Jackson, Jarquis D.

PD-00208-CR, PD-00209-CR

COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

AUSTIN, TEXAS

Transmitted 3/23/2015 2:37:31 PM

Accepted 3/25/2015 1:45:42 PM

ABEL ACOSTA

NOS. PD-00208-15 & PD-00209-15 CLERK

IN THE

COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

OF TEXAS

AT AUSTIN

_________________________

JARQUIS D. JACKSON,

Petitioner/Appellee

March 25, 2015 v.

THE STATE OF TEXAS,

Respondent/Appellant

_________________________

On Appeal in Cause Nos. MB13-62072 & MB13-62071

from the County Criminal Court No. 3

Of Dallas County, Texas

And on Petition for Discretionary Review

from the Fifth District of Texas at Dallas

In Cause Nos. 05-14-00278-CR & 05-14-00279-CR

_________________________

APPELLEE’S PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW

_________________________

Counsel of Record:

Lynn Richardson Kathleen A. Walsh

Chief Public Defender Assistant Public Defender

State Bar Number: 20802200

Katherine A. Drew 133 N. Riverfront Blvd., LB 2

Chief, Appellate Division Dallas, Texas 75207-399

(214) 653-3550 (telephone)

Loren M. Collins (214) 653-3539 (fax)

Assistant Public Defender kwalsh@dallascounty.org

LIST OF PARTIES

TRIAL COURT JUDGE

Doug Kemp, Presiding Judge

APPELLEE

Jarquis D. Jackson

APPELLEE’S ATTORNEYS

AT TRIAL

Loren M. Collins, State Bar No. 24077823

Assistant Public Defender

ON APPEAL

Kathleen A. Walsh, State Bar No. 20802200

Loren M. Collins, State Bar No. 24077823

Assistant Public Defenders

Dallas County Public Defender’s Office

133 N. Riverfront Blvd., LB 2

Dallas, Texas 75207-4399

STATE’S ATTORNEYS

AT TRIAL

Annish Ashley, State Bar No. 24087120

Chris Johnson, State Bar No. 24063939

ON APPEAL

Brian P. Higginbotham, State Bar No. 24078665

Assistant District Attorneys

Dallas County District Attorney’s Office

Frank Crowley Courts Building

133 N. Riverfront Blvd., LB-19

Dallas, Texas 75207-4399

ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES.....................................................................................iv

STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT ............................................... 1

STATEMENT OF THE CASE .................................................................................. 1

STATEMENT OF THE PROCEDURAL HISTORY OF THE CASE .................... 1

GROUNDS FOR REVIEW ...................................................................................... 2

GROUND FOR REVIEW NO. 1

The Court of Appeals’ decision reversing the trial court’s order

granting Petitioner’s motion to suppress evidence conflicts with the

decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court because the decision permits an

investigative detention based on an anonymous tip where the tipster

did not claim personal knowledge of the alleged illegality and

provided no predictive information.

GROUND FOR REVIEW NO. 2

The Court of Appeals’ decision reversing the trial court’s order

granting Petitioner’s motion to suppress evidence conflicts with the

decisions of this Court because the decision permits an investigative

detention based on an anonymous tip where the tipster did not claim

personal knowledge of the alleged illegality and provided no

predictive information.

GROUND FOR REVIEW NO. 3

The Court of Appeals’ decision reversing the trial court’s order

granting Petitioner’s motion to suppress evidence conflicts with the

decisions of other Texas courts of appeals because the decision

permits an investigative detention based on an anonymous tip where

the tipster did not claim personal knowledge of the alleged illegality

and provided no predictive information.

iii

ARGUMENT ............................................................................................................. 3

Pertinent Facts .................................................................................................3

Anonymous tips and reasonable suspicion ......................................................4

The Dallas Court's determination that the anonymous tip in this case

contained the same indicia of reliability to provide officers with reasonable

suspicion to believe criminal activity was afoot is in conflict with the

decision in Navarette; the anonymous tip, and information known to the

officers at the time of the investigative detention, is nearly identical to the tip

and circumstances found to be insufficient by the Supreme Court in J.L, and

its progeny.. .....................................................................................................9

Other federal and state courts interpreting the holding in Navarette also

demonstrate the conflict between the Dallas Court's opinion and the

Supreme Court's opinion ...............................................................................11

Conclusion .....................................................................................................13

PRAYER FOR RELIEF .......................................................................................... 15

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ................................................................................ 16

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE ....................................................................... 16

APPENDIX

iv

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

Cases

Alabama v. White,

496 U.S. 326 (1990) ............................................................................... 4, 5, 13

Davis v. State,

144 S.W.3d 192 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2004, pet. ref'd.) ............................ 6

Davis v. State,

989 S.W.2d 859 (Tex. App.—Austin 1999, pet. ref'd.) ................................... 6

Florida v. J.L.,

529 U.S. 266 (2000) ......................................................................... 6, 7, 10, 13

Jackson v. State,

Nos. 05-14-00278-CR, 05-14-00279-CR, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 507

(Tex. App.—Dallas January 21, 2015) (not designated for publication) .... 1, 9

Johnson v. State,

146 S.W.3d 719 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2004, no pet.) ................................. 8

Martinez v. State,

348 S.W.3d 919 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011) ........................................................ 8

Matthews v. State,

431 S.W.3d 596 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014) ........................................................ 1

Navarette v. California,

134 S.Ct. 1683 (2014) ............................................................................. passim

State v. Braziel,

No. A13-1183, 2014 Min.. App. Unpub. LEXIS 576 (Minn. Ct. App.

