Little v. Dist. Of D.C..

• Decision Date: 22 December 1948
• Docket Number: No. 697.,697.
• Citation: 62 A.2d 874
• Parties: LITTLE v. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
• Court: D.C. Court of Appeals

62 A.2d 874

LITTLE

v.DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

No. 697.

Municipal Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

Dec. 22, 1948.

Appeal from the Municipal Court for the District of Columbia, Criminal Division.

Geraldine Little, alias Mildred Parker, was convicted of hindering, obstructing and interfering with a health officer in performance of his duty in carrying out the provisions of local health regulations, and she appeals.

Reversed.

Jeff Busby, of Washington, D. C., for appellant.

Edward A. Beard, Asst. Corporation Counsel, of Washington, D. C. (Vernon E. West, Corporation Counsel, and Chester H. Gray, Principal Assistant Corporation Counsel, both of Washington, D. C., on the brief), for appellee.

Before CAYTON, Chief Judge, and HOOD and CLAGETT, Associate Judges.

CLAGETT, Associate Judge.

Appellant, Geraldine Little, alias Mildred Parker, was charged with and convicted of hindering, obstructing and interfering with a health officer in the performance of his duty in carrying out the provisions of local health regulations.

The account of the arrest given by the government witnesses was as follows: One of the occupants of a residential property belonging to appellant appeared at the Health Department and made a complaint that there was an accumulation of loose and uncovered garbage and trash in the halls of the house and that certain of the residents failed to avail themselves of the toilet facilities. Thereafter under orders of his superior a uniformed officer of the D. C. Public Health Department accompanied by a uniformed member of the Metropolitan Police went to the residence for the purpose of inspection.

The officers were met at the door by one Allen, who was about to enter the premises. The inspector identified himself, told of his mission and asked permission to inspect the house. Allen refused permission on the ground that the owner was not at home. Appellant, who was then unknown to the officers, was across the street and called to Allen not to permit the officers to enter. Appellant then crossed the street, came upon the porch of the premises, and, after she knew the object of the call, again told Allen not to permit the officers to enter. Appellant at first denied her ownership of the premises and was told to go about her business. Allen was arrested for interfering with a health officer, and taken to a nearby police call box followed by appellant protesting the right of entry. She finally identified herself as the owner of the house and demanded that she be arrested also. She seized the health officer's arm and attempted to grab some papers that he was holding. She was then arrested.

Appellant's own account was substantially the same, except that she claimed she was arrested after denying the officers permission to enter the premises on the ground that her constitutional rights did not require her to submit to the inspection.

Several errors are alleged, but in substance they amount to the assertion that the actions of the health officer were an attempt to carry out an unlawful search of a private dwelling in contravention of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and hence that appellant could not be legally arrested for resisting.

The government insists that the case may be resolved without reference to the constitutional propriety of the attempted entry. It is said that appellant's arrest was predicated upon her actions on a public street in interfering with the arrest of Allen. However, the information upon which appellant was convicted charged her with interfering with a health officer, not a police officer. Making arrests is not a part of the duties of a health officer. Furthermore, the case was not tried upon this theory. The trial judge's memorandum opinion deals only with the constitutional issue, and we believe that our decision also must turn upon it.

The police regulation which appellant was convicted of violating was promulgated by the District of Columbia commissioners April 22, 1897, pursuant to a joint resolution of Congress enacted February 26, 1892 (52 Cong., Sess. 1, Res. 1-7, 1892, entitled ‘Joint Resolutions to Regulate Licenses to Proprietors of Theaters in the City of Washington, District of Columbia, and for Other Purposes.’ This joint resolution authorized the commissioners to make and enforce all such reasonable and usual police regulations as they might deem necessary, for the protection of lives, limbs, health, comfort, and quiet of all persons and the protection of all property within the District of Columbia. The regulations adopted pursuant to this act provide in part, as follows:

‘2. That it shall be the duty of every person occupying any premises, or any part of any premises, in the District of Columbia, or if such premises be not occupied, of the owner thereof, to keep such premises or part, * * * clean and wholesome; if, upon inspection by the Health Officer * * * it be ascertained that any such premises, or any part thereof, or any building, * * * is not in such condition as herein required, the occupant or occupants of such premises or part, or the owner thereof, * * * shall be notified thereof and required to place the same in a clean and wholesome condition; and in case any person shall fail or neglect to place such premises or part in such condition within the time allowed by said notice he shall be liable to the penalties hereinafter provided.

‘10. That the Health Officer shall examine or cause to be examined any building supposed or reported to be in an unsanitary condition * * *.

‘12. That any person violating, or aiding or abetting in violating, any of the provisions of these regulations, or interfering with or preventing any inspection authorized thereby, shall be deemed guilty of a...