State v. Smith, 767--III

• Decision Date: 10 July 1973
• Docket Number: No. 767--III,767--III
• Citation: 9 Wn.App. 279,511 P.2d 1032
• Parties: STATE of Washington, Respondent, v. Bennie SMITH, Appellant.
• Court: Washington Court of Appeals

Page 279

9 Wn.App. 279

511 P.2d 1032

STATE of Washington, Respondent, v. Bennie SMITH, Appellant.

No. 767--III.

Court of Appeals of Washington, Division 3.

July 10, 1973.

Rehearing Denied Aug. 16, 1973.

Charles Thorfin Schillberg, Moses Lake, for appellant.

Paul Klasen, Prosecuting Atty., Ephrata, for respondent.

GREEN, Chief Judge.

Defendant, Bennie Smith, and Gregory Paul Carter were jointly charged with one count of armed robbery and eight counts of assault in the second degree. They waived jury trial and were jointly tried and convicted by the court. Each defendant filed separate appeals. This appeal concerns Bennie Smith.

Defendant assigns error to the trial court's denial of his motions to (1) suppress evidence obtained when he was arrested; (2) suppress evidence of a photographic lineup; and (3) dismiss the assault counts.

On October 13, 1972, at approximately 2:30 p.m., the Credit Bureau of Central Washington in Moses Lake was robbed by two Negroes--one short and one tall--armed with revolvers. Several rolls of coins, some loose change, a $50 bill and other bills were taken. Two possible suspects were observed earlier in the area, driving a blue or green older car. Officer Peterson of the Washington State Patrol received this information on his radio.

At 4:24 p.m., Peterson, on patrol near Dryden, observed a green 1966 Buick with Minnesota plates, containing two Negroes. Peterson followed the vehicle on the Blewett Pass highway for 30 minutes. During that time he radioed for more information on the robbery, requested assistance and a roadblock. Officer Kidd of the State Patrol soon proceeded to follow Peterson's vehicle. The suspect vehicle turned into the Mineral Springs Lodge restaurant area. Peterson pulled along the passenger side and Kidd pulled along the driver's side of the vehicle. Both officers stepped out of their respective patrol cars with shotguns. Kidd ordered the pair to freeze. As Peterson walked forward to the suspect car, he saw two revolvers lying on the floor near the front seat on the passenger side of the car. The officers instructed the occupants to walk to the rear of their car where they were searched. A $50 bill and a roll of coins were found on defendant Smith. Shells for the pistols and four rolls of pennies marked 'Utico of Moses Lake' were found on Carter. Testimony linked these items to the robbery.

First, defendant contends the court erred in denying his motion to suppress evidence obtained at the time of arrest because it was obtained in a search incident to an unlawful arrest. Defendant claims the officers did not have probable cause to arrest him. We disagree.

Police officers, in appropriate circumstances and in an appropriate manner, may detain persons for purposes of investigating possible criminal behavior, even though there is no probable cause to make an arrest. Adams v. Williams, 407 U.S. 143, 92 S.Ct. 1921, 1923, 32 L.Ed.2d 612 (1972); Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 20 L.Ed.2d 889 (1968); State v. Gluck,7 Wash.App. 811, 502 P.2d 1222 (1972).

Prior to approaching the defendants, the officers were informed of an armed robbery committed by two Negro men, one short and one tall, possibly driving a green or blue older model automobile. When Peterson commenced following the suspect vehicle about 4:24 p.m. on Blewett Pass, he knew it was reasonably within appropriate driving distance from Moses Lake, considering the time of the robbery. These facts were sufficient to cause Peterson to suspect that the two occupants of the automobile may have committed the Moses Lake robbery. The manner in which the officers approached the suspected individuals was reasonable because the robbers were reported to be armed. When Peterson approached the vehicle and saw two revolvers in plain view in the suspects' automobile, probable cause existed to believe they were the robbers and arrest them. The items obtained in the ensuing search were properly admitted into evidence.

Second, defendant contends the court erred in denying his motion to suppress evidence of a photographic identification of him upon the ground the procedure was impermissibly suggestive, giving rise to a very substantial likelihood of irreparable misidentification. He asserts the photographs used to identify him were distinguishable from the other photographs shown to the witnesses, thereby tainting his identification. We disagree.

On Monday following the Friday robbery, seven of eight eyewitnesses participated in a photographic lineup. Although the defendants were in custody, a photographic lineup was used due to the lack of Negro males in the Grant and Adams County Jails, rendering a corporal lineup impractical. See State v. Nettles, 81 Wash.2d 205, 210, 500 P.2d 752 (1972); State v. Cantrell, 81 Wash.2d 213, 500 P.2d 777 (1972). Each witness, while out of the presence of the other witnesses, viewed 11 photographs of Negro males. Eight of the photographs were 2 1/2 3 1/2 in size, and three were 3 5 . Only two of the 3 5 photos were of defendant Smith. The 11 photos were shuffled before each witness viewed the pictures. Only the officer conducting the lineup knew the identity of the person in the photo. Although the use of two 3 5 photos of the defendant in the photographic lineup was not an ideal procedure, we do not believe the size of the photographs used resulted in impermissible suggestiveness giving rise to a very substantial likelihood of irreparable misidentification. This is evidenced by the fact that only three of seven witnesses identified defendant Smith's photograph.

While we find no error in the admission of the photographic identification evidence, it is noted that defendant's conviction does not rest solely upon the photo identification. One witness, who did not participate in the photographic identification, identified defendant Smith at the trial as a participant in the robbery. Further, the items found in the robbery. Further, the items found in the possession of defendant on his arrest were identical to items taken in the robbery.

Finally, error is assigned to the court's refusal to dismiss the second-degree assault charges against defendant upon the ground that assault in...