June 9, 2014, review denied) (not designated for publication) ...................... 13

State v. Gates,

145 So.3d 288 (La. 2014) ............................................................................... 12

State v. McPeak,

No. 40892, 2014 Ida. App. Unpub. LEXIS 264 (Idaho Ct. App. June 11,

2014, no pet. h.) (not designated for publication) .......................................... 12

Stewart v. State,

22 S.W.3d 646 (Tex. App.—Austin 2000, pet. ref’d.) .................................... 6

v

United States v. Robinson,

No. 3:14-CR-28, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 112383 (N.D. W.Va. August 14,

2014, no pet. h.) (not designated for publication) .......................................... 12

Statutes

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 44.01 (a) (5) ............................................................ 1

TEX. PENAL CODE § 46.02 .................................................................................. 11

TEX. PENAL CODE § 46.15(b)(2) ........................................................................ 11

Rules

TEX. R. APP. P. 66.3(b) ....................................................................................... 13

vi

TO THE HONORABLE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS:

COMES NOW Jarquis D. Jackson, Petitioner herein and Appellee before

the Court of Appeals, and respectfully submits this Petition for Discretionary

Review.

STATEMENT REGARDING ORAL ARGUMENT

Appellee requests oral argument because this case presents a question of law

on an issue having statewide impact and possible reoccurrence. Oral argument may

be helpful to the members of this Court in the resolution of the issue presented.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

Appellee was charged by affidavit and information with the offenses of

unlawfully carrying of a weapon and possession of marijuana in an amount of two

ounces or less. (CR: 9, 10; CR1: 8, 9).1 The trial court granted Appellee’s motion

to suppress. (CR: 15; CR1: 39; RR: 55-57. 62-63). The State appealed pursuant to

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 44.01 (a) (5). (CR: 6-7; CR1: 6-7).

STATEMENT OF THE PROCEDURAL HISTORY OF THE CASE

On January 21, 2015, in an unpublished opinion, the Court of Appeals for

the Fifth District of Texas reversed the trial court’s order granting the motion to

suppress. Jackson v. State, Nos. 05-14-00278-CR, 05-14-00279-CR, 2015 Tex.

1

For purposes of this brief, the Clerk’s Record in Cause No. MA13-62072 shall be designated as “CR;” the Clerk’s

Record in Cause No. MA13-62071 shall be designated as “CR1.”

App. LEXIS 507 (Tex. App.—Dallas January 21, 2015) (not designated for

publication). (See Appendix). No motion for rehearing was filed. This Petition is

timely if filed on or before March 23, 2015.2

GROUND FOR REVIEW NO. 1

The Court of Appeals’ decision reversing the trial court’s order

granting Petitioner’s motion to suppress evidence conflicts with the

decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court because the decision permits an

investigative detention based on an anonymous tip where the tipster

did not claim personal knowledge of the alleged illegality and

provided no predictive information.

GROUND FOR REVIEW NO. 2

The Court of Appeals’ decision reversing the trial court’s order

granting Petitioner’s motion to suppress evidence conflicts with the

decisions of this Court because the decision permits an investigative

detention based on an anonymous tip where the tipster did not claim

personal knowledge of the alleged illegality and provided no

predictive information.

GROUND FOR REVIEW NO. 3

The Court of Appeals’ decision reversing the trial court’s order

granting Petitioner’s motion to suppress evidence conflicts with the

decisions of other Texas courts of appeals because the decision

permits an investigative detention based on an anonymous tip where

the tipster did not claim personal knowledge of the alleged illegality

and provided no predictive information.

2

On February 26, 2015, this Court granted the Appellant’s motion for an extension of time.

2

ARGUMENT

Pertinent Facts.

On September 2, 2013, Dallas police officers were dispatched to the parking

lot of a gas station in Dallas. (RR: 7, 9, 17, 21-22, 24, 30, 37-38). Three officers

responded to the call. (RR: 7, 22, 37-38). The call notes from dispatch were based

on a 911 call from an anonymous tipster; the officers did not know any information

about the caller other than a cell phone number. (RR: 20-21, 43, 57).

As they made their way to the scene, the officer’s call sheet indicated that

the tipster had alleged that a black male wearing a white t-shirt had a gun. (RR: 7,

9, 14, 32, 38). Officer Thomas testified that the officers’ “collective

understanding” was that there was “a man with a gun” at the gas station. (RR: 31-

32). Both Officers Thomas and Crawford stated that the call notes indicated that

the suspect had not pointed the gun or waved the gun at anyone. (RR: 32, 50). The

notes additionally stated that the man with the gun had gotten into a black Honda

with no front license plate, and that two other black males wearing white t-shirts

were also present in or around the vehicle. (RR: 16). The call notes also stated that

the vehicle had blue headlights and the lights were flashing. (RR: 7-8, 38-39). The

notes did not provide any information as to which black male wearing a white t-

shirt had a gun. (RR: 16). The three officers testified that the area of town is in a

3

high crime area, but also that the gas station was open and is frequented by many

patrons during late night hours. (RR: 9, 30, 40).

Upon arriving at the gas station, the officers saw a black Honda backed into

a parking spot in front of the gas station and it was flashing its lights. (RR: 8, 22,

38, 40). Additionally, the officers saw that the Honda had blue headlights and no

front license plate, just as the call notes had alleged. (RR: 18). The officers exited

their vehicles and approached the black Honda. (RR: 17). The vehicle started

moving and the officers used hand gestures and “yelled stop”. (RR: 17, 39). In

response to the officers’ show of authority, the vehicle stopped. (RR: 18, 23-24,

39, 48). During the investigative detention, the police found a handgun underneath

the passenger seat of the vehicle and some marijuana on Appellee’s person. (RR:

12, 26-27, 41-42).

Anonymous tips and reasonable suspicion.

Under the Fourth Amendment, an investigatory detention must be justified

by reasonable suspicion. Matthews v. State, 431 S.W.3d 596, 603-04 (Tex. Crim.

App. 2014). Whether reasonable suspicion exists, “…depends upon both the

content of information possessed by police and its degree of reliability.” Navarette

v. California, 134 S. Ct. 1683, 1687 (2014)(citing Alabama v. White, 496 U.S. 325,

330 (1990).

4

An anonymous tipster’s information may form part of the basis of an

investigative detention. However, by definition, an anonymous tipster’s reliability

is “largely unknown, and unknowable.” Id. (quoting White, 496 U.S. at 329).

Therefore, “an anonymous tip seldom demonstrates the informant’s basis of

knowledge or veracity” standing alone. White, 496 U.S. at 329.

Because an anonymous tipster’s reliability is unknown, the Supreme Court

has discussed two main ways in which an anonymous tip may be proved reliable,

and thus justify an investigative detention. In Alabama v. White, an anonymous tip

provided information about a specific person driving a specific vehicle who was

alleged to be transporting illegal drugs. Additionally, the tip provided information

that predicted the suspects future movements. Once that predictive information was

corroborated by the officer’s surveillance of the suspect, “the tipster demonstrated

a special familiarity with [the suspect’s] affairs, which in turn implied that the

tipster had access to reliable information about that individual’s illegal activities.”

Navarette, 134 S. Ct. at 1687 (citing White, 496 U.S. at 332). Thus, the specific

details contained in the tip, plus the corroboration of the predictive behavior

contained within the tip, supplied the reliability needed to find that reasonable

suspicion existed.

Alternatively, an anonymous tip may be proved reliable when the tipster

provides information that necessarily implies that the tipster has personal

5

knowledge of the alleged illegal conduct, and makes a “contemporaneous report”

to police of the alleged illegal conduct. Navarette, 134 S. Ct. at 1689. In

Navarette, the tipster alleged “she had been run off the road by a specific vehicle”,

and she made that report immediately after it happened. Id. Thus, the combination

of personal knowledge of the illegality, together with the contemporaneous report,

supplied the reliability needed to show that reasonable suspicion existed.

In contrast, an anonymous tip that does not indicate that it was based on

personal knowledge, is not made contemporaneously with the alleged illegal

activity, and provides no predictive information, will not be deemed sufficient to

prove reliable to establish reasonable suspicion absent corroboration of criminal

activity by the investigating officers. Corroboration of mere innocent details is

insufficient to corroborate an anonymous tip. Davis v. State, 144 S.W.3d 192, 199-

200 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2004, pet. ref’d.). The independent corroboration by

the investigating officers must establish that the tip is ‘reliable in its assertion of

illegality, not just in its tendency to identify a determinate person.” Florida v. J.L.,

529 U.S. 266, 271-272 (2000). “[T]he corroboration of details that are easily

obtainable at the time the information is provided, and which do not indicate

criminal activity, will not lend support to the tip.” Stewart v. State, 22 S.W.3d 646,

648 (Tex. App.—Austin 2000, pet. ref’d.); Davis, 989 S.W.2d 859, 863 (Tex.

App.—Austin 1999, pet. ref’d.); see also J.L., 529 U.S. at 272.

6

In J.L., an anonymous caller reported to the police that a young black male

standing at a particular bus stop and wearing a plaid shirt was carrying a gun. The

police arrived at the bus stop about six minutes later and saw three black males

hanging out there. One of three, J.L., was wearing a plaid shirt. Apart from the tip,

the officers had no reason to suspect any of the three of illegal conduct; the officers

did not see a firearm, nor did J.L. make any threatening or otherwise unusual

movements. One of the officers frisked J.L. and seized a gun from his pocket. J.L.,

529 U.S. at 268. The Supreme Court held that the tip was insufficient to establish

reasonable suspicion. Id. at 271-72.

