Salazar v. State
Salazar v. State
Opinion of the Court
A jury found Salazar guilty of importing marijuana and conspiracy to import marijuana. The jury heard and considered Salazar’s confession given to the Crystal River police at the police station. Prior to the trial, Salazar moved to suppress the confession because it was not freely or voluntarily given
When a defendant challenges the admissibility of his confession because of fifth and fourth amendment violations, the state has the burden of making an initial showing that no constitutional rights were violated.
At the suppression hearing the prosecution presented sufficient evidence to show Salazar confessed after adequate Miranda warnings were given, and without threat or promise of immunity or lenient treatment. Salazar had been in the police chiefs office for approximately 30 minutes before he made his confession. Outside in the lobby were 14 to 20 other “Latin males.” They had been picked up by the police because of their proximity to a van, small boats in a barge canal, and a stranded shrimp boat, the Lady Rhonda, which had run aground nearby, and which was loaded with marijuana. Salazar indicated he did not want to talk with these other persons, nor did he want to be seen by them, and he remained apart from them at his choice. The police officers testified Salazar was not under arrest at the time his confession was given.
At the trial, Salazar renewed his motion to suppress his confession, and the trial court again denied the motion. The evidence at the trial showed that the Marine Patrol of the sheriff’s department boarded the Lady Rhonda, after being invited aboard by the sole occupant of the stranded vessel, a Latin male with a disabled leg. The boat was loaded with marijuana. Other Latin males were observed by the police with a van, trucks and smaller boats at a nearby barge canal. They had no fishing gear, and their presence appeared “suspicious.” When the Lady Rhonda’s cargo was positively identified as marijuana, the police began “rounding up” all persons of Latin heritage or origin in the area. At least one luckless, but innocent hitchhiker was “caught” in this “round-up.” We do not condone such “gestapo” tactics, but Salazar was not picked up in this manner.
This is a “close” case. Dunaway and Brown both involved defendants who were clearly seized and subjected to unlawful arrests. At the suppression hearing, the police officers said Salazar had not been arrested and he was in the police chief’s office at his choice, because he did not want to be seen by other suspects. Salazar offered no testimony to show he had been arrested or unlawfully seized. At the trial, evidence was presented to show Salazar agreed to accompany Worsham to the police station voluntarily.
Technically, the state should have presented all of this evidence at the suppression hearing. However, we shall consider all of it in reviewing the trial court’s ultimate conclusion at trial that the confession was admissible,
AFFIRMED.
. U.S. Const. amend. V; Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1969).
. U.S. Const. amend. IV; Dunaway v. New York, 442, U.S. 200, 99 S.Ct. 2248, 60 L.Ed.2d 824 (1979); Brown v. Illinois, 422 U.S. 590, 95 S.Ct. 2254, 45 L.Ed.2d 416 (1975).
. Dunaway v. New York, 442 U.S. 200, 99 S.Ct. 2248, 60 L.Ed.2d 824 (1979); Brown v. Illinois, 422 U.S. 590, 95 S.Ct. 2254, 45 L.Ed.2d 416 (1975); Reddish v. State, 167 So.2d 858 (Fla. 1964); Cason v. State, 373 So.2d 372 (Fla.2d DCA 1979), cert. denied, 383 So.2d 1202 (Fla. 1980); State v. Dixon, 348 So.2d 333 (Fla.2d DCA 1977); cert. denied, 355 So.2d 517 (1978).
. U. S. v. Mendenhall, 446 U.S. 544, 100 S.Ct. 1870, 64 L.Ed.2d 497 (1980).
. U. S. v. Mendenhall, 446 U.S. 544, 100 S.Ct. 1870, 64 L.Ed.2d 497 (1980).
. Brown v. Illinois, 422 U.S. 590, 95 S.Ct. 2254, 45 L.Ed.2d 416 (1975).
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting:
I respectfully dissent. In my opinion this appellant was illegally detained in what the parties have agreed was a round-up of all Latin looking men. I would reverse the order denying the suppression of the confession in accordance with Dunaway.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.