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POLICECITIZENSREVIEWBOARDABoardoftheCityofIowaCity410EastWashingtonStreetIowaCityIA5224018263193565413TOCityCouncilComplainantStephenAtkinsCityManagerzTRJWinkelhakeChiefofPoliceOfficereinvolvedincomplaintFROMPoliceCitizensReviewBoardREInvestigationofPCRBComplaint0101DATEJune252001ThisistheReportofthePoliceCitizensReviewBoardtheBoardreviewoftheinvestigationofComplaintPCRBt00O1theComplaintBOARDSRESPONSIBILITYUndertheCityCodeoftheCityofIowaCitySection887BtheBoardsjobistoreviewthePoliceChiefsReportReportofhisinvestigationofacomplaintTheCityCoderequirestheBoardtoapplyareasonablebasisstandardofreviewtotheReportandtogivedeferencetotheReportbecauseofthePoliceChiefsprofessionalexpertiseSection887B2WhiletheCityCodedirectstheBoardtomakefindingsoffactitalsorequiresthattheBoardrecommendthatthePoliceChiefreverseormodifyhisfindingsonlyifthosefindingsareunsupportedbysubstantialevidenceareunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousorarecontrarytoaPoliceDepartmentpolicyorpracticeoranyFederalStateorlocallawSections887B2abandcBOARDSPROCEDURETheComplaintwasreceivedattheOfficeoftheCityClerkonFebruary122001AsrequiredbySection885oftheCityCodetheComplaintwasreferredtothePoliceChiefforinvestigationTheChiefsReportwasreceivedonMay112001PCRB0101Page TheBoardvotedtoreviewtheComplaintinaccordancewithSection887B1ewhichmeanstheBoardwillreviewtheComplaintafterdoingadditionalinvestigationonitsownABoardmembercontactedthecomplainantregardinginterviewingher11yearoldsonandhis15WearoldfriendTwoBoardmemberstalkedwiththemotherandinterviewedhersononMay292OO1The15yearolddeclinedtobeinterviewedTheBoardscheduledanameclearinghearingbutwasinformlthcChiefthattheofficerswouldnotattendzilTheBoardmetonMay16June6June20andJune25tocJerDtheComplaintiFINDINGSOFFACTOnJanuary272001OfficersAandBwenttothecomplainantsresidenceinanattempttoserveanarrestwarrantonamalesubjecttheexhusbandofthecomplainantThesubjecthadgiventhecomplainantsresidenceasahomeaddresstoOfficerBduringatrafficstopThecomplainantwasnothomewhentheofficersarrivedThedoorwasopenedbythecomplainants11yearoldsonwhowasathomewitha15yearoldacquaintanceleftwiththe11yearoldtokeephimcompanyandtoassistindealingwithproblemsthatmightarisebutnotasababysitterWhenheopenedthedoorheobservedtwoIowaCitypoliceofficersThereissomedisagreementregardingwhatwassaidornotsaidatthedoorbutitappearstheofficerswerenottoldtheycouldenternorweretheytoldtoleaveTheofficersindicatedtheyfelttheyweregivenpermissiontoenterbecausethe11yearoldsteppedawayfromthedoorwhentheyrequestedentranceThe11yearolddeniestheyaskedtoenterbutratherjustwalkedinOfficerBindicatedthatassoonasthedoorwasopenedhecouldsmellastrongodorofmarijuanaWhentheofficersenteredtheroomOfficerBobservedwhatlookedlikeamarijuanaroachintheashtrayonthelivingroomcoffeetableOfficerAsecuredtheobjectandaskedthetwoboysiftherewasanymoremarijuanainthehouseWhenthe11yearoldsaidnoOfficerAaskedwhethertheycouldcheckthehouseformarijuanaOfficerBindicatedthe11yearoldansweredsureCFofficersnarrativeattachedtoIncidentReportTheofficerssearchedthelivingroomandfoundasmallamountofloosemarijuanaonaspiralnotebookonthelivingroomfloorThe11yearoldandhismotherrefertothismaterialasashesprobablyfromthecigaretteofthecomplainantsoldersonThisindividualhashadanumberofchargesformarijuanapossessionandiscurrentlyundercourtsupervisionOfficerBaskediftherewereotherpersonspresentinthePCRtl0101Page2 houseThe11yearoldindicatedtherewerenotOfficerBindicatedthathewalkedthroughthehousetocheckifotherpersonswerepresentAcontainerpotwasfoundintheboysbedroomcontainingmaterialthatwasthoughttobemarijuanastemsOfficerBreportedhebroughtitintothekitchenandleftitthereInaninterviewwithtwoBoardmembersthe11yearolddescribedtheeventsofJanuary272001inmuchthesamewayashehadtotheinvestigatingofficerHestatedhehadnotinvitedtheofficersintotheresidencehedidnotknowwhatmarijuanasmelledlikehedidnotsmellanythingunusualthatnightheandhisfriendwereaccusedofsmokingmarijuanawhichtheydeniedtheywererequestedtoemptytheirpocketsandhisfriendwaspatteddownhisbrotherhadsmokedmarijuanainthehouseatanearlierpointintimeHedidmakehoweveranumberofstatementsnotincludedintheinvestigativeofficersreportHestatedthathehadnotheardnoisesfromthebackofthehouseorupstairsandthattheresidentsoftheupstairsapartmentwereoutoftownthatnightThesecondstatementwasthathehadobservedOfficerBopenadrawerofadresserinhisbedroomandflashalightintoitThethirdstatementwasthattheofficeraskedpermissiontosearchthehousewhichherefusedThourthstatementwastheofficershadnotmentionedtheirinterestinhisfaeqDuntheywereabouttoleavethehousezCONCLUSIONThisComplaintfocusesontwoissues1unlawfulentryanillegalsearchesTheissuesarecomplicatedbythefactthatthecentralindividualisajuvenileandbythedisputationofcircumstancesaroundthesetwoissuesAllegation1PoliceentryintotheresidenceofthecomplainantwasunlawfulJustifyingtheofficersapproachingtheresidenceandattemptingtogainentrytheChiefsReportnotesthatitisnotuncommonforofficerstocheckplaceswhereapersonhasbeenknowntohangoutinthepastwhenattemptingtolocatethemforpurposesofarrestWhileitisindisputewhethertheofficerswereinvitedinwavedinorsimplywalkedinthereisagreementthatthe11yearoldfirststoodblockingthedoorwayandlatermovedinsuchawayastoprovidespaceallowingunforcedentryOfficerAstatesthe11yearoldansweredyeswhenaskediftheycouldenterOfficerBwroteinhisIncidentReportthattheywereallowedtoenterandinformedtheinvestigatingofficerhewasuncertainiftheyweretoldtheycouldcomeinoriftheywerewavedinThe11yearoldindicatedthathedidnotgivepermissiontoenterbuthadrathersteppedoutofthedoorwaytoescapethecoldTheChiefsReportstatesAreasonablepersonwouldassumethatsteppingawayfromadoorafterofficersasktospeakwithaPCRBO101Page personisaninvitationtocomeinsideTheBoardunderstandsthatawarrantlessentryisproperandallowedwhenvoluntaryconsentisgivenHowevertheBoardquestionsthevoluntarinessofan11yearoldboysconsentwhenconfrontedbytwopoliceofficerslateatnightButnonethelesstheBoarddeferstotheexpertiseoftheChiefandfindstheconclusionpresentedintheReportthattheofficersreasonablybelievedthattheywereallowedintothehomeissupportedbysubstantialevidenceandisnotunreasonablearbitraryorcapriciousAllegation1oftheComplaintisNOTSUSTAINEDAllegation2ThecomplainantsresidencewassearchedillegallywithoutawarrantTheBoardsinvestigationofthisallegationhasledthetotheconclusionthatthesefactsrequirerathercomplicatedlegalalysisdiscomfortwiththeissueofconsentgiventheageofthechildfromDItheconsentwasreceivedTheBoardsdiscomfortwiththatissueor1lconsentisheightenedintheanalysisofallegation2InreviewingtheChiefsReporttheBoardnotestheChiefsjustificationfortheofficersbehaviorunderseveralexceptionstosearchandseizurelawTheBoardunderstandsthatawarrantlesssearchisillegalunlessitfallsunderoneoftheveryspecificexceptionsinthelawOneoftheproblematicissuesisthedifferingorderofeventsgivenbyOfficerAandOfficerBandtheelevenyearoldboyOfficerBstatesthatimmediatelyuponentrytheofficersobservedmarijuanainplainviewandseizeditTheyweregivenconsenttosearchtherestofthehousesearchedtheimmediateareaofthelivingroomandthenOfficerBwalkedthroughtherestofthehousetomakesurenooneelsewasthereOfficerAstatesthattheyweregivenconsenttoenterthatOfficerBheardanoisecomingfromthebackofthehomesohewalkedthroughtheapartmentandthenOfficerAsawmarijuanainplainviewwhichwasfollowedwiththeconsentsearchofthehouseandtheareaaroundthecoffeetableTheelevenyearoldboysaccountmorecloselysupportstheaccountgivenbyOfficerBinthathesaystheofficerssearchedthelivingroomandhisfriendandthatoneoftheofficerssearchedthehomeTheBoardfindsthatseizureofanyobviouslyillegalsubstanceinplainviewisanappropriateexemptionfromsearchandseizurelawTheChiefsReportsupportsthesearchofthelivingroomareabasedonthesearchpursuanttoarrestexceptionTheChiefsReportstatesthatiftheseindividualswereadultstheywouldhavebeenplacedunderarrestandatthatpointtheofficerswouldhavesearchedtheareaimmediatelyaroundthetwopeopleInorderforasearchpursuanttoarresttobeappropriate1theremustbealawfularrest2thesearchmustbeincidenttothelawfularrestPCRB0101Page4 