Texas courts have followed the Supreme Court’s decision in J.L., examining

whether a tip is too barebones to support reasonable suspicion. In Martinez, an

anonymous tipster reported that a male driving a blue Ford pickup truck stopped at

the intersection of 17th and Main Street, put two bicycles into the bed of his truck,

and left the area going west. An officer on patrol in the area stopped a Ford F-250

truck that “looked like it was blue” approximately three-quarters of a mile from the

reported incident that the officer considered to be a report concerning the theft of

bicycles. As the officer walked to the driver’s side of the truck, he noticed two

bicycles in the truck bed that had not been visible to him until he approached the

truck. After the officer was informed by dispatch that there were no complaints of

stolen bicycles from that location, he asked dispatch if the caller could come to the

7

scene; the caller arrived and confirmed that the officer had pulled over the same

truck that had picked up the two bicycles. Martinez v. State, 348 S.W.3d 919, 922

(Tex. Crim. App. 2011). This Court found the anonymous tip insufficient to permit

an investigative detention because the anonymous caller did not report contextual

factors that reasonably connected the activity to a theft, such as witnessing the

suspect use bolt cutters to cut a bike lock or stating that the bikes were taken from

someone’s garage Id. at 924-26.

In Johnson, the Sixth District Court of Appeals reviewed the legality of the

investigative detention following an anonymous tip which indicated that a black

man, accompanied by two black females, driving a 1999 black Ford Taurus with a

specified license plate number, was involved in possible drug activity at a specific

apartment complex. The officer testified the apartment complex in question was

known to be a place that regularly had drug deals and drug activity occurring. The

officer reached that location less than a minute after the dispatcher relayed the

information, and saw and stopped a car matching that description as the driver

attempted to leave the parking lot of the complex. Johnson v. State, 146 S.W.3d

719, 721 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2004, no pet.). The Texarkana Court found the

tip insufficient to permit an investigative detention because the caller was

anonymous and “there was no corroboration at the time of the stop that indicated

criminal activity.” Id. at 722.

8

The Dallas Court’s determination that the anonymous tip in this case contained

the same indicia of reliability to provide officers with reasonable suspicion to

believe criminal activity was afoot is in conflict with the decision in Navarette;

the anonymous tip, and information known to the officers at the time of the

investigative detention, is nearly identical to the tip, and circumstances found to

be insufficient by the Supreme Court in J.L., and its progeny.

In its opinion, the Dallas court of appeals likened the tip in this case to the

tip in Navarette, stating:

As in Navarette, the tip was an eyewitness account of a potentially

dangerous situation, was made contemporaneously with the event, and

was made through the 911 system. As found by the trial court, the

tipster called 911 in the early morning hours and reported a man was

publicly “displaying” a gun on the parking lot of a gas station. The gas

station was open for business and was located near a nightclub in a

high-crime area. As officers went to the scene, the tipster stayed on

the line with the 911 dispatch and provided other information in real

time. The tipster gave information on the man’s attire and location as

well as specific details on his vehicle, such as make, color, the lack of

a front license plate, blue flashing headlights and how the car was

parked. Police verified these details before making the stop.

Jackson, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 507 at *7.

The Dallas Court’s reliance on the holding in Navarette is misplaced. There

is no doubt from the tip in Navarette that it is based on personal knowledge of very

recent criminal activity, as the allegation in the 911 call makes it clear that the

tipster herself is the victim of the criminal activity she is reporting, and that such

criminal activity occurred within the last five minutes of the tipster making the

call. In stark contrast, and contrary to the Dallas Court’s opinion, there is nothing

9

in the tip in this case that shows it “was an eyewitness account” and “was made

contemporaneously with the event.”

The tip in this case is virtually identical to the tip found to be insufficient in

J.L. In Navarette, the Supreme Court specifically distinguished its holding in J.L.,

restating the rule that because “the tipster did not explain how he knew about the

gun, nor did he suggest that he had any special familiarity with the young man’s

affairs,” the police “had no basis for believing ‘that the tipster ha[d] knowledge of

concealed criminal activity. Navarette, 134 S. Ct. at 1688 (quoting J.L., 529 U.S. at

271-72). The Dallas Court is correct in stating that the tipster gave a description of

the man’s attire and location, as well as specific details about the car, however,

these facts do no more than allow the officers to correctly identify the person

whom the tipster means to accuse; these facts do not show that the tipster has

knowledge of concealed criminal activity. See J.L, 529 U.S. at 272.

Furthermore, even if the tipster’s failure to explain how he knew about the

gun can somehow be ignored in this case, there is a question as to whether the tip

can even be considered a report of criminal activity. “Even a reliable tip will justify

an investigative stop only if it creates reasonable suspicion that ‘criminal activity

may be afoot.” Navarette, 134 S. Ct. at 1689. Although the Dallas Court

characterizes the tip as a report of a man “displaying” a gun in the parking lot, two

of the responding officers testified during the hearing that the 911 call notes

10

indicated that the suspect had not pointed the gun or waved the gun at anyone. The

Texas Penal Code allows an individual to carry a handgun when: (1) the person is

on his property or on property under his control; (2) the person is walking directly

to his car or a car under his control; or (3) the person has a license to carry a

concealed weapon. TEX. PENAL CODE §§ 46.02; 46.15(b)(2). Based upon the tip

given, the responding officers had no way of knowing whether Appellee met one

of the exceptions to the general prohibition against carrying a handgun before they

detained him. Furthermore, there is no evidence that the officers observed any

illegal activity by Appellee or anyone else when they arrived at the gas station.

