Opinion

Quezada v. Walton

Court
District Court, N.D. Oklahoma
Filed
Aug 24, 2022
Cited by
0 cases
Authority
More cited than 28.5%

holding that impeachment by use of pre-arrest silence does not violate Fifth or Fourteenth Amendments

How later courts described this case

  • holding that impeachment by use of pre-arrest silence does not violate Fifth or Fourteenth Amendments
  • requiring that the defendant have “personally participated” in the constitutional deprivation and holding that mere presence at the scene was insufficient
  • “suspect’s untruthful and evasive answers to police questioning could support probable cause.”
  • “Innocent behavior will frequently provide the basis for a showing of probable cause.”

Written by the judges who cited it.

The opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA

ANGELICA QUEZADA, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

v. ) Case No. 22-CV-092-TCK-CDL

)

RONNIE RODEN, individually, KYLE )

BAKER, individually, CLINTON )

SCOTT WALTON, a/k/a “SCOTT” )

WALTON, Sheriff of Rogers )

County, in his official capacity; )

)

Defendants. )

OPINION AND ORDER

Before the Court is the Motion to Dismiss filed by the defendant Ronnie Roden, in his

individual capacity (Doc. 14). Plaintiff filed a Response (Doc. 18), and Defendant filed a Reply

(Doc. 20).

I. BACKGROUND

Plaintiff originally brought her Petition against Ronnie Roden, individually, and Clinton

Scott Walton, Sheriff of Rogers County, in his official capacity (“County”), arising out of her

arrest on or about October 22, 2019. (Doc. 2-2). Defendants filed their respective Motions to

Dismiss, asserting that Plaintiff’s Petition fails to plead sufficient facts to state a claim for relief.

Plaintiff filed her Amended Complaint in response, and added Lieutenant Kyle Baker (“Baker”),

in his individual capacity, as a Defendant. (Doc. 11).1

1 Summons was issued to Baker on July 7, 2022. (Doc. 22). Baker has neither filed an Answer,

nor otherwise responded.

Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint alleges that on October 22, 2019, her husband was arrested

and charged with the murder of two individuals at Plaintiff’s residence. (Doc. 11, ¶ 14). According

to Plaintiff, she “was seen on video obtained by law enforcement not taking part in the shooting

and instructing the purported shooter of the firearm to put the gun down,” that she “rendered aid

to one of the victims,” “was obviously distraught” and “no lawful basis existed to support the

arrest.” (Doc. 11, ¶ 12). Plaintiff alleges she was arrested for accessory to murder, and the “explicit

reason for arresting Plaintiff was that she would not speak to authorities upon their arrival,” and

that she “continued to refuse to cooperate.” (Doc. 11, ¶ 14). Plaintiff further contends “false

statements of fact and reckless omissions led to the arrest and unlawful detention[.]” (Doc. 11, ¶

12). According to Plaintiff, she was “arrested, taken to the Rogers County jail,” had to retain an

attorney, post bond and sustained damages. (Doc. 11, ¶ 16). The charges against Plaintiff were

dismissed on or about January 27, 2020. (Doc. 11, ¶ 16; Doc. 2-4).

Regarding Sergeant Roden, Plaintiff alleges he “was the lead investigator and directed that

Plaintiff be arrested[]” and that “Roden had no probable cause to direct Plaintiff to be arrested.”

(Doc. 11, ¶¶ 3, 15). Concerning Lieutenant Baker, Plaintiff alleges he “arrested the Plaintiff and

also submitted a probable cause affidavit that led to the filing of charges,” and that “Baker lacked

probable cause as well.” (Doc. 11, ¶ 15). Plaintiff then asserts that she was arrested “in retaliation

for Plaintiff not answering questions, which is her constitutional right” (Doc. 11, ¶ 11), and that

“Roden and Baker acted with reckless indifference to federally secured constitutional rights of the

Plaintiff.” (Doc. 11, ¶ 18).

Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint alleges five (5) claims against Roden in his individual

capacity: (1) False Arrest in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983; (2) Malicious Prosecution in violation

of 42 U.S.C. § 1983; (3) Retaliation in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983; (4) Abuse of Process; and

(5) a False Arrest claim premised on state law. For the reasons set forth below, the Court finds

Plaintiff fails to state a claim for relief against Roden, and Roden is entitled to qualified immunity.