and3thatsearchmustbereasonablebothtotheareasearchedandthetimewithinwhichthesearchismadeThisissueoflawfularrestleadstoarathercomplicatedlegalquestionaboutpossessionandcontroloverpremisesbyanelevenyearoldchildandafifteenyearoldvisitingfriendTheBoardwouldliketounderlineitsdiscomfortinmakingaflatassumptionthatthepresenceofanelevenyearoldchildinhishomeinwhichthereisfoundaburntmarijuanacigaretteieroachwouldleadtoavalidarrestforpossessionofmarijuanaWithregardtothesearchofanyareaoutsideofthelivingroomtherearetwootherexceptionsundersearchincidenttoarrestwhichareusedasjustificationsforthesearchofareasoutsideofthelivingroomThefirstlegalexceptionisacursorysafetycheckThiswouldallowacursorycheckofadjoiningareasclosetsandotherspacesimmediatelyadjoiningtheareainordertocheckforotherpersonsthatwouldbeadangertotheofficersincarryingoutanarrestThesecondexceptionisbroaderandisaprotectivesweepoftheareaTheprotectivesweeprequiresarticulablefactswhichtakentogetherwithrationalinferencesfromthosefactswarrantareasonableprudentofficertosearchareasthatcouldharboranindividualposingdangerItappearsthatOfficerBisjustifyingthesearchoftherestofthepremisesunderthecursorysafetychecksincehedoesnotprovidearticulablefactsthatwouldinferaconcernofanindividualposingdangertotheofficersOfficerAusestheexplanationofanoiseinordertoinferthataprotectivesweepofthepremiseswasnecessaryTheproblemwiththenoisejustificationisthatotherthantheelevenyearoldboyandhisfifteenyearoldfriendtherewerenootherpeoplehomeatthetimetheofficersarrivedTherewasanupstairsapartmentwhichwasemptyatthetimeThesesearchesshouldhavebeenverycursoryTheboysaccountofthesesearchesraisequestionsbecauseitappearsthattheofficersdidnotcheckinclosetsorotherreasonableplacesthatapersonmayhidebutdidcheckintheelevenyearoldboysbedroomdrawerwhichcertainlycouldnotharboranindividualposingdangertotheofficersandwouldappeartobeaviolationofsearchandseizurelawThefinalblanketexceptiontosearchandseizurelawemployedintheChiefsReportisthatofconsentAsstatedinouranalysisofallegation1theBoardisuncomfortablewiththeuseofanelevenyearoldsconsenttogainaccesstoaresidenceTheBoardsdiscomfortwiththisissueisheightenedifsuchconsentisusedtosearchtheresidenceThevoluntarinessoftheconsentisproblematicinthattheBoarddoubtsthattheelevenyearoldchildhadanyknowledgeofhisrightsorhismothershtswithregardtotheprivacyofherhomeTheproblemiswidenedbytsueofthirdpartyconsentandthequestionofwhatareasoftheresidenceifanyanelevenyearoldboywouldhavesufficientcontroloverinwhilstTIPage giveconsenttosearchHeclearlywasnotoldenoughtostayhomebyhimselfandhesharedaroomwithhissixteenyearoldbrotherTheBoardstronglyquestionswhetherhepossessedcommonauthorityoveranypartoftheresidenceinwhichtogiveconsenttosearchGiventhecomplexityoftheconsentissueasitrelatestothelegalityofasearchofthecomplainantsresidencetheBoardbelievesitwouldhavebeenappropriatefortheofficerstoobservetheproceduresoutlinedinGeneralOrderNumber00O1SearchandSeizureandconsultwithanondutywatchsupervisorTheBoardconcludesthataspectsofthesearchwerenotconsistentwithlawandIowaCityPoliceDepartmentpolicyandthereforedisagreeswiththefindingsoftheChiefsReportAllegation2oftheComplaintisSUSTAINEDBOARDCONCERNS1TheBoardunderstandstherationaleallowingawalkthroughofaresidenceorotheredificeabsentasearchwarranttoprotectofficersfromunexpectedorconcealedattackbutisconcernedthatsomeofficersmaynotfullyunderstandtherestrictionsimposedonthislimitedsearchTheBoardrecommendsthatthistopicbeincorporatedintoroutinetraining2TheBoardisuncleartowhatextentprocedurallawcreatedforsituationsinvolvingadultsmaybeusedasguidelinesfordealingwithjuvenilesparticularlywhenthecircumstancesarenotidenticalForexampleifasearchofanareanearadultswhohavebeenarrestedforadrugoffenseisappropriateissuchsearchappropriateforjuvenileswhocouldbetakenintocustodybutarenotTheBoardwouldrecommendclarificationofthisissueinordertoreduceambiguitiesinthefuture3WerecommendthatifapolicydoesntcurrentlyexistregardinghowIowaCitypoliceofficersshouldhandleconsentsituationsinvolvingindividualsunder18yearsofageoneshouldbeformulatedwithparticularattentiontothoseatthelowerendoftheagecontinuumPCRB01O1Page6