Indeed, the gun was not even found on Appellee’s person, but was found in

Appellee’s car under a seat only after the officers had pulled the three black males

from the car because the three men all happened to be wearing a white t-shirt, as

described by the tipster as the clothing worn by the man carrying the gun.

Other federal and state courts interpreting the holding in Navarette also

demonstrate the conflict between the Dallas Court’s opinion and the Supreme

Court’s opinion.

There is a paucity of case law construing Navarette in the Texas state courts.

However, other courts’ interpretations demonstrate the conflict between the Dallas

Court’s opinion in this case, and the Supreme Court’s opinion in Navarette. Courts

which have examined this issue in light of Navarette have uniformly examined

whether the tip: (1) necessarily claimed personal knowledge of the alleged criminal

11

activity, and (2) whether the tip was made contemporaneously. These opinions are

consistently in contrast to the Dallas Court’s opinion in this case.

For example, in U.S. v. Robinson, the Northern District Court of West

Virginia examined an anonymous tip case in which the anonymous caller

witnessed a black male in a bluish greenish Toyota Camry, driven by a female,

load a firearm and conceal it in his pocket. The caller stated the car had just left [a

particular] 7-Eleven parking lot and [caller] was leaving as well. United States v.

Robinson, No. 3:14-CR-28, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 112383 (N.D. W.Va. August

14, 2014, no pet. h.) (not designated for publication). The parking lot in question

was in a high crime area. The West Virginia court discussed how the tip was

similar to Navarette, and distinguishable from J.L.:

The caller had eyewitness knowledge of the alleged loading and

possession of the firearm by the Defendant. He told [911 dispatch]

that he actually saw the Defendant, who was in a bluish greenish

Toyota Camry, load the firearm and conceal it.

(emphasis added). Id. at *7. The language, “He told…that he actually saw the

Defendant” is similar to the language in Navarette: “Ran the reporting party off

the roadway and was last seen approximately five minutes ago.” (emphasis added)

Navarette, 134 S. Ct. at 1687. See also State v. Gates, 145 So.3d 288 ( La. 2014)

(tip alleging blue colored pickup truck almost ran couple off road while traveling

on I-20; couple “relayed information about a crime they just witnessed”); State v.

McPeak, No. 40892, 2014 Ida. App. Unpub. LEXIS 264, *1 (Idaho Ct. App. June

12

11, 2014, no pet. h.) (not designated for publication) (anonymous call “reporting

that an alleged assault involving a knife had recently occurred. It was reported that

the suspect was McPeak, and that he had entered the home of the caller and left in

a white Ford pickup.”); and State v. Braziel, No. A13-1183, 2014 Minn. App.

Unpub. LEXIS 576, *8-9 (Minn. Ct. App. June 9, 2014, review denied) (not

designated for publication) (“Next, and even more importantly, the caller claimed

eyewitness knowledge of the alleged dangerous behavior. Eyewitness knowledge

lends significant support to the tip’s reliability, even when the caller is

anonymous.”).

Conclusion.

This Court should grant this Petition because the Dallas Court’s opinion

clearly conflicts with the decisions of the Supreme Court in Navarette, White, and

J.L., as well as opinions from this Court and other Texas courts of appeals

interpreting those Supreme Court decisions. Whether the tip and circumstances

leading to the investigative detention in this case meet the evidentiary precision

required by the Supreme Court in Navarette is an important question of law which

requires the exercise of this Court’s supervisory powers. TEX. R. APP. P. 66.3 (b).

Justice Thomas noted that like White, Navarette is a “close case.” Under the

totality of the circumstances, and like J.L., this is not a close case. The record

merely shows that the tipster alleged information that turned out to be true: at some

13

unknown point before police got there, three black males were in a Honda outside

a gas station. The police were provided with a barebones anonymous tip by a caller

that contained no information that the event was observed firsthand; contained no

predictive information that could be corroborated to prove the reliability of the

tipster; and failed to allege a crime. These factors, along with the fact that once

police arrived they found three males matching the description of the single male

with a gun, and no observable evidence of criminal activity, combine to prevent a

finding of reasonable suspicion.

14

PRAYER FOR RELIEF

For the reasons herein alleged, Appellee prays this Court grant this petition,

reverse the opinion of the Dallas Court of Appeals, and affirm the trial court’s

order granting Appellee’s motion to suppress.

Respectfully submitted,

/s/ Kathleen A. Walsh

Kathleen A. Walsh

Assistant Public Defender

Lynn Richardson State Bar No. 20802200

Chief Public Defender

Dallas County /s/ Loren M. Collins

Loren M. Collins

Assistant Public Defender

State Bar No. 24077823

Frank Crowley Courts Building

133 N. Riverfront Blvd., LB-2

Dallas, TX. 75207-4399

(214) 653-3550 (telephone)

(214) 653-3539 (fax)

15

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that on the 23rd day of March, 2015, a true copy of the

foregoing petition for discretionary review was served on the Appellate Division of

the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office by electronic delivery to

DCDAAppeals@dallascounty.org.; and was also served by electronic delivery to

Lisa C. McMinn, State Prosecuting Attorney, at Lisa.McMinn@spa.texas.gov.

