JOEL MILES, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE
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The court held that the state failed to meet its burden to prove the search was valid, as it did not show the error in the arrest warrant was not attributable to law enforcement.
[1] The state bears the burden of proving the validity of a search when the defendant makes an initial showing that the search was invalid.
[2] The exclusionary rule does not require suppression of evidence seized in reliance on police records indicating an outstanding arrest warrant, even if the warrant is later…
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceMiles was arrested based on an outstanding warrant found during a traffic stop. He claimed the warrant had been dismissed prior to the stop. The trial…
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STONE, J.
We reverse Miles’ conviction for possession of cocaine. The record fails to support the trial court order denying his motion to suppress.
Miles was a passenger in a car stopped for a traffic violation. A check of Miles’ identification revealed the existence of an outstanding warrant for his arrest, which Miles now claims was resolved, in open court, prior to the date of the stop. Miles was arrested, taken into custody, and a search revealed he possessed cocaine.
The trial court found that the officer had confirmed there was an active warrant and acted in good faith. The testimony reflects that after the initial records check disclosed that Miles had an active warrant for his arrest, the officer waited until the warrant was “confirmed” before taking him into custody.
Miles testified that in 2003, he was issued a ticket for driving on a suspended license, but claims it was subsequently dismissed in open court. As to this issue, the only documentary evidence submitted to the court is illegible.
The initial burden on a motion to suppress an illegal search is on the defendant to make an initial showing that the search was invalid. When that prima facie showing is made, however, the burden shifts to the state to prove that the search is valid. Black v. State, 383 So. 2d 295, 297 (Fla. 1st DCA 1980). See also Andress v. State, 351 So. 2d 350 (Fla. 4th DCA 1977); Palmer v. State, 753 So. 2d 679 (Fla. 2d DCA 2000); State v. Setzler, 667 So. 2d 343 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995).
In Arizona v. Evans, 514 U.S. 1, 3, 115 S.Ct. 1185, 131 L.Ed.2d 34 (1995), the court recognized that the exclusionary rule does not require suppression of evidence if an officer acts in reliance on police records which indicate the existence of an outstanding arrest warrant, even if that warrant is later determined to be invalid and the error is attributable to court personnel. The court determined that there is no reason to apply the exclusionary rule to prevent clerical mistakes by court personnel. Id. at 15-16, 115 S.Ct. 1185. The court declined to address whether suppression would be required if police personnel were responsible for the error. Id. at 16 n. 5,115 S.Ct. 1185.
In State v. White, 660 So. 2d 664, 665 (Fla.1995), the defendant was stopped for a traffic offense; a police officer discovered there was an outstanding arrest warrant for the defendant. The officer confirmed the existence of the warrant, arrested the defendant, and discovered contraband. Id. After the officer transferred the defendant to the sheriffs office, a review of the hard copy of the warrant showed it had been served four days prior to the defendant’s arrest. Id. The error resulted from an incorrect showing in the computer in the sheriffs office. Id. at 666. The court concluded that the good faith exception was not applicable where “it was within the collective knowledge of the sheriffs office that the warrant was void.” Id. at 668. The court reasoned that “[sjuppression of evidence seized pursuant to police computer error will encourage law enforcement agencies to diligently maintain accurate and current computer records.” Id. at 667 (footnote omitted).
In Frierson v. State, 851 So. 2d 293 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003), quashed on other grounds, 926 So. 2d 1139 (Fla.2006), we recognized that White did not preclude application of the good faith exception where the mistake in the validity of a warrant was not attributable to the police. The state asserts that such appears to be the case here, as the officer “confirmed” that the warrant was outstanding. The state introduced no evidence to refute Miles’ claim that the warrant was dismissed, but argued that the error, by inference, must be that of the clerk of court. The state reasons that since Miles says he turned himself in, bonded out, and appeared in open court, apparently incident to a related charge, the warrant was not served, and the clerk failed to notify law enforcement to delete the warrant.
We recognize that the order should be upheld if the mistake, if any, was attributable to the trial court clerk or judiciary. Here, it simply is not clear that this is the case. The burden, however, is on the state. We conclude that the state has failed to meet its burden, as the state has failed to show that the error was not attributable to law enforcement.
As to all other issues raised, we find no reversible error or abuse of discretion. We, therefore, reverse the conviction and remand for further proceedings.
FARMER and MAY, JJ., concur.
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Lewis v. State, 979 So. 2d 1197 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008)…on a motion to suppress an illegal search is on the defendant to make an initial showing that the search was invalid. When that prima facie showing is made, however, the burden shifts to the state to prove that the search is valid. Miles v. State, 953 So. 2d 778, 779 (Fla. 4th DCA 2007). A warrantless search constitutes a prima facie showing which shifts to the state the burden of showing the search’s legality. Andress v. State, 351 So. 2d 350, 350 (Fla. 4th DCA 1977). There is no case law we could find hol…
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State v. K.C., 207 So. 3d 951 (Fla. 4th DCA 2016)…unless they are clearly erroneous.” State v. Setzler, 667 So. 2d 343, 346 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995). “The initial burden on a motion to suppress an illegal search is on the defendant to make an initial showing that the search was invalid.” Miles v. State, 953 So. 2d 778, 779 (Fla. 4th DCA 2007). However, “[a] warrantless search constitutes a prima facie showing which shifts to the [SJtate the burden of showing the search’s legality.” Lewis v. State, 979 So. 2d 1197, 1200 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008). Although in this case,…
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State v. Tomesia E. Mobley, 98 So. 3d 124 (Fla. 5th DCA 2012)…ure, which require the defense to present evidence in support of the motion, after which time the State may offer rebuttal evidence. The initial burden requires the defense to make some showing that a search occurred and was invalid. Miles v. State, 953 So. 2d 778, 779 (Fla. 4th DCA 2007); State v. Gay, 823 So. 2d 153, 154 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002). Allegations in the motion to suppress are not evidence and will not shift the burden to the State. Likewise, the defendant’s mere presence in the courtroom is- not suff…
Previewing 3 of 8 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Arizona v. Evans, 514 U.S. 1 (U.S. 1995)
- State v. Setzler, 667 So. 2d 343 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995)
- State v. Frierson, 926 So. 2d 1139 (Fla. 2006)
- State v. White, 660 So. 2d 664 (Fla. 1995)
- Tragus Palmer v. State, 753 So. 2d 679 (Fla. 2d DCA 2000)
- Frierson v. State, 851 So. 2d 293 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003)
- Kajo, Inc. v. Kitchen Kabin, Inc., 383 So. 2d 295 (Fla. 2d DCA 1980)
- Andress v. State, 351 So. 2d 350 (Fla. 4th DCA 1977)