BACHARACH, Circuit Judge.
Mr. Tsutomu Shimomura claims that an officer with the Denver Police Department (Wade Davis) and an agent with the Transportation Security Administration (Kendra Carlson) made an arrest without probable cause and conspired to fabricate grounds for the arrest. For these claims, Mr. Shimomura invoked 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388, 91 S.Ct. 1999, 29 L.Ed.2d 619 (1971), alleging that Officer Davis and Agent Carlson violated the Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments.
In February 2011, Mr. Shimomura was going through security at the Denver International Airport, trying to catch a flight. At the security checkpoint, Mr. Shimomura presented his belongings for screening. When he did, a TSA agent conducted a test on Mr. Shimomura's medication, using a sampling strip. Mr. Shimomura was afraid that the test would contaminate his medication. Based on this fear, Mr. Shimomura asked about the sterility and toxicity of the sampling strip. The TSA agent's response did not satisfy Mr. Shimomura. So he asked for the agent's supervisor.
Agent Carlson was the TSA supervisor who responded. She stated that the sampling strips were sterile for screening purposes. But Mr. Shimomura remained unsatisfied, and the conversation grew heated while Officer Davis watched from nearby.
Eventually, Mr. Shimomura was told to leave the screening area. He complied and began walking away with his roller bag, with Agent Carlson and Officer Davis following closely behind. After taking a few steps, Mr. Shimomura stopped, and Officer Davis believed that the roller bag had hit Agent Carlson. A few seconds later, Officer Davis arrested Mr. Shimomura. Following Mr. Shimomura's arrest, Officer Davis, Agent Carlson, and other TSA agents conferred for approximately 90 minutes. Officer Davis then served Mr. Shimomura with a summons and complaint, charging him with assault for pushing his roller bag into Agent Carlson. See Rev. Mun.Code of Denver § 38-93. After reviewing the evidence, the prosecutor dismissed the criminal complaint against Mr. Shimomura.
This suit followed.
Mr. Shimomura claims that he was arrested without probable cause. On this claim, the district court granted summary judgment to Officer Davis based on qualified immunity. This ruling was correct.
We review de novo the district court's grant of summary judgment. Christiansen v. City of Tulsa, 332 F.3d 1270, 1278 (10th Cir.2003). The court must grant summary judgment "if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R.Civ.P. 56(a).
We apply this standard against the backdrop of our case law on qualified immunity. This immunity protects all government employees except those who are "plainly incompetent or those who knowingly violate the law." Lewis v. Tripp, 604 F.3d 1221, 1225 (10th Cir.2010) (quoting Malley v. Briggs, 475 U.S. 335, 341, 106 S.Ct. 1092, 89 L.Ed.2d 271 (1986)). To overcome this assertion of qualified immunity, Mr. Shimomura must show that (1) Officer Davis violated a federal statute or the U.S. Constitution and (2) the underlying rights were "clearly established at the time of their alleged violation." Id. To decide whether Mr. Shimomura made this showing, we view all evidence in the light most favorable to him as the nonmoving party. Estate of B.I.C. v. Gillen, 710 F.3d 1168, 1172 (10th Cir.2013).
Framed under these standards, "the salient Fourth Amendment questions presented are (1) whether [Officer Davis] possessed probable cause to arrest [Mr. Shimomura for assault]; and (2) whether extant clearly established law in [February 2011] would have placed a reasonable, similarly situated police officer on notice that no probable cause existed." Quinn v. Young, 780 F.3d 998, 1007 (10th Cir. 2015) (emphasis in original).
For the sake of argument, we can assume that probable cause was lacking. Even with this assumption, however, Officer Davis would enjoy qualified immunity if probable cause had been at least "arguable." Kaufman v. Higgs, 697 F.3d 1297, 1300 (10th Cir.2012). In our view, probable cause would have been at least arguable.
To determine whether probable cause was arguable, we must begin with the standard for "probable cause." Under this standard, probable cause would exist if Officer Davis had reasonably trustworthy information that would lead a prudent person to believe that Mr. Shimomura had committed an offense. Jones v. City & Cnty. of Denver, 854 F.2d 1206, 1210 (10th Cir.1988).
The threshold question involves identification of the alleged offense. On this question, Officer Davis identified Mr. Shimomura's conduct as a third-degree assault under the Denver Municipal Code. Thus, we must determine what constituted a third-degree assault in February 2011.
