his own key once or twice. The police also learned that two of David's brothers resided there, and that the house was rented by the Harper family. They informed David's parole officer who, on February 1, 1989, went to the house to search for him. Accompanied by numerous police officers, she entered the house without a search warrant. Some officers went upstairs, where they found David; others went downstairs and forced their way into what is described as a widow's or in-laws' apartment where Adrian Harper lived. It turns out that Adrian was not only a drugdealer, but also a messy housekeeper. When the police entered his apartment, they saw drug paraphernalia scattered about, including cooking utensils encrusted with crack cocaine. They also saw a locked safe.

David and Adrian were arrested and placed in a police car. Unbeknownst to them, the police activated a tape recorder in the car's trunk. While David and Adrian kept themselves busy discussing their circumstances and making incriminating statements, the police obtained a warrant to remove and open the safe. It contained crack cocaine. The crack cocaine, crack encrusted utensils and recorded conversation were admitted at trial over objection. Not surprisingly, the jury convicted and defendants appeal.

Discussion

A. Defendants first contend that the warrant issued for David's arrest did not authorize entrance into a home. They concede that the warrant was issued on probable cause and that, under Payton v. New York, 445 U.S. 573, 100 S.Ct. 1371, 63 L.Ed.2d 639 (1980), an arrest warrant normally carries with it the limited authority to enter the home of the person named in the warrant. Id. at 603. But this warrant, they argue, is different: It was issued by a parole board, not a neutral, detached magistrate. They insist that because no magistrate reviewed it, the warrant didn't carry with it the authority to enter a home.

Defendants' argument is foreclosed by Griffin v. Wisconsin, 483 U.S. 868, 107 S.Ct. 3164, 97 L.Ed.2d 709 (1987). There, the Supreme Court held that Wisconsin may constitutionally permit its probation officers to search a probationer's home without a warrant and with less than probable cause. Since Wisconsin may permit the search of a probationer's home with no warrant at all, we see no reason why California can't allow its officials to look for a parolee by searching his home under the authority of a parole arrest warrant issued on probable cause. There is no review by a magistrate in either case.

Nor do we see a constitutional difference between probation and parole for purposes of the fourth amendment. Both probationers and parolees enjoy "only . . . conditional liberty properly dependent on observance of special . . . restrictions." Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471, 480, 92 S.Ct. 2593, 2599, 33 L.Ed.2d 484 (1972), quoted in Griffin, 483 U.S. at 874, 107 S.Ct. at 3168. The operation of a parole system, like a probation system, "presents `special needs' beyond normal law enforcement that may justify departures from the usual warrant and probable-cause requirements." Griffin, 483 U.S. at 873-74, 107 S.Ct. at 3168-69.

B. Having decided that the arrest warrant authorized entry into David Harper's residence, we must now decide whether the police had authority to enter the home at 10 Manzanita. An arrest warrant does not carry with it the authority to enter the homes of third persons. Steagald v. United States, 451 U.S. 204, 101 S.Ct. 1642, 68 L.Ed.2d 38 (1981). Thus, in Perez v. Simmons, 900 F.2d 213 (9th Cir. 1990), amending 884 F.2d 1136 (9th Cir. 1989), we held that the police may enter a home with an arrest warrant only if they have probable cause to believe the person named in the warrant resides there. Id.; see also United States v. Dally, 606 F.2d 861 (9th Cir. 1979) (police entitled to search apartment because they had sufficient evidence to reasonably believe parole violator resided there). If the police lack probable cause to believe the suspect is an actual resident, but have probable cause to believe he's present, they must get a search warrant. Perez, 900 F.2d at 213.

Here, the police knew that the home at 10 Manzanita was leased to the Harper family and that Tommy and James Harper, two of David's brothers, lived there; an uncorroborated source had informed them that David lived there as well. Through intermittent surveillance, the police observed David entering the home with his own key once or twice during a three day period. The police also knew that David had lived with his family at another address immediately before he was incarcerated, suggesting that he had no independent residence and would resume living with them upon his release. In addition, the police saw cars belonging to known associates of David's parked at the Harper family home. This information was sufficient to give the police probable cause to believe that David resided there — but just barely. It would have been far more prudent for the police to have obtained a search warrant.

