Opinion

Epker v. State

  • 753 P.2d 916
  • 1988 OK CR 80
  • 1988 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 87
  • 1988 WL 35512
Court
Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma
Filed
Apr 18, 1988
Status
Published
Author
Parks
On the bench
Brett, Bussey, Parks
Cited by
1 cases
Authority
More cited than 22.9%

The opinion

PARKS, Judge,

specially concurring:

I write separately to address the issue of “reasonable suspicion” for an investigatory stop. I agree in the reversal of these convictions, but wish to point out additional evidence presented at trial regarding the information received by Deputy Morgan.

Mr. L.K. Smith telephoned the police regarding a gold truck in the parking lot of Cotton’s Club. He did not identify himself to the police dispatcher because he did not want to get involved. Deputy Morgan testified that he made the investigatory stop based on this anonymous tip. Apparently, he did not know the information was given by a citizen informant.

In my opinion, these facts are very important because case law indicates that a citizen informant will be given almost a “presumption of reliability.” Adams v. Williams, 407 U.S. 143 , 92 S.Ct. 1921 , 32 L.Ed.2d 612 (1972). But here, Deputy Morgan did not know the information was obtained through the tip of a citizen. While it is not required that the stop be based on the police officer’s personal observation, an informant’s tip must have some indicia of reliability. Id. 92 S.Ct. at 1924 . Here, the police officer had no knowledge as to the reliability of the informant. He had never met Mr. Smith and in fact, did not even know his name.

Accordingly, I concur.

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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