/s/ Kathleen A. Walsh

Kathleen A. Walsh

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE

I hereby certify that the word count in this document is 4,371 which is

prepared in Microsoft Word 2010.

/s/ Kathleen A. Walsh

Kathleen A. Walsh

16

APPENDIX

W"LexisNexis·

No Shepard's Signal™

As of: March 19, 2015 12:54 PM EDT

State v. Jackson

Court of Appeals of Texas, Fifth District, Dallas

January 21, 2015, Opinion Filed

No. 05-14-00278-CR, No. 05-14-00279-CR

Reporter

2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 507

THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellant v. JARQUIS D. LexisNexis® Headnotes

JACKSON, Appellee

Criminal Law & Procedure> Preliminary Proceedings> Pretrial

Notice: PLEASE CONSULT THE TEXAS RULES OF

Motions & Procedures > Suppression of Evidence

APPELLATE PROCEDURE FOR CITATION OF

UNPUBLISHED OPINIONS. Criminal Law & Procedure > ... > Standards of Review > De

Novo Review > l\r1otions to Suppress

Prior History: On Appeal from the County Criminal Criminal Law & Procedure > ... > Standards of Review >

Court No. 3. Dallas County, Texas. Trial Court Cause Nos. Deferential Review > Credibility & Demeanor Determinations

MBJ3-62072 and MB 13-62071.

Evidence> .. >Testimony> Credibility of Witnesses> General

Overview

Core Terms

Criminal Law & Procedure> Preliminary Proceedings> Pretrial

Motions & Procedures > Suppression of Evidence

reasonable suspicion, caller, gun, tip, trial court, anonymous

Criminal Law & Procedure > ... > Standards of Review > De

tip, marijuana, tipster, gas station, reliability, detention,

Novo Review > Motions to Suppress

suppress

Criminal Law & Procedure > ... > Standards of Review >

Deferential Review> Credibility & Demeanor Determinations

Case Summary

Evidence> ... > Testimony> Credibility of Witnesses> General

Overview

Overview

HOLDINGS: [l]-An anonymous call leading to defendant's HNI In reviewing a trial court's ruling on a n1otion to

detention contained suf1icient indicia of reliability to provide suppress, the appellate court applies a bifurcated standard of

officers with reasonable suspicion to believe criminal activity review. The appellate court affords almost total deference to

was afoot; [2]-The tip was an eyewitness account of a a trial judge's determination of historical facts and mixed

potentially dangerous situation, was made questions of law and fact that rely upon the credibility of a

contemporaneously with the event, and was made through witness. The appellate court reviews de novo pure questions

the 911 system; [3]-The tipster gave information on the of law and mixed questions of law and fact that do not

man's attire and location as well as specific details on his depend on credibility determinations. When the trial court

vehicle, such as make, color, the lack of a front license plate, makes explicit fact findings, the appellate court determines

blue flashing headlights and how the car was parked, and whether the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to

police verified these details before making the stop; the trial court's ruling, supports these findings. The appellate

[4]-Because the officers had reasonable suspicion to conduct court then reviews the trial court's legal ruling de nova

an investigatory stop, the trial court erred in granting unless the explicit fact findings supported by the record are

defendant's motion to suppress. also dispositive of the legal ruling.

Outcome Constitutional La\v > ... > Fundamental Rights > Search &

Reversed and remanded. Seizure > General Ovcrvievv

2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 507, *I

Criminal Law & Procedure > Search & Seizure > Warrantless HN4 An anonymous tip contains adequate indicia of

Searches > Investigative Stops reliability to support reasonable suspicion if the content of

Evidence > Inferences & Presu1nptions > Inferences the tip indicates it (1) was based on eyewitness knowledge,

which lends significant support to the tip's reliability; (2)

Constitutional Law > ... > Fundamental Rights > Search &

was contemporaneously made, which is especially

Seizure > General Overview

trustworthy because substantial contemporaneity of event

Criminal Law & Procedure > Search & Seizure > Warrantless and state1nent negate the likelihood of deliberate or conscious

Searches > Investigative Stops misrepresentation; and (3) was made to the 911 emergency

Evidence > Inferences & Presumptions > Inferences system, which has some features that allow for identifying

and tracing callers, and thus provides some safeguards

HN2 Under the Fourth Amendment, a warrantless detention against making false reports with immunity.

of a suspect that an1ounts to less than a full-blown custodial

arrest must be justified at least by a reasonable suspicion. A Counsel: For Appellants: Brian Higginbotham, Craig

police officer has reasonable suspicion to detain a person if Watkins, Dallas, TX.

he has specific, articulable facts that, combined with rational

inferences from those facts, would lead him reasonably to For Appellees: Kathleen Walsh, Loren M. Collins, Katherine

conclude that the person detained is, has been, or soon will Drew, Lynn Richardson, Dallas, TX.