The municipal code defined third-degree assault to include the intentional or reckless commission of an assault. Rev. Mun. Code of Denver, § 38-93. Rather than define the word "assault," the municipal code referred to Colorado law. Under that law, third-degree assault required
In applying the municipal ordinance for assault, a reasonable police officer could have viewed probable cause as arguable. Mr. Shimomura relies largely on a video of the incident. The parties agree that this video is accurate, and Officer Davis acknowledged that it was consistent with what he had seen.
Though our vantage point differs from Officer Davis's, we can identify at least four facts that Officer Davis would have known:
Mr. Shimomura suggests we add a fifth undisputed fact: that he and Agent Carlson had engaged in a heated disagreement.
Based on these five facts, Officer Davis could reasonably believe that Mr. Shimomura
Mr. Shimomura argues that his quickened pace did not suggest guilt, for he might simply have had to hurry to catch his flight. But probable cause could have existed even if his conduct might also be interpreted as innocent. See United States v. Muñoz-Nava, 524 F.3d 1137, 1144 (10th Cir.2008) ("[S]imply because an activity has an innocent connotation does not mean that it is excluded from the court's totality of the circumstances analysis.").
Mr. Shimomura also argues that Officer Davis should have discounted Agent Carlson's description of the events, giving three reasons:
But these arguments would not preclude Officer Davis from reasonably believing that probable cause existed.
Agent Carlson and the other witnesses made their statements after Mr. Shimomura's arrest; thus, these statements could not have affected the decision to arrest. And Officer Davis could see for himself what had taken place when Mr. Shimomura pushed his roller bag toward Agent Carlson. In observing the incident and Mr. Shimomura accelerating his pace afterward, Officer Davis could reasonably conclude that Mr. Shimomura had intentionally or recklessly pushed his roller bag into Agent Carlson to create at least some slight physical injury.
That push might not have created probable cause for third-degree assault. But probable cause would have been at least arguable even if (1) Mr. Shimomura had an innocent explanation for walking away more quickly and (2) Officer Davis had discounted Agent Carlson's description of events.
Mr. Shimomura argues that Officer Davis is not entitled to qualified immunity because the video recording is inconsistent with the defendants' statements regarding
In reaching a contrary conclusion, the partial dissent points to
Dissent at 362-63. In our view, these two points do not create a genuine fact-issue on whether probable cause was at least arguable.
Because the issue involves summary judgment, we must rely on the summary judgment record rather than Mr. Shimomura's allegations in the complaint. In support of the summary judgment motion, Officer Davis stated under oath that he had seen the roller bag strike Agent Carlson in the legs. Appellant's App'x at 112. Mr. Shimomura responded to the motion, presenting affidavits by himself and Agent Carlson. Agent Carlson's affidavit said that Officer Davis had seen the contact between the roller bag and Agent Carlson. Id. at 176. Mr. Shimomura's affidavit was silent about what Officer Davis could see. Thus, for purposes of summary judgment, we have undisputed evidence that Officer Davis was able to see the contact between Agent Carlson and Mr. Shimomura's roller bag.
Mr. Shimomura denies that Agent Carlson was physically injured, and Officer Davis believed there was physical injury. Neither individual could know for certain, but the sole issue on qualified immunity is whether Officer Davis could reasonably believe the contact resulted in at least some slight physical injury to Agent Carlson. Even if Officer Davis's belief was wrong, he would have enjoyed qualified immunity as long as his belief was reasonable. See Stonecipher v. Valles, 759 F.3d 1134, 1141 (10th Cir.) ("Arguable probable cause is another way of saying the officers' conclusions rest on an objectively reasonable, even if mistaken, belief that probable cause exists."), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 135 S.Ct. 881, 190 L.Ed.2d 705 (2014).
In our view, Officer Davis's belief was reasonable notwithstanding Mr. Shimomura's contrary allegations in his complaint. In Mr. Shimomura's affidavit, there is
Mr. Shimomura argues that Agent Carlson violated the Fourth Amendment by withholding and fabricating evidence to justify the arrest.
We review de novo the district court's grant of a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim. Christensen v. Park City Mun. Corp., 554 F.3d 1271, 1275 (10th Cir.2009). Like the district court, we must determine whether the complaint contains sufficient facts, accepted as true, to state a plausible claim for relief. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009). A claim is plausible "when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged." Id. In determining whether the claim is plausible, we view all factual allegations in the light most favorable to Mr. Shimomura as the nonmoving party. Tonkovich v. Kan. Bd. of Regents, 159 F.3d 504, 510 (10th Cir. 1998).
As was previously stated, a warrantless arrest without probable cause violates the Fourth Amendment. Keylon v. City of Albuquerque, 535 F.3d 1210, 1216 (10th Cir.2008). But nothing in the complaint would plausibly suggest Agent Carlson's participation in the arrest.