II. MOTION TO DISMISS STANDARD

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require a complaint contain “a short and plain

statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). In a

12(b)(6) motion, the Court must “accept as true all well-pleaded factual allegations” and construe

the allegations most favorable to the claimant. Smith v. United States, 561 F.3d 1090, 1098 (10th

Cir. 2009). However, the Court is not “bound to accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a

factual allegation.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 679 (2009). To survive a motion to dismiss,

the complaint must allege facts sufficient to “state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.”

Id. A complaint is facially plausible where it sets forth sufficient facts to allow the court to draw

the “reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Id. at 678

(quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 556 (2007)). The court must determine “whether

the complaint sufficiently alleges facts supporting all the elements necessary to establish an

entitlement to relief under the legal theory proposed.” Lane v. Simon, 495 F.3d 1182, 1186 (10th

Cir. 2007) (internal quotation omitted).

“Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory

statements, do not suffice[]” to state a claim for which relief may be granted. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at

667 (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 540). “A pleading that offers labels and conclusions or a

formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.” Id. (internal quotations

omitted). “Nor does a complaint suffice if it tenders naked assertions devoid of further factual

enhancement.” Id. (internal quotations omitted). Where the court cannot infer more than a mere

possibility of misconduct, accepting as true all of a plaintiff’s well-pleaded factual allegations,

“the complaint has alleged–but it has not ‘shown’–‘that the pleader is entitled to relief.’” Id. at 679

(quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2)).

III. ANALYSIS

A. Section 1983 Individual Liability

Plaintiff brings her section 1983 claims against Roden individually, but considering the

facts alleged in the light most favorable to the Plaintiff, she has failed to show Roden’s conduct

violated a constitutional right actionable under section 1983.2 Dodds v. Richardson, 614 F.3d

1185, 1192 (10th Cir. 2010).

Section 1983 provides a federal civil remedy for the “deprivation of any rights, privileges,

or immunities secured by the Constitution” by any person acting under color of state law. McCarty

v. Gilchrist, 646 F.3d 1281, 1285 (10th Cir. 2011) (quoting 42 U.S.C. § 1983). “The analysis in a

§ 1983 case begins with the identification of the precise constitutional right allegedly infringed.”

Connick v. Thompson, 563 U.S. 51, 60 (2011) (citing Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 394

(1989)). “Individual liability under § 1983 must be based on personal involvement in the alleged

constitutional violation.” Foote v. Spiegel, 118 F.3d 1416, 1423 (10th Cir. 1997). “Thus, [the

Court] must examine the allegations in the complaint as to each individual to determine whether a

plausible claim for relief is stated.” Wilson v. Montano, 715 F.3d 847, 854 (10th Cir. 2013). But,

“[b]ecause vicarious liability is inapplicable to . . . § 1983 suits, a plaintiff must plead that each

2 Plaintiff’s Petition does not specify Roden’s liability is premised on supervisory liability under

section 1983. The Petition does not allege Roden was a supervisor or promulgated, created,

implemented, or possessed personal responsibility for the continued operation of any policy. (Doc.

11). As such, section 1983 liability against Roden must be premised on personal involvement. To

the extent Plaintiff’s claims against Roden are premised on supervisory liability, they also fail.

(Doc. 18 at 3-4); see also Porro v. Barnes, 624 F.3d 1322, 1327-28 (10th Cir. 2010) (“To establish

a violation of § 1983 by a supervisor, ‘the plaintiff must establish a deliberate, intentional act’ on

the part of the defendant ‘to violate the plaintiff's legal rights.’”) (quoting Serna v. Colo. Dep't. of

Corr., 455 F.3d 1146, 1151 (10th Cir.2006).

Government-official defendant, through the official’s own individual actions, has violated the

Constitution.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 676. “In addition to alleging a constitutional violation, a § 1983

plaintiff must prove other tort elements.” Connick, 563 U.S. at 60 (citing Novitsky v. City of

Aurora, 491 F.3d 1244, 1257–58 (10th Cir. 2007)). The defendant must also possess a “sufficiently

culpable state of mind.” Hutto v. Davis, 972 F. Supp. 1372, 1376 (W.D. Okla. 1997).

