People v. Elliott, Cr. 7269

• Decision Date: 04 November 1960
• Docket Number: Cr. 7269
• Citation: 8 Cal.Rptr. 716,186 Cal.App.2d 185
• Court: California Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of California, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. James Ernest ELLIOTT, Defendant and Appellant.

Page 716

8 Cal.Rptr. 716

186 Cal.App.2d 185

PEOPLE of the State of California, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. James Ernest ELLIOTT, Defendant and Appellant.

Cr. 7269.

District Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 3, California.

Nov. 4, 1960.

Rehearing Denied Dec. 2, 1960.

James Ernest Elliott, in pro. per.

Stanley Mosk, Atty. Gen., and S. Clark Moore, Deputy Atty. Gen., for respondent.

FORD, Justice.

The defendant has appealed from a judgment of conviction of the crime of possession of heroin. Health & Safety Code, § 11500.

The appellant contends that there was no probable cause for his arrest. He further asserts that his constitutional rights were violated because of the manner in which evidence offered against him was obtained. Claims of unfairness with respect to his trial are also urged.

The trial judge was the trier of fact, a trial by jury having been waived by the appellant. The evidence will be summarized. Richard P. Denver, a police officer for the city of Los Angeles, was in the area of Berendo Street and Pico Boulevard at about 1:15 a. m. on December 5, 1959. He was in a police vehicle with Officer Jilg. The defendant went by their vehicle on a motorcycle which had no rear light. They stopped the appellant and asked for his driver's license. The officer then called into the police department to determine if there were any outstanding traffic warrants for the appellant and what his past record was. He ascertained that there were two or three outstanding traffic warrants, 'which were good for nighttime service,' and that the appellant had had a recent narcotic arrest and other felony arrests prior thereto. The clerk also told the officer that the appellant was a user and seller of heroin. When the witness returned from the call box, the other officer was examining the appellant's arms. He thought that the appellant's long-sleeved leather jacket had been removed. The appellant was placed under arrest under the outstanding warrants. A search of the motorcycle was subsequently made.

Officer Jack T. Jilg testified that while Officer Denver was away from the presence of the appellant, he noticed that the eyes of the appellant were 'pinpointed.' He smelled no alcohol on his breath. He gave him a light-reaction test and found that his eyes had no reaction whatsoever. The officer believed that the appellant 'might possibly be under the influence of narcotics.' He then asked the appellant to remove his jacket so that he could look at his arms. The appellant did so. The officer saw no needle marks at that time. He asked the appellant if he ever used narcotics and the appellant replied that he had used heroin about forty days before. Upon his return, Officer Denver happened to glance down between the gas tanks of the motorcycle and saw a brown package stuffed down between the tanks. The witness Officer Jilg, observed this also. Officer Denver asked the appellant what it was and he replied that it was to keep the gas tanks from rattling. This was after the arrest. Officer Denver removed the package. It contained approximately ten multi-colored balloons which were tied into little sections. The witness partially untied the end of one ballon and observed a white powder inside which appeared to be heroin. The appellant was then placed under arrest 'for suspicion of narcotics.' Officer Jilg had had training in the subject of narcotic investigation at the police academy, and, after such training, practical experience in the field. He had also been shown the light-reaction test with respect to persons addicted to narcotics and had made arrests in cases of the use of narcotics. The officers asked the appellant if they could search his residence. He said, 'Yes, go ahead. You won't find anything there.' They then went to his residence. The appellant let them in. There, in a waste basket, were found three balloon fragments, an eye-dropper, a razor blade and some wire.

On cross-examination, Officer Jilg testified that the package taken from the motorcycle 'looked like it is part of a paper bag, brown in color.' The package was approximately two inches by two inches in size. There was nothing unusual about it when he first saw it.

It was stipulated that a forensic chemist would be deemed to have testified that he examined portions of the contents of five of the balloons and formed the opinion that the powder so examined contained the narcotic heroin.

The testimony above set forth was contained in the transcript of the preliminary hearing. It was received at the trial pursuant to the stipulation of the parties, it being understood that the evidence was subject to any objection that might be made. No other testimony was received at the trial. The appellant did not testify. At the time the articles seized by the officers were offered in evidence at the preliminary hearing, counsel for the appellant objected 'on the grounds the same were obtained pursuant to an illegal arrest and illegal search and seizure, no probable cause for the search.' We deem that objection to have been before the superior court with respect to the evidence so received at the trial. We further note that at the end of the trial there was a ruling of the court to the effect that the motion to suppress evidence was denied.

There is, of course, nothing unreasonable in an officer's questioning of a person outdoors at night. People v. Blodgett, 46 Cal.2d 114, 117, 293 P.2d 57. But aside from that, in the present case the officers had reasonable cause to stop the defendant because of the absence of an operating rear light on his vehicle, a violation of section 24600 of the Vehicle Code. People v. Zubia, 166 Cal.App.2d 620, 622, 333 P.2d 349; People v. Sanson, 156 Cal.App.2d 250, 253, 319 P.2d 422; see People v. Smith, 141 Cal.App.2d 399, 401, 296 P.2d 913; People v. Johnson, 139 Cal.App.2d 663, 667, 294 P.2d 189. Moreover, under the circumstances presented to the officers, the detention of the appellant for a reasonable period of time so that it could be determined whether there were any outstanding warrants arising from traffic-violation charges against him, or whether there was other information relating to him in the police records, does not appear to have been unreasonable. Cf. People v. Rodriquez, 140 Cal.App.2d 865, 867, 296 P.2d 38. But...