Mr. Shimomura disagrees, arguing that Agent Carlson caused the arrest by withholding exculpatory evidence and fabricating a sworn statement that she had suffered pain from her contact with the roller bag. Officer Davis allegedly relied on Agent Carlson's fabricated account.
This contention fails as a matter of law because Agent Carlson's alleged misdeeds would have taken place after Officer Davis had already arrested Mr. Shimomura. Agent Carlson allegedly withheld exculpatory evidence and fabricated a sworn statement, but only after Officer Davis had already initiated Mr. Shimomura's 90-minute detention. That detention constituted an arrest as a matter of law. See Manzanares v. Higdon, 575 F.3d 1135, 1148 (10th Cir.2009)
Invoking 42 U.S.C. § 1983, Mr. Shimomura also claims that Officer Davis and Agent Carlson violated the Fourth Amendment by conspiring (1) to make the arrest without probable cause and (2) to fabricate their accounts for the initiation of criminal charges. We affirm the district court's dismissal of these causes of action for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.
In reviewing the dismissal, we engage in de novo review. See p. 15, above. The ultimate question is whether Mr. Shimomura had alleged specific facts showing (1) an agreement and concerted action between Officer Davis and Agent Carlson and (2) an actual deprivation of constitutional rights. Tonkovich v. Kan. Bd. of Regents, 159 F.3d 504, 533 (10th Cir.1998); Snell v. Tunnell, 920 F.2d 673, 701 (10th Cir.1990). Conclusory allegations of conspiracy would not suffice. Tonkovich, 159 F.3d at 534.
The conspiracy allegations in the complaint involve conduct before the arrest. Thus, on the claims involving conspiracy to justify the arrest, we confine our review to the allegations involving conduct preceding the arrest. These allegations involve six facts
For the sake of argument, we can assume that Mr. Shimomura has pleaded facts reflecting an agreement and concerted action by Officer Davis and Agent Carlson. But the alleged agreement could not plausibly have preceded Mr. Shimomura's arrest. The video reflects the incident, which unfolded only a few seconds before Officer Davis detained Mr. Shimomura (constituting an arrest).
It might have been theoretically possible for Officer Davis and Agent Carlson to conspire to arrest Mr. Shimomura without probable cause. Perhaps Officer Davis and Agent Carlson decided to arrest Mr. Shimomura even before his belongings were screened; or maybe Officer Davis and Agent Carlson conspired in the few seconds between the roller bag contact and Mr. Shimomura's arrest; or perhaps Officer Davis and Agent Carlson knew and understood one another so well that they immediately formed an unspoken agreement to unlawfully arrest Mr. Shimomura. But Mr. Shimomura does not allege facts that could plausibly explain how Officer Davis and Agent Carlson might have conspired in the moments preceding the arrest.
Accordingly, Mr. Shimomura has not pleaded a plausible § 1983 claim for conspiracy to arrest without probable cause in violation of the Fourth Amendment. We affirm the dismissal of this claim.
In responding to Agent Carlson's motion to dismiss, Mr. Shimomura included a footnote requesting "leave to amend should the Court find his Complaint deficient." Id. at 121 n. 1. Though the district court suggested that Mr. Shimomura might amend the complaint, the court ultimately prevented amendment by making the dismissal with prejudice. Id. at 218, 229.
Mr. Shimomura alleges that the district court abused its discretion by preventing amendment of the complaint. We disagree. Mr. Shimomura alleges in the complaint that he was taken into custody by Officer Davis, not Agent Carlson. See id. at 12. Thus, amendment of the complaint would have been futile. In these circumstances, we conclude that the district court had discretion to make the dismissal with prejudice. See Brereton v. Bountiful City Corp., 434 F.3d 1213, 1219 (10th Cir.2006) ("A dismissal with prejudice is appropriate where a complaint fails to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6) and granting leave to amend would be futile.").
Finally, Mr. Shimomura claims deprivation of procedural due process under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. The Fifth Amendment prohibits the federal government from depriving a person of "life, liberty, or property, without due process of law," and the Fourteenth Amendment extends this prohibition to the states. U.S. Const. amend. V; Id. amend. XIV, § 1.
On these claims, Mr. Shimomura alleges that Officer Davis and Agent Carlson withheld exculpatory evidence, fabricated inculpatory evidence, and engaged in a conspiracy. The district court dismissed these claims, reasoning that they "effectively mirror[]" Mr. Shimomura's claims under the Fourth Amendment. Appellant's App'x at 220. For this ruling, we engage in de novo review. See p. 15, above. In exercising de novo review, we uphold the district court's dismissal because the Fourth Amendment applies rather than the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments' Due Process Clauses.
