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<p class="MsoNormal"><i>State v. Ernie Garcia<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.publications.ojd.state.or.us/docs/A154834.pdf">http://www.publications.ojd.state.or.us/docs/A154834.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>Facts:</u> Neighbor calls 911 after hearing “mostly male screaming” and “possibly hitting” off and on for at least an hour coming from defendant’s home. The first officer arrived shortly after the 911 call and waited for cover. While
waiting, that officer approached the D’s house and could hear a TV, but no other noise. A few minutes later, the second officer arrived. The two officers approached D’s house. D was sitting inside the home on the couch but no one else was visible. D would
not come outside, but officers could smell alcohol on him. D said there was no one else inside the house and denied anything had happened inside the home. Eventually, the officers arrested the D for Interfering with a Police Officer and they entered the home.
Upon entering, one officer eventually located the victim who appeared ‘frazzled’ but he did not see any visible injuries. Upon contact with the victim the other officer did see “older” bruises on the victim’s arm. Eventually, the victim disclosed to officers
information about an assault that had happened on that day, as well as other violent incidents. The Defendant was charged with multiple crimes. The Defendant filed a Motion to Suppress arguing unlawful warrantless search of his home. The Trial court denied
the Defendant’s motion. Defendant was convicted at trial of Coercion, Menacing, Harassment, and Assault IV x 2.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>On Appeal, the Court reverses the Trial Court’s ruling:<o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The <b>GOOD NEWS</b> is that the COA agree D w/ the State and with the Trial Court that officers DID have the authority under the Emergency Aid Doctrine to enter the home (page 849). Unfortunately, the analysis did not stop there. The COA
held that the emergency “dissipated” once the officers observed that the victim did not appear to have serious physical injuries, did not request assistance, and stated (initially) that she and the Defendant had only been in a verbal argument. Therefore, according
to the COA, all evidence observed or obtained by the officers would be subject to suppression
<u>unless</u> there was another valid exception to the warrant requirement. The State argued that the “material witness” exception (see
<i>State v. Fair</i>) should apply. The majority opinion concluded, however, that that exception DID not apply because the evidentiary record was insufficient. In its final argument, the State urged the COA to find that suppression was not warranted because
the victim implicitly consented to the officers’ presence. Unfortunately, the COA held that because the State did not make that argument at the trial level, the State could not make that argument on appeal.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In her concurring opinion, Judge Hadlock wrote that she believed that the Material Witness Exception
<u>did</u> apply in this case. She also stated that <i>had</i> the victim consented or agreed to the police officers’ presence, the evidence should not have been suppressed. However, because that issue had not come up at the trial level, it could be not be
argued by the State on appeal. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype","serif";color:#1F497D">Erin S. Greenawald</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype","serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype","serif";color:#1F497D">Sr. Assistant Attorney General | DA/LE Assistance| Criminal Justice Division<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype","serif";color:#1F497D">Oregon Department of Justice<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype","serif";color:#1F497D">2250 McGilchrist Street SE, Suite 100, Salem OR 97302<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype","serif";color:#1F497D">Main: 503.378.6347 | Desk: 503.934.2024 | Fax: 503.373.1937</span><span style="font-family:"Palatino Linotype","serif";color:#1F497D">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Palatino Linotype","serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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