People v. Hinton CA2/8

FACTS

Police officers obtained a warrant to search premises, vehicles and persons at two adjacent locations in Los Angeles, 2604 South Hill Street and 2620 South Hill Street. The premises consisted of a warehouse at each location, and the search warrant included the surrounding grounds and “all vehicles, specifically connected to occupants or permanent residents of the location and parked directly on or nearby to” the locations. The police had reason to believe that marijuana was being illegally cultivated, stored, transported and sold from the premises. The warehouses at the two locations were separated by a lot connecting the two buildings. The warehouse at 2620 South Hill Street and the connecting lot were behind a black iron gate. Officer Kristina Fuentes was observing the location at 2620 South Hill Street just before the execution of the warrant on November 3, 2011. She saw defendant sitting in a white Ford Focus. The car was “behind the gate next to the warehouse and the gate [was] enclosed around the warehouse.” While Officer Fuentes was observing him, defendant got out of the car and went to open the black gate for another vehicle. Defendant opened the gate, a Mustang…