Mr. Shimomura is correct in asserting the constitutional requirement for probable cause before he could be arrested or charged. Wilkins v. DeReyes, 528 F.3d 790, 805 (10th Cir.2008). But this right is protected by the Fourth Amendment, not by the Fifth or Fourteenth Amendments' rights to procedural due process. The Supreme Court has held that "[b]ecause the Fourth Amendment provides an explicit textual source of constitutional protection against ... physically intrusive governmental conduct, that Amendment, not the more generalized notion of `substantive due process,' must be the guide for analyzing these claims." Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 395, 109 S.Ct. 1865, 104 L.Ed.2d 443 (1989); see Albright v. Oliver, 510 U.S. 266, 274-75, 114 S.Ct. 807, 127 L.Ed.2d 114 (1994) (plurality opinion) (stating that the right to be free of arrest and prosecution without probable cause is governed by the Fourth Amendment, not the constitutional protections for substantive due process). We have applied this holding when the alleged denial of due process is procedural rather than substantive. See Becker v. Kroll, 494 F.3d 904, 919 (10th Cir.2007) ("[W]e find Albright's reasoning regarding substantive due process equally persuasive with regard to the Fourteenth Amendment's procedural component.... The more general due process considerations of the Fourteenth Amendment are not a fallback to protect interests more specifically addressed by the Fourth Amendment....").
It is true that "at some point in the prosecutorial process, due process concerns can be sufficient to support claim under § 1983." Id. at 920; see also Pierce v. Gilchrist, 359 F.3d 1279, 1285-86 (10th Cir.2004) ("[A]t some point after arrest, and certainly by the time of trial, constitutional analysis shifts to the Due Process Clause."). But Mr. Shimomura's factual allegations do not cross into the due-process realm.
In Becker v. Kroll, 494 F.3d 904 (10th Cir.2007), we "acknowledge[d] that the Fourteenth Amendment's protections encompass harms to liberty outside the scope
Because the Fourth Amendment provides the sole source of constitutional protection, Mr. Shimomura has not asserted a valid claim of procedural due process. As a result, the district court properly dismissed the claims involving procedural due process.
The district court's judgment is affirmed.
TYMKOVICH, Chief Judge, concurring in part and dissenting in part:
I join the majority except as to its holding that Officer Davis is entitled to qualified immunity.
In concluding that a reasonable officer with Officer Davis's vantage point could have thought there was probable cause, the majority decides a factual dispute that should be submitted to a jury. Shimomura alleges that Officer Davis could not reasonably perceive evidence of intent or recklessness. He also alleges that the officer could not reasonably perceive evidence of bodily injury, such as pain. If that version of the facts is true, then there was neither actual nor arguable probable cause to believe Shimomura had committed assault within the agreed-upon meaning of the ordinance. That satisfies Shimomura's initial burden to allege a clearly established violation of a constitutional right. See Fogarty v. Gallegos, 523 F.3d 1147, 1158-59 (10th Cir.2008) ("In the context of an unlawful arrest our analysis is simple, for the law was and is unambiguous: a government official must have probable cause to arrest an individual." (brackets and internal quotation marks omitted)). It also places a new burden on Officer Davis, on his motion for summary judgment based on qualified immunity, to show that Shimomura's version of the facts is wrong — that is, that an officer could have reasonably perceived evidence of bodily injury and intent or recklessness. Officer Davis has not met that burden.
The majority concludes that a person standing at Officer Davis's vantage point could have perceived the requisite evidence, but that is not beyond dispute. Recently, in Tolan v. Cotton, ___ U.S. ___, 134 S.Ct. 1861, 188 L.Ed.2d 895 (2014), the Supreme Court reversed a finding of qualified immunity because the appellate court had resolved disputed factual propositions in favor of the moving officer. Most notably, the Court indicated that disputed questions about what facts an officer should have perceived are appropriate for a jury:
Id. at 1867 (emphasis added) (citations omitted). This illustrates the divide between determining whether there was probable (or arguable probable) cause and determining the facts that support probable cause. Just as a jury in Tolan should have decided whether the undisputed words, in context, seemed threatening, a jury here should decide whether the undisputed contact, in context, seemed intentional or capable of causing bodily injury.
For those reasons, I respectfully dissent as to the conclusion that Officer Davis is entitled to qualified immunity.