be engaged in criminal activity. In determining whether an

officer has reasonable suspicion to detain, the court looks at Judges: MOLLY FRANCIS, JUSTICE, Evans, and Stoddart.

the totality of the circumstances through an objective lens, Opinion by Justice Francis.

disregarding the officer's subjective intent. Although some

circumstances may seem innocent in isolation, they will Opinion by: MOLLY FRANCIS

support an investigatory detention if their combination leads

to a reasonable conclusion that criminal activity is afoot. Opinion

Constitutional Law > ... > Fundamental Rights > Search &

Seizure > General Overview MEMORANDUM OPINION

Crimlnal Law & Procedure > Search & Seizure > Warrantless Opinion by Justice Francis

Searches > Investigative Stops

Constitutional Law > ... > Fundam.cntal Rights > Search & Jarquis D. Jackson was charged with the misdemeanor

Seizure > General Overview offenses of unlawfully carrying a weapon and possession of

Criminal Law & Procedure > Search & Seizure > Warrantless marijuana. Appellant n1oved to suppress the evidence,

Searches > Investigative Stops arguing his detention was illegal because officers did not

have reasonable suspicion. The trial court granted the

HN3 An anonymous tip alone is seldom sufficient to motion, and the State appealed. In a single issue, the State

establish reasonable suspicion. Reasonable suspicion is argues the trial court erred in concluding an anonymous tip

dependent not only on the content of the inforn1ation did not support the officers' reasonable suspicion. We agree

possessed by law enforcement, but also on its reliability. To with the State. Therefore, \Ve reverse the ttial court's orders

support reasonable suspicion, an anonymous tip requires and remand for further proceedings consistent with this

some indicia that the caller is credible or that his information opinion.

is reliable.

At about 4 a.m. on September 2, 2013, a caller reported to

Constitutional Law > ... > Fundamental Rights > Search & 911 that a black male in a white T-shirt was "displaying" a

Seizure > General Overview gun on the parking lot of a gas station. The caJler reported

Criminal Law & Procedure > Search & Seizure > Warr.intless there were na lot of people" on the parking lot, and the man

Searches > Investigative Stops was with a group of seven other 1nen. The caller stayed on

the line with 911 whi1e officers responded.

Constitutional Law > ... > Fundamental Rights > Search &

Seizure > General Overvicvv Dallas Police Officers J. [*2] Dickson, Craig Thomas, and

Cri1ninal Law & Procedure > Search & Seizure > Warrantless Lance Crawford were dispatched to the scene. The gas

Searches > Investigative Stops station is in a high-crime area with a nightclub nearby.

Page 2 of 4

2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 507, *2

While driving there, the officers received information that most favorable to the trial court's ruling, supports these

the man with the gun had gotten into a dark-colored Honda findings. Stare v. Kellv. 204 S. \rV3d 808. 818 riex. Crin1.

with no front license plate and blue headlights; the car was App. 2006). We then review the trial court's legal ruling de

backed into the gas station and its headlights were flashing. novo unless the explicit fact findings supported by the

record are also dispositive of the legal ruling. Id.

When the officers arrived at the scene, they saw the Honda

with the flashing lights matching the description given by HN2 Under the Fourth Amendment, a warrantless detention

the caller. As the officers got out of their vehicles, the of a suspect that a1nounts to less than a fu11-blown custodial

Honda started to pull away. The officers, who had their gum arrest must be justified at least by a reasonable suspicion.

drawn but at their side, motioned for the car to stop, and the State v. Elias, 339 S. \¥.3d 667, 674 (Tex. Crim. Apo. 2011 ).

vehicle did. As they approached the vehicle, Crawford said A police ofiicer has reasonable suspicion to detain a person

he could smell marijuana. The officers had the three if he has specific, articulable facts that, con1bined with

occupants, who were all dressed in white T-shirts, get out of rational inferences from those facts, would lead him

the car while they patted them down for weapons. No reasonably to conclude that the person detained is, has been,

weapons were found. The doors of the vehicle were left or soon will be engaged in criminal activity. Id. In

open when the occupants got out. Whi1e one of the officers determining whether an officer has reasonable suspicion to

checked for warrants, Thomas walked around the vehicle detain, we look at the totality of the circumstances through

and spotted a gun in plain view on the passenger floorboard. an objective lens, disregarding the officer's subjective

The gun \Vas '~slide-side down, with the grip closest facing intent. ltfatthe}vs v. State, 431 S, W3d 596, 603 (Tex. Crifn.

the driver." [*31 Appellant said the gun was his. The warrant App. 20.l4j. Although some circumstances may seem

check revealed that appellant had outstanding warrants, and innocent J.*5] in isolation, they will support an investigatory

officers arrested him. In the search incident to arrest, they detention if their combination leads to a reasonable

found marijuana in his pocket. Marijuana was also found in conclusion that criminal activity is afoot. Id.

the vehicle.