1. Plaintiff Fails to Allege Sufficient Facts of Roden’s Personal Involvement.

To state a claim against Roden under section 1983, Plaintiff must allege facts to show his

personal involvement in the alleged constitutional violation. The only allegation of fact Plaintiff

makes of Roden’s involvement is that Roden “was the lead investigator and directed that Plaintiff

be arrested.” (Doc. 11, ¶ 15). Roden’s status as the “lead investigator” in the murder investigation,

even if true, is insufficient to show his personal involvement, as it is not an allegation of any

affirmative act of Roden. See Novitsky, 491 F.3d at 1254 (requiring that the defendant have

“personally participated” in the constitutional deprivation and holding that mere presence at the

scene was insufficient).

Plaintiff does allege Roden “directed that Plaintiff be arrested . . . without probable

cause[.]” 3 (Doc. 11, ¶ 15). However, Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint does not expound on

that allegation. Plaintiff does not allege who Roden allegedly “directed” to arrest Plaintiff, nor

how. Plaintiff does not allege Roden had any physical interaction with Plaintiff. Plaintiff does not

allege Roden took part in writing the Probable Cause Affidavit (“Affidavit”), that he told Baker to

3 Courts have held that “proof” or “showing” a “defendant-supervisor personally directed the

violation or had actual knowledge of the violation and acquiesced in its continuance” is sufficient

to hold an individual supervisor liable under section 1983. Dodds, 614 F.3d at 1196. However, the

single conclusory allegation that Roden “directed” the arrest of Plaintiff falls short of “showing”

Roden was personally involved. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 679 (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2)) (“the

complaint has alleged–but it has not ‘shown’–‘that the pleader is entitled to relief.’”).

misrepresent or omit information in the Affidavit, or that he was involved in any way in the

prosecution of Plaintiff. Roden cannot be held vicariously liable for the acts of other officers. Yet

Plaintiff’s sole allegation of Roden’s personal involvement, without any specificity, is an attempt

to hold Roden liable for the alleged conduct of others. This single conclusory allegation is not

sufficient to prove Roden’s personal involvement for a section 1983 claim.

2. Plaintiff Fails to Allege Roden Violated her Constitutional Rights.

Plaintiff also fails to state a section 1983 claim against Roden because she has failed to

allege sufficient facts to show her constitutional rights were violated, and done so by Roden. “The

analysis in a § 1983 case begins with the identification of the precise constitutional right allegedly

infringed.” Connick, 563 U.S. at 60. Here, however, Plaintiff does not reference the Fourth

Amendment right to be free from unreasonable seizures or the Fourteenth Amendment right to due

process, despite these being the rights that are generally implicated in false arrest and malicious

prosecution claims premised on lack of probable cause.4 Instead, the only rights Plaintiff explicitly

invokes are rights “protected by the First Amendment.” (Doc. 11, ¶ 29). Therefore, Plaintiff’s First

Amended Complaint fails to sufficiently allege a constitutional violation.

While the First Amendment “not only protects an individual’s right to speak, it also protects

an individual’s right not to speak.” See Koch v. City of Del City, 660 F.3d 1228, 1244 (10th Cir.

2011). However, no such First Amendment “right to refuse to answer questions” asked by police

during an active investigation exists. See Id. at 1244 (“we again have found no authority

recognizing a First Amendment right to refuse to answer questions during a Terry stop.”); see also,

Albright v. Rodriguez, 51 F.3d 1531, 1539-40 (10th Cir. 1995) (finding no First Amendment

4 See Pierce v. Gilchrist, 359 F.3d 1279 (10th Cir. 2004); Taylor v. Meacham, 82 F.3d 1556, 1556-

60 (10th Cir. 1996).

protection for refusing to identify oneself to a police officer during investigation.). Accordingly,

it is not clearly established that Plaintiff has protection under the First Amendment to refuse to

answer questions posed by a police officer during the course of an ongoing investigation of a crime

she witnessed and where she was not under arrest at the time. Id.