C. Defendants also contend that the search was illegal because it was really undertaken as part of a police investigation and not for parole purposes. They correctly point out that the police may not use a parole officer as a "stalking horse" to evade the fourth amendment's warrant requirement. United States v. Richardson, 849 F.2d 439, 441 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 866, 109 S.Ct. 171, 102 L.Ed.2d 141 (1988); see also Latta v. Fitzharris, 521 F.2d 246, 249 (9th Cir.) (en banc) (plurality opinion), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 897, 96 S.Ct. 200, 46 L.Ed.2d 130 (1975). However, police and parole officers are entitled to work together to achieve their objectives; concerted action does not in and of itself make a search constitutionally infirm. United States v. Jarrad, 754 F.2d 1451, 1454 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 830, 106 S.Ct. 96, 88 L.Ed.2d 78 (1985). The proper question is whether the parole officer used her authority to help the police evade the fourth amendment's warrant requirement or whether the parole officer cooperated with the police to achieve her own legitimate objectives.

David's parole officer obtained a warrant for his arrest because David violated the terms of his parole, not because the police asked her to. In fact, the warrant was issued before the police even contacted David's parole officer; the only reason she hadn't executed it was she couldn't find David. Naturally, when the police came forward with information regarding David's whereabouts and offered to help arrest him she agreed. The district court's implicit finding that the parole officer cooperated with the police in pursuit of legitimate parole objectives, and not as a stalking horse, was not clearly erroneous.

D. Defendants' challenge to the scope of the search also fails. Once the police "possess[ed] an arrest warrant and probable cause to believe [David] was in his home, the officers were entitled to search anywhere in the house in which [he] might be found." Maryland v. Buie, 494 U.S. 325, 110 S.Ct. 1093, 1097, 108 L.Ed.2d 276 (1990). But they weren't entitled to search the homes of others; for that, they needed a warrant or exigent circumstances. See United States v. Whitten, 706 F.2d 1000, 1008 (9th Cir. 1983), cert. denied, 465 U.S. 1100, 104 S.Ct. 1593, 80 L.Ed.2d 125 (1984); cf. People v. Alders, 87 Cal.App.3d 313, 151 Cal.Rptr. 77 (1978) (probation search limited to areas and possessions over which the probationer might have exercised dominion or control). In searching for David, the police entered what is referred to as an in-laws' or widow's apartment; that's where they ran into Adrian and the incriminating evidence.

Defendants offer us no reason to upset the district court's implicit finding that the widow's apartment was part of the Harper home. The only entrance to it mentioned in the record was through the Harper house; there is no evidence that it was a separate structure, had a different address or possessed any other attribute which might make it a distinct home.

Adrian Harper also contends that there was insufficient evidence to convict him. His contention is patently meritless. The police found cooking utensils coated with crack cocaine in plain view in his apartment; the safe in his apartment was full of crack; and Adrian and David's recorded conversation implicated Adrian as the person who had cooked it. The evidence was more than sufficient to convince a reasonable jury that Adrian was involved in the manufacture and distribution of crack cocaine.

Conclusion

Because the search of the Harper home for David Harper was legal, the fruits of the search, including David and Adrian's recorded conversation, were properly admitted. We affirm the judgments of conviction.


Summaries of

U.S. v. Harper

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Mar 25, 1991
928 F.2d 894 (9th Cir. 1991)

holding that officers had probable cause to believe that the parolee lived in a particular house because, among other factors, the parolee's family rented the house and two of his brothers lived there

Summary of this case from United States v. Ped

holding that the following facts about a parolee's residence "just barely" constituted probable cause to believe he resided there: the parolee had lived with his family immediately prior to incarceration, the parolee's family leased the house and several family members lived there, a source told the officers that the parolee lived there, the police saw the parolee enter the house with his own key several times, and several of the parolee's known associates had their cars parked outside the house

Summary of this case from Motley v. Parks

determining that police must have probable cause to believe the subject of an arrest warrant is an actual resident of a location before entering the premises to execute the warrant

Summary of this case from Motley v. Parks

In United States v. Harper, 928 F.2d 894 (9th Cir.1991), overruled in part on other grounds, King, 687 F.3d at 1189, for example, the court listed six facts of which the police were aware that, in combination, were “just barely” “sufficient to give the police probable cause to believe that [the defendant] resided” at the residence searched.

