Carroll

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT LEE’S MOTION TO SUPPRESS STATEMENTS "

(Docket No. 63)

I. BACKGROUND

Bright and early on October 18, 2011, Robert" Lariham Lee awoke to. the presence of police in the doorway of his motel room. The motel room was located in Vermont and was Lee’s primary residence at the time. The police officers — Detective Wayne Hanson and Detective Cheryl Franco of the Humboldt County Police Department — were there to invite Lee to" the Brattleboro Police Department to “chit-chat.” 3:45.

Lee asked the detectives if he was under arrest. Détective Hanson responded that Lee was “absolutely not” under arrest; 4:17. Rather, Hanson explained that they “need[ed] to talk to [Lee] about something” down at the station, and would give him a ride back “after we’re done chitchatting.” Id. Hanson' told Lee that he was not under arrest. Each time Hanson said this to Lee, he impressed upon Lee that the detectives “need[ed]” to talk to him down at the station. The detectives did not accede to Lee’s request to take a shower and did not allow him to meet them at the station as he suggested. Instead, after a' brief break in which Lee was allowed to put his shoes on, Lee was directed to…