On Point: 35. Search & Seizure

State v. Joe R. Hechimovich, 2010AP2897-CR, District 4, 4/7/11

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Hechimovich: Corey C. Chirafisi; case activity

Compliance with implied consent law found. Although Hechimovich initially requested a breath test, after his blood was drawn at the hospital, the deputy “gave ample opportunity” during a 10-minute period for Hechimovich to renew the request for breath test. The deputy “conclud(ed) that when Hechimovich did not bring it up following his blood test,

State v. Rafael Labedzki, 2010AP2501-CR, District 2, 4/6/11

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Labedzki: Walter Arthur, Piel, Jr.; case activity

Reasonable suspicion for sobriety testing upheld, where officer had basis for concluding Labedzki was driving while intoxicated after an unchallenged stop for speeding. In brief: “Given that the trooper observed an alcoholic smell coming from Labedzki’s vehicle, a passenger who appeared drunk, bloodshot and glassy eyes on Labedzki,

County of Sheboygan v. Jeffrey L. Bubolz, 2010AP2997, District 2, 4/6/11

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Bubolz: Casey J. Hoff; case activity

Ignoring a warning sign that a road is closed except to local traffic creates reasonable suspicion for a traffic stop, even though the sign was an “unofficial” one put up by the contractor.

¶11      Failure to adhere to official traffic signs is a violation of WIS.

Docket

Decision below (621 F.3d 296 (3rd Cir 2010))

Question Presented:

Whether the Fourth Amendment permits a jail to conduct a suspicionless strip search of every individual arrested for any minor offense no matter what the circumstances.

Scotusblog page

Caselaw in this Circuit has long rejected suspicionless jail strip searches for minor offenses. Mary Beth G.

City of West Allis v. Susan Schneidler, 2010AP2531, District 1, 4/5/11

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Schneidler: Thomas C. Simon; case activity

Tip from an identified citizen informant – that she had seen Schneidler drinking alcohol before driving off – supported stop of Schneidler’s car, without requiring independent corroboration.

¶18      In short, Parr was a reliable witness who told police that she personally observed Schneidler drink alcohol and then drive and who made herself available to the police for questioning. 

County of Sheboygan v. John A. Taylor, 2010AP2819, District 2, 3/23/11

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Taylor: Kirk B. Obear, Casey J. Hoff; case activity

Weaving within lane supported reasonable suspicion for OWI stop, State v. Post, 2007 WI 60, 301 Wis. 2d 1, 733 N.W.2d 634 (“repeated weaving by a driver within a single lane does not alone give rise to the reasonable suspicion necessary for a traffic stop”),

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Cain: John M. Carroll; case activity

Search & Seizure – “Contraband” (Illegal Switchblade), Delayed Determination

Where the detention of Cain and seizure of his knife were concededly proper, the fact that the officer forgot to return the knife when he released Cain, and didn’t determine until later that it was in fact an illegal switchblade, didn’t require suppression of the knife.

State v. Loren C. Purintun, 2010AP2493-CR, District 3, 3/15/11 

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Purintun: Dan Chapman; case activity

¶9        Here, the totality of the circumstances provided Hodek with reasonable suspicion to stop Purintun.  Hodek was dispatched to a semi-rural area to investigate a report of either a shooting or a car accident.  He encountered Purintun about one-half mile from the address provided by dispatch. 

Waupaca County v. Heather M. Krueger, 2010AP1290, District 4, 3/10/11

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Krueger: John M. Carroll; case activity

Citizen’s detention of driver (for suspected drunk driving) until police arrived to effectuate probable cause-based arrest can’t support suppression of evidence because no state action was involved.

¶5        Krueger seeks suppression of evidence of her intoxicated driving obtained after she was stopped by Sparks,

Kenosha County v. Jodi A. Braune, 2010AP834, District 2, 3/9/11

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Braune: Theodore B. Kmiec, III; case activity

¶7        We hold that under the plain language of Wis. Stat. § 346.13(3), Braune’s deviation over the fog line was sufficient to establish probable cause that Braune committed a traffic violation.  When the deputy observed Braune’s conduct, he had probable cause that Braune did not drive “in the lane designated.”  See § 346.13(3).