Summary of this case from United States v. Grandberry

In Harper, the police saw Harper entering and leaving the house on his own multiple times in the days before the search; they also saw the cars of his known associates parked outside.

Summary of this case from U.S. v. Howard

In Harper, we found that "police may enter a home with an arrest warrant only if they have probable cause to believe the person named in the warrant resides there."

Summary of this case from Motley v. Parks

In Harper, we held that the following facts about a parolee's residence " barely" constituted probable cause: the parolee's family leased the house and two of his brothers lived there; the parolee had lived with his family before his incarceration; a source told the officers the parolee lived there; the police conducted repeated surveillance and saw the parolee enter the house with his own key once or twice; and several of the parolee's known associates had their cars parked outside the home.

Summary of this case from Motley v. Parks

requiring probable cause that parolee lived at a certain address before entering the home and executing arrest warrant issued for parole violations

Summary of this case from Motley v. Parks

In United States v. Harper, 928 F.2d 894 (9th Cir. 1991), for example, we explicitly used the probable cause standard to find that the entry and search of David and Adrian Harper's residence pursuant to an arrest warrant for David was legal: "Once the police 'possess[ed] an arrest warrant and probable cause to believe [David] was in his home, the officers were entitled to search anywhere in the house in which [he] might be found.'"

Summary of this case from U.S. v. Gorman

In Harper, the court held that evidence available to the officers supported an entry without a search warrant, although "just barely."

Summary of this case from Valdez v. McPheters

In United States v. Harper, 928 F.2d 894 (9th Cir. 1991), the Ninth Circuit concluded that "the police may enter a home with an arrest warrant only if they have probable cause to believe the person named in the warrant resides there."

Summary of this case from Valdez v. McPheters

In United States v. Harper, 928 F.2d 894, 896 (9th Cir. 1991) (Harper), we held that a probation search was lawful because the officers had probable cause to believe that the probationer lived at the searched residence.

Summary of this case from United States v. Conway

stating that a "parole officer [can] cooperate with the police to achieve her own legitimate objectives"

Summary of this case from U.S. v. Coleman

In Harper the court concluded that because the defendant entered the third party's home with his own key once or twice during a three day period police had "probable cause to believe that David resided there — but just barely."

Summary of this case from Shea v. Smith

In Harper, the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit construed Griffin in a case where there was, apparently, no system of regulations governing the condition and limits of such searches.

Summary of this case from Shea v. Smith

In Harper, 928 F.2d at 896-97, substantial evidence existed where law enforcement corroborated an anonymous tip with (1) confirmation that the home was leased to the suspect's family, (2) the fact that suspect's two brothers lived there, (3) police observation of suspect entering home with his own keys, (4) evidence suggesting that suspect had no other residence, and (5) police observation that cars parked outside home belonged to "known associates" of suspect.

Summary of this case from United States v. Rathbun

requiring probable cause to believe that the subject of arrest warrant lives at a residence in order to execute the arrest warrant at that residence.

Summary of this case from Solis-Alarcon v. U.S.

In United States v. Harper (C.A.9, 1991), 928 F.2d 894, the court confronted a situation comparable to the case sub judice.

Summary of this case from State v. Howard
Case details for

U.S. v. Harper

Case Details

Full title:UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE. v. DAVID L. HARPER…

Court:United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Date published: Mar 25, 1991

Citations

928 F.2d 894 (9th Cir. 1991)

Citing Cases

Motley v. Parks

The same standard applies to the determination of whether a parolee is a resident in a specific home, as…

U.S. v. Watts

However, collaboration between a probation officer and police does not in itself render a probation search…