HN3 An anonymous tip alone is seldom sufficient to

At the scene, Crawford used the number on the 911 call establish reasonable suspicion. Id. Reasonable suspicion is

sheet to contact the tipster to see 1f he could "get more dependent not only on the content of the information

information:" The man told Crawford he was there when possessed by law enforcement, but also on its reliability. Id.

officers drove up and confi1med they were investigating the To support reasonable suspicion, an anonymous tip requires

correct vehicle. Crawford asked for the man's name, but he some indicia that the caller is credible or that his information

declined, saying he was "just passing through town" and is reliable. Id.

wanted "to stay anonymous."

Since the trial court's n1ling, the United States Supreme

At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court made oral Court issued its opinion in 1Vavarette v (7ali(ornia, J34 S.

findings consistent with the evidence and recessed for two Ci. 1683. 188 L. Ed. 2d 680 12014), which considered the

weeks. At the subsequent hearing, appellant argued the sufficiency of an anonymous tip to conduct an investigatory

anonymous tip did not provide reasonable suspicion for the stop. In Navarette, a 911 caller, presumed by the court to be

investigatory detention and relied on the U.S. Supreme anonymous, reported that a vehicle ran her car off the road.

Court's decision in Florida v. J.L 529 U..)~ 266 120 S. Ct. The caller provided the location as well as a description of

1375. f.16 L. Ed. 2d 254 (20001. The trial court agreed and the vehicle and license plate number. The 911 dispatcher

granted the motion to suppress. relayed the information to officers. / 34 S. Ct. at 1686-87.

About eighteen minutes later, officers spotted a vehicle

HNI In reviewing a trial court's ruling on a motion to some nineteen 1niles south of the location reported in the tip.

suppress, we apply a bifurcated standard of review. 1'1-lartinez id. at 1689. The officers pulled the truck over. As they

v. State. 348 S. lV.3d 919. 922-23 (Tex. (7rim. Apr. 2011 J. We approached, they s1nelled marijuana and a subsequent

afford almost total deference to a trial judge's detennination search revealed 30 [*61 pounds of marijuana in the bed of

of historical facls and mixed questions of law and fact [*41 the truck. Id. at 1687.

that rely upon the credibility of a witness. Id. We review de

novo pure questions of law and mixed questions of law and The court held HN4 the anonymous tip contained adequate

fact that do not depend on credibility dete1minations. Id. indicia of reliability to support reasonable suspicion because

When, as here, the trial court makes explicit fact findings, the content of the tip indicated it (l) was based on

we determine whether the evidence, viewed in the light eyewitness knowledge, which "lends significant support to

Page 3 of 4

2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 507, *6

the tip's reliability"; (2) was contemporaneously made, dispatch and provided other inforn1ation in real time. The

which is "especially trustworthy because 'substantial tipster gave infonnation on the man's attire and location as

contemporaneity of event and statement negate the likelihood well as specific details on his vehicle, such as make, color,

of deliberate or conscious misrepresentation"'; and (3) was the lack of a front license plate, blue fla.5hing headlights and

made to the 911 emergency system, which "has some how the car was parked. Police verified these details before

features that allow for identifying and tracing callers, and making the stop. After the stop, one of the officers

thus provide some safeguards against making false repo1ts contacted the tipster, who verified the officers were

with immunity." tVavarette. 134 S. C:t. at .1689-90; see investigating the correct vehicle. Because we conclude the

Ma/thews 431 S.W.3d m 604 n.29. officers had reasonable suspicion to conduct an investigatory

stop, the trial court erred in granting the motion to suppress.

The court distinguished its decision from that in J.L., the We sustain the State's sole issue.

case relied on by appel!ee below and on appeal. J.L.

involved an anonymous caller who reported to the police We reverse the trial court's orders and remand these causes

that a young black male, wearing a plaid shirt, was standing for proceedings consistent with this opinion.

at a particu1ar bus stop and was can·ying a gun. 529 l.J.S. at

/Molly Francis/

268. The court identified two critical distinctions between

the Navarette tip and the J.L. tip: (1) the J.L. tip "provided MOLLY FRANCIS

nowbasis for concluding that the tipster had actually seen the

gun" and (2) there was no indication that [*7] the J.I,. tip JUSTICE

was made contemporaneously with crin1inal activity or

under the stress of excitement caused by a startling event. ,JUDGMENT

Id. at 1689.

Based on the Court's opinion of this date, the trial court's

Having reviewed the evidence and the trial court's oral order granting the motion to suppress is REVERSED and

findings, we conclude the anonymous call leading to the cause REMANDED for further proceedings consistent

appellant's detention contained sufficient indicia of reliability with this opinion.

to provide officers with reasonable suspicion to believe

criminal activity was afoot. As in 1Va1'arette, the tip was an Judgment entered January 21, 2015.

eyewitness account of a potentially dangerous situation, was

made contemporaneously with the event, and was made JUDGMENT

through the 911 system. As found by the trial court, the Based on the Court's opinion of this date, the trial court's

tipster called 911 in the early morning hours and reported a order is REVERSED and the cause REMANDED for

man was publicly "displaying" a gun on the parldng Jot of a further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

gas station. The gas station was open for business and was

localed near a nightclub in a high-crime area. As officers Judgment entered January 21, 2015.

went to the scene, the tipster stayed on the line with the 911

Page 4 of 4