J.H., In Interest of

• Decision Date: 22 March 1993
• Citation: 622 A.2d 351,424 Pa.Super. 224
• Parties: In the Interest of J.H. Appeal of J.H.
• Court: Pennsylvania Superior Court

Page 351

622 A.2d 351

424 Pa.Super. 224

In the Interest of J.H.

Appeal of J.H.

Superior Court of Pennsylvania.

Argued Jan. 6, 1993.

Filed March 22, 1993.

Sarah Kerr, Philadelphia, for appellant.

Anthony Pomerantz, Asst. Dist. Atty., Philadelphia, for Com., appellee.

Before CIRILLO, BECK and KELLY, JJ.

BECK, Judge.

This is an appeal from an Order of Commitment entered in Juvenile Court in Philadelphia County. Appellant asserts that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress. We agree and so reverse.

On October 21, 1991, police were contacted by a woman claiming to have information about a murder that occurred two days earlier on October 19, 1991. Two officers were dispatched to interview the woman, who informed them that five minutes earlier at a certain address, she saw a dark-complected black male who may have been involved in the murder. She described the male as approximately five-feet-seven-inches tall, wearing blue jeans and a peach jacket. The officers promptly went to the address, knocked on the door and got no answer. At that moment, they saw a black male in a peach jacket and blue jeans (appellant) walking toward them. They immediately searched appellant and found 45 vials of crack cocaine on his person. He was placed in handcuffs and transported to the Police Narcotics Division. He ultimately was found guilty of possession with intent to deliver.

Appellant asserts that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress. With respect to a trial court's denial of suppression, we review only the court's conclusions of law; in doing so we consider the prosecution's evidence and any uncontradicted evidence offered by appellant. Commonwealth v. Woods, 404 Pa.Super. 432, 590 A.2d 1311, 1312, appeal denied, 528 Pa. 637, 598 A.2d 994 (1991).

The Commonwealth insists that based on the informant's description, the police had probable cause to arrest appellant at the time they searched him; therefore, a complete search incident to arrest was proper. ¹ It is clear that in order for police to make a warrantless arrest, they must have probable cause; where probable cause to arrest does not exist, any evidence seized in a search incident to arrest must be suppressed. Commonwealth v. Lovette, 498 Pa. 665, 450 A.2d 975, 981 (1982), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 1178, 103 S.Ct. 830, 74 L.Ed.2d 1025 (1983). Probable cause is established when the facts and circumstances which are within the knowledge of the officer at the time of the arrest, and of which he has reasonably trustworthy information, are sufficient to warrant a person of reasonable caution to conclude that the suspect has committed a crime. Commonwealth v. Rodriguez, 526 Pa. 268, 585 A.2d 988, 990 (1991).

Our standard for determining the existence of probable cause is an analysis of the totality of the circumstances. Commonwealth v. Gray, 509 Pa. 476, 503 A.2d 921, 926 (1985) (citing Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 238-39, 103 S.Ct. 2317, 2332, 76 L.Ed.2d 527 (1983)). In the instant case, probable cause came from an informant's tip. We must be satisfied that the tip was reliable and, therefore, assess the informant's veracity as well as the basis for her knowledge in order to determine whether the officers had probable cause to arrest appellant. While the "totality" standard represents a loosening of the previously rigid, two-prong test for probable cause, the dual basis of knowledge and veracity prongs are still very much a part of our inquiry. ² Commonwealth v. Davis, 407 Pa.Super. 415, 595 A.2d 1216, 1219 (1991), appeal denied, 530 Pa. 630, 606 A.2d 900 (1992).

There are a number of ways to determine the reliability of an informant's tip. We have been satisfied that an informant's tip constitutes probable cause where police have been able to provide independent corroboration of the tip or where the informant previously provided police with accurate information of criminal activity, or where the informant himself participated in the criminal activity. See Commonwealth v. Ogborne, 410 Pa.Super. 164, 599 A.2d 656 (1991) (probable cause found where informant's previous information was accurate and police corroborated tip), appeal denied, 530 Pa. 631, 606 A.2d 901; Commonwealth v. Carlisle, 348 Pa.Super. 96, 501 A.2d 664 (1985), aff'd, 517 Pa. 36, 534 A.2d 469 (1986) (probable cause established where informant engaged in criminal activity with accused, provided police with past information and there was independent corroboration).

In the instant case, the evidence does not support a finding of probable cause. Glaringly absent at the suppression hearing was any testimony regarding the basis of the informant's knowledge. It was not claimed that she was an eyewitness to the crime or had information from an individual involved in the murder. ³ Nor was there any testimony of the informant's previous cooperation with the police. The Commonwealth cites Commonwealth v. Sudler, 496 Pa. 295, 436 A.2d 1376 (1981) and argues that because the tip was from an "average citizen," police are entitled to rely on it. In Sudler, the informants were acquaintances of the accused to whom the accused admitted committing the crime. The acquaintances gave sworn statements to police. Id. at 299, 436 A.2d at 1377. There was no such testimony in the instant case.

Further, there was no independent investigation by the police to link appellant with the murder. The only evidence adduced at the hearing was that there was a question whether another individual, in addition to a suspect already in custody, was involved in the crime. The Commonwealth claims that the tip was "verified" by the officers because they found appellant, matching the informant's description, in the area she described. It is this verification, the Commonwealth argues, that gave the officers probable cause. We disagree. A mere description of an individual, with nothing more, does not establish probable cause. ⁴ This information, appellant's clothing and location, does not support the reliability of the informant's tip; it is information available to anyone and is not indicative of criminal conduct. See Commonwealth v. Edmunds, 526 Pa. 374, 382 n. 3, 586 A.2d 887, 891 n. 3 (1991) (citing United States v. Leon, 468 U.S. 897, 903 n. 2, 104 S.Ct. 3405, 3410 n. 2, 82 L.Ed.2d 677 (1984)).

In sum, the suppression court was presented with no evidence tending to prove that the information given to police was reasonably trustworthy. See Rodriguez, 526 Pa. at 272- 73, 585 A.2d at 990. Accordingly, the evidence seized from appellant should have been suppressed. ⁵

Order reversed. Jurisdiction relinquished.

CIRRILLO, J., files a Dissenting Statement.

CIRILLO, Judge, dissenting:

I respectfully dissent from the majority's opinion. I have written extensively on the policy reasons for relaxing constitutional protections for juvenile court adjudication. See e.g. In the Interest of Davis, 377 Pa.Super. 46, 546 A.2d 1149 (1988) (Cirillo, P.J., dissenting). To reiterate, juvenile proceedings are unique because the goal is rehabilitation rather than punishment. Id. at 70, 546 A.2d at 1162. The juvenile justice system is best able to...