State v. Harris, 91-1504

• Decision Date: 21 October 1992
• Docket Number: No. 91-1504,91-1504
• Citation: 490 N.W.2d 561
• Parties: STATE of Iowa, Appellee, v. Michael HARRIS, Appellant.
• Court: Iowa Supreme Court

Page 561

490 N.W.2d 561

STATE of Iowa, Appellee, v. Michael HARRIS, Appellant.

No. 91-1504.

Supreme Court of Iowa.

Oct. 21, 1992.

Linda Del Gallo, State Appellate Defender, and Kevin Cmelik, Asst. State Appellate Defender, for appellant.

Bonnie J. Campbell, Atty. Gen., Bridget A. Chambers, Asst. Atty. Gen., J. Patrick White, County Atty., and Kelly D. Steele, Asst. County Atty., for appellee.

Considered by McGIVERIN, C.J., and LARSON, LAVORATO, NEUMAN, and SNELL, JJ.

NEUMAN, Justice.

Following an arrest for public intoxication, police searched defendant Michael Harris and found marijuana and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Harris now appeals convictions for two counts of possession of controlled substances, see Iowa Code §§ 204.204(4) and 204.401(3) (1991), claiming the fruits of the search should have been suppressed because the police had no probable cause to arrest him. Finding no error, we affirm.

The case stems from commotion caused in the wee hours of the morning as Harris and a small group of friends walked along the streets of downtown Iowa City. One member of the group began approaching vehicles at an intersection, grabbing the outside rearview mirrors, and hanging on until the light changed. He eventually drew the attention of a police officer. The officer took the man aside, called for backup assistance, and directed that Harris and the others sit at the curb some distance away.

In spite of the order, Harris approached the officer at least twice to ask what was going to happen to his friend. Apparently prompted by this resistance to his command, the officer eventually turned his attention to Harris. He observed the odor of alcohol about him, and noted that Harris's eyes were bloodshot, watery and dilated. The dilation of Harris's eyes caused the officer to suspect the influence of drugs, as well as alcohol. A preliminary breath test requested by the officer yielded a reading of .07. The officer then arrested Harris for the simple misdemeanor offense of public intoxication. See Iowa Code § 123.46(2) ("A person shall not be intoxicated or simulate intoxication in a public place.").

During the search incident to Harris's arrest, officers found drug paraphernalia including a small pipe with marijuana in it. A subsequent jail inventory of Harris's belongings revealed thirty perforated paper squares that tested positive for LSD. Harris was then charged with possession of controlled substances.

In a pretrial motion to suppress, Harris claimed that both the search incident to arrest, and the inventory search, were invalid because the arresting officer had no probable cause to arrest Harris for public intoxication. From the court's denial of this motion, and its subsequent entry of judgment of conviction upon the possession charges, Harris now appeals.

I. Harris rests his appeal on fourth amendment grounds; therefore our review is de novo. State v. Vincik, 436 N.W.2d 350, 353 (Iowa 1989). In deciding whether the search was valid we consider the totality of the circumstances as revealed by the entire record. Id. We give weight, however, to the district court's findings, especially on credibility of witnesses. Taylor v. State, 352 N.W.2d 683, 687 (Iowa 1984); Iowa R.App.P. 14(f)(7).

II. The parties do not dispute the controlling law. A search incident to a lawful arrest is a recognized exception to the fourth amendment's warrant requirement. State v. Garcia, 461 N.W.2d 460, 462 (Iowa 1990). The burden of coming within the exception rests upon the State. Id. A warrantless arrest must be supported by probable cause. United States v. Watson, 423 U.S. 411, 423-24, 96 S.Ct. 820, 828, 46 L.Ed.2d 598, 609 (1976). Probable cause exists when the facts and circumstances within the arresting officer's knowledge would warrant a person of reasonable caution to believe that an offense is being committed. Draper v. United States, 358 U.S. 307, 313, 79 S.Ct. 329, 333, 3 L.Ed.2d 327, 332 (1959); see Iowa Code § 804.7 (warrantless arrest authorized where police officer has "reasonable ground for believing" arrestee committed crime). The "reasonable ground for belief" standard of Iowa Code section 804.7 is the same as probable cause. Kraft v. City of Bettendorf, 359 N.W.2d 466, 469 (Iowa 1984).

To sustain a finding of probable cause, the facts must rise above mere suspicion but need not be strong enough to sustain a guilty conviction. State v. Gregory, 327 N.W.2d 218, 220 (Iowa 1982). All of the evidence available to the arresting officer may be considered, regardless of whether or not each component would support a finding of probable cause by itself. State v. Bumpus, 459 N.W.2d 619, 623 (Iowa), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 1001, 111 S.Ct. 563, 112 L.Ed.2d 570 (1990). Seemingly innocent activities may combine with other factors to give an experienced police officer reasonable grounds to suspect wrongdoing. State v. Rosenstiel, 473 N.W.2d 59, 62 (Iowa 1991). And, although bound by the true reasons given, officers may cite multiple reasons for stopping or arresting a suspect. State v. Garcia, 461 N.W.2d 460, 464 (Iowa 1990). An arrest for any proper reason, even a secondary one, may still be lawful. Id.

III. The fighting issue is whether the arresting officer had probable cause to believe Harris was intoxicated by alcohol, rather than drugs. The distinction...