United States v. Lionel Brinkerhoff

MEMORANDUM

Petitioner Lionel Coty Brinkerhoff appeals from a conditional plea after the denial of his motion to suppress. We AFFIRM the district court.

The collective knowledge doctrine is applicable to this case. See United States v. Ramirez, 473 F.3d 1026, 1031-3 (9th Cir.2007). Wyoming officers had reported to Montana Officer Olson that a man had loaded a semi-automatic pistol in a parking lot outside a convenience store and had uttered profanities in a threatening manner to a customer in the parking lot. Wyoming officers, relying on information from a 911 call to dispatch, also told Montana officer Olson that the suspect was driving a green car, as was Brinkerhoff. When Officer Olson called in Brinkerhoff s plate to Wyoming police, he was informed he was trailing the right car. Officer Olson also had a physical description of the suspect that matched Brinkerhoff. Wyoming officers suspected that the man in possession of the firearm was Brinkerhoff, whom they knew to be a felon. The collective knowledge of the officers provided reasonable suspicion to stop Brinkerhoff. See id. Given the officers’ collective knowledge, they did not violate Brinkerhoff s Fourth Amendment…