Filed: Jan. 17, 2020
Latest Update: Mar. 03, 2020
Summary: FILED United States Court of Appeals PUBLISH Tenth Circuit UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS January 17, 2020 Christopher M. Wolpert FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT Clerk of Court _ KEVIN LEO DONAHUE, Plaintiff - Appellant, v. No. 19-4005 OFFICER SHAUN WIHONGI; SALT LAKE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT; SALT LAKE CITY CORPORATION, Defendants - Appellees. _ Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Utah (D.C. No. 2:17-CV-00312-DAK) _ Karra J. Porter (J.D. Lauritzen with her on the briefs), of Ch
Summary: FILED United States Court of Appeals PUBLISH Tenth Circuit UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS January 17, 2020 Christopher M. Wolpert FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT Clerk of Court _ KEVIN LEO DONAHUE, Plaintiff - Appellant, v. No. 19-4005 OFFICER SHAUN WIHONGI; SALT LAKE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT; SALT LAