People v. Esparza CA3

BACKGROUND

An informant told City of Sacramento Police Officer David Putman that defendant lived in a specified apartment in Sacramento and had been bragging about being a fugitive. Officer Putman, who had never previously heard of defendant, searched criminal justice databases and contacted the ID warrant section of the Sacramento Police Department. He learned defendant was on probation in Butte County, was subject to search, and there was a warrant for his arrest. Officer Putman searched various databases to confirm defendant’s address but was unable to confirm it on those databases. Officer Putman did not contact the Butte County probation department, the Butte County Superior Court, utility companies or the property manager for the apartment to determine defendant’s address, and he did not conduct surveillance on the apartment. Six hours after receiving the informant’s tip, Officer Putman and two other officers went to the apartment at 4:00 a.m. to execute the arrest warrant on defendant. Officer Putman knocked on the front door of the apartment and called out, “Police department.” A person who was later identified as Jose Blanco answered the door. Officer Putman had no prior…