Moreover, it is unsettled whether her pre-arrest, pre-Miranda silence during the course of

an ongoing investigation of a crime in which she was a witness and directly involved, is protected

under the Fourth or Fifth Amendment.5 See Koch, 660 F.3d at 1242-45. While the Fourth

Amendment “cannot require a suspect to answer questions,” it does not prohibit arresting an

individual when she refuses to answer questions and police are aware of additional information of

her direct involvement in prompting the crime. Hiibel v. Sixth Jud. Dist. Ct. of Nevada, Humboldt

Cty., 542 U.S. 177, 187 (2004); Bostick, 501 U.S. 429, 437 (1991). Here, Plaintiff’s refusal,

particularly in the face of other eyewitness cooperation, would reasonably increase the suspicion

of the officer that her refusal might be the result of her complicity in the crime, or attempt to hide

evidence.6

5 Florida v. Bostick, 501 U.S. 429, 437 (1991) (In the context of the Fourth Amendment, “[w]e

have consistently held that a refusal to cooperate, without more, does not furnish the minimal level

of objective justification needed for a detention or seizure.”); Salinas v. Texas, 570 U.S. 178, 189

(2013) (“To be sure, someone might decline to answer a police officer’s question in reliance on

his constitutional privilege. But he also might do so because he is trying to think of a good lie,

because he is embarrassed, or because he is protecting someone else. Not every such possible

explanation for silence is probative of guilt, but neither is every possible explanation protected by

the Fifth Amendment.”); United States v. Chimal, 976 F.2d 608, 611 (10th Cir. 1992) (“It is well-

established that a prosecutor may use a defendant’s pre-arrest silence to impeach the defendant’s

credibility.”) (citing Jenkins v. Anderson, 447 U.S. 231, 238, 240 (1980) (holding that

impeachment by use of pre-arrest silence does not violate Fifth or Fourteenth Amendments)).

District of Columbia v. Wesby, 138 S. Ct. 577, 587–588 (2018) (“suspect’s untruthful and evasive

answers to police questioning could support probable cause.”)).

6 See Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 243-44, n. 13 (1983) (“Innocent behavior will frequently

provide the basis for a showing of probable cause.”).

Even if Plaintiff had such a right to refuse to cooperate, Plaintiff does not allege that she

invoked or stated any such privilege afforded by these Amendments when police questioned her.

The Supreme Court has spoken directly to this issue in Salinas.7 Moreover, “[t]he Supreme Court

has not ‘clearly established’ that pre-arrest silence may not be used to establish guilt[]”, as

discussed infra with regard to qualified immunity. Moore v. Patton, No. 12-CV-0255- CVE-FHM,

*4 (N.D. Okla. Apr. 13, 2015) (citing Carter v. Ward, 347 F.3d 860, 863–64 (10th 8 Cir. 2003)

(stating that “the Supreme Court has not yet ruled on whether pre-Miranda or prearrest silence . . .

is protected by the Fifth Amendment so as to proscribe its use by the prosecution on the issue of

guilt.”). Merely stating that Plaintiff was arrested without probable cause and for refusing to

cooperate with police is insufficient to allege a violation of her constitutional rights.

3. Plaintiff Fails to Allege Sufficient Facts to Negate Probable Cause.

To state a claim for relief under section 1983 premised on an arrest without probable cause,

Plaintiff must allege sufficient facts to vitiate probable cause.8 “A warrantless arrest is permissible

7 “The privilege against self-incrimination is an exception to the general principle that the

Government has the right to everyone’s testimony”, but “a witness who desires the protection of

the privilege . . . must claim it at the time he relies on it.” Salinas, 570 U.S. at 183. “The express

invocation requirement also gives courts tasked with evaluating a Fifth Amendment claim a

contemporaneous record establishing the witness’ reasons for refusing to answer.” Id. at 183-184.

“Our cases establish that a defendant normally does not invoke the privilege by remaining silent.”

Id. at 186. “A witness’ constitutional right to refuse to answer questions depends on his reasons

for doing so, and courts need to know those reasons to evaluate the merits of a Fifth Amendment

claim.” Id. at 189.

8 See Roddy v. Suarez, 405 F. Appx. 294, 295 (10th Cir. 2010) (holding claim for false arrest under

section 1983 precluded by probable cause to support arrest.); Nieves v. Bartlett, 139 S. Ct. 1715,

1726 (2019) (“[M]alicious prosecution requires proving the want of probable cause.”) (internal

marks omitted); Hall v. Burke, 12 F. Appx. 856, 861-862 (10th Cir. 2001) (“The question of

probable cause must be determined before it can be decided whether the defendants breached their

duty to intervene to prevent unconstitutional conduct.”); Nieves, 139 S. Ct. at 1724 (“The plaintiff

pressing a retaliatory arrest claim must plead and prove the absence of probable cause for the

arrest.”); Fenn v. City of Truth or Consequences, 983 F.3d 1143, 1147 (10th Cir. 2020), cert.

denied, 142 S. Ct. 111, 211 L. Ed. 2d 33 (2021) (dismissing claim for malicious abuse of process

“because [plaintiff] cannot show the criminal complaint was unsupported by probable cause.”).

when an officer ‘has probable cause to believe that a person committed a crime.’” Cortez v.

McCauley, 478 F.3d 1108, 1115 (10th Cir. 2007) (quoting Romero v. Fay, 45 F.3d 1472, 1476

(10th Cir. 1995)). To determine “whether an officer had probable cause for an arrest, [courts]

examine the events leading up to the arrest, and then decide whether these historical facts, viewed

from the standpoint of an objectively reasonable police officer, amount to probable cause.” Wesby,

138 S. Ct. at 586. Although the issue of whether probable cause existed is generally an issue for

the jury, courts may dismiss claims for lack of probable cause when arguable probable cause is

presented in the petition.9

Probable cause “does not require the fine resolution of conflicting evidence that a

reasonable-doubt or even a preponderance standard demands, and credibility determinations are

seldom crucial in deciding whether the evidence supports a reasonable belief in guilt.” Gerstein v.

Pugh, 420 U.S. 103, 121 (1975) (citation omitted). “Instead, the relevant question is whether a

substantial probability existed that the suspect committed the crime, requiring something more

than a bare suspicion.” Kerns v. Bader, 663 F.3d 1173, 1188 (10th Cir. 2011). Importantly, the

Supreme Court has stated that “innocent behavior will frequently provide the basis for a showing

of probable cause,” and that “[i]n making a determination of probable cause the relevant inquiry

is not whether particular conduct is innocent or guilty, but the degree of suspicion that attaches to

particular types of noncriminal acts.” Gates, 462 U.S. at 243- 44, n. 13.

9 Mocek v. City of Albuquerque, 813 F.3d 912 (10th Cir. 2015) (affirming the district court’s

dismissal of the plaintiff’s lawsuit for failure to state a claim because “arguable probable cause”

was present to arrest the plaintiff for refusing to identify himself to police.); Coburn v. Nordeen,

72 F. Appx. 744 (10th Cir. 2003) (affirming the district court’s dismissal of plaintiff’s lawsuit for

failure to state a claim because the plaintiff’s conclusory allegations were insufficient to vitiate

probable cause.).

As it pertains to Plaintiff, the Affidavit states that police knew at the time: (1) Plaintiff’s

daughter called 911 to report an altercation occurred wherein Plaintiff’s husband shot the two

victims; (2) Plaintiff was an eyewitness and the shooter’s wife; (3) eyewitnesses told officers

Plaintiff was “standing mere feet away during the entire series of events”; (4) eyewitnesses told

officers Plaintiff “was at least verbally engaged with the victims”; (5) eyewitnesses told officers

Plaintiff “prompt[ed] [the shooter] to join the altercation”; (6) Plaintiff’s daughter, the 911 caller,

said of Plaintiff “you both are going to jail”; and (7) when “Deputies” inquired to Plaintiff about

what she knew and observed, given all the information above, Plaintiff “refused to cooperate”,

despite not being under arrest at the time. (Doc. 2-4). Considering this information known to

officers prior to Plaintiff’s arrest, officers would have more than a reasonable suspicion that

Plaintiff was directly involved in the alleged murders. Under the totality of the circumstances,

Plaintiff’s refusal to answer questions about what she observed in the course of the officers’

investigation, when Plaintiff was not under arrest, and other eyewitnesses were cooperating, could

only increase the officers’ already reasonable suspicion of her direct involvement in the murders.

Moreover, a prosecutor and judge agreed there was probable cause to arrest Plaintiff, as

Plaintiff shows by incorporating the Affidavit. The fact charges were eventually dismissed against

Plaintiff is not determinative of whether probable cause existed at the time of her arrest. Delmonico

v. Capito, 356 F. Appx. 144, 149 (10th Cir. 2009) (“the fact that charges were dismissed is not

determinative of the issue of probable cause.”). In this case, there is more than merely Plaintiff’s

refusal to answer questions to establish probable cause to arrest her as an accessory. See Bostick,

501 U.S. at 437. Accordingly, the Court finds probable cause was present at the time to arrest

Plaintiff, and therefore each of her remaining claims fail as a matter of law.

B. Qualified Immunity

Qualified immunity shields government officials from civil liability protecting “all but the

plainly incompetent or those who knowingly violate the law.” Mullenix v. Luna, 577 U.S. 7, 12

(2015) (quoting Malley v. Briggs, 475 U.S. 335, 341 (1986)). To survive a motion to dismiss

raising qualified immunity, a plaintiff must show (1) that “the defendant’s actions violated a

constitutional or statutory right,” and (2) “that the right was ‘clearly established at the time of the

conduct at issue.’” Thomas v. Kaven, 765 F.3d 1183, 1194 (10th Cir. 2014) (quoting Archuleta v.

Wagner, 523 F.3d 1278, 1283 (10th Cir. 2008)).

To be clearly established, “[i]t is not enough that a rule be suggested by then-existing

precedent”, but the rule’s contours must be so well defined that it is clear to a reasonable officer

that his conduct was unlawful in his specific circumstance. City of Tahlequah, Oklahoma v. Bond,

142 S. Ct. 9, 11-12 (2021). Plaintiff must identify “an on-point Supreme Court or published Tenth

Circuit decision,” but may also look to the “weight of authority” from other courts. Quinn v. Young,

780 F.3d 998, 1005 (10th Cir. 2015). Furthermore, clearly established law “must be

‘particularized’ to the facts of the case,” and “should not be defined ‘at a high level of generality.’”

White v. Pauly, 137 S. Ct. 548, 552 (2017) (internal citations omitted).

Finally, “when a warrantless arrest is the subject of a § 1983 action, the defendant arresting

officer is entitled to [qualified] immunity if a reasonable officer could have believed that probable

cause existed.

In the instant case, Roden is entitled to qualified immunity. Plaintiff has failed to allege

any conduct of Roden that violated a constitutional right of the Plaintiff.10 Further, Plaintiff’s pre-

10 As noted supra, the only factual allegation against Roden is that he “directed” someone to arrest

Plaintiff. This conclusory allegation is insufficient to show Roden violated Plaintiff’s

constitutional rights.

arrest, pre-Miranda refusal to cooperate with law enforcement during an ongoing murder

investigation in which eyewitnesses implicated her involvement, and where she allegedly

cooperated with law enforcement initially, is not a clearly established constitutional right.!!

Finally, the existence of probable cause is sufficient to grant qualified immunity. Therefore, Roden

is entitled to qualified immunity as to each of Plaintiffs claims.

IV. CONCLUSION

For the reasons set forth above, Plaintiff's First Amended Complaint fails to allege

sufficient facts to state a claim for relief against Roden in his individual capacity. Plaintiff's First

Amended Complaint fails to sufficiently allege Roden was personally involved, that Roden

deprived Plaintiff of a clearly established constitutional right, or negate probable cause. Therefore,

Roden is entitled to qualified immunity as to each of Plaintiffs claims against him in his individual

capacity. Accordingly, the Motion to Dismiss (Docs. 14) is granted.

IT IS SO ORDERED this 24th day of August, 2022.

TERENCE C. KERN

United States District Judge

See Koch, 660 F.3d at 1242-46 (Thus, at the time of [the plaintiff]’s arrest, it was not clearly

established that an individual has a First Amendment right to refuse to answer an officer’s

questions during a Terry stop.”) (“Indeed, [the plaintiff] has pointed to no authority—nor could

we find any—clearly establishing a right under the Fourth Amendment to refuse to answer an

officer’s questions during a Terry stop.”) (“Accordingly, at the time of [the plaintiff]’s arrest, it

was not clearly established that an individual has a Fifth Amendment right to refuse to answer an

officer’s questions during a Terry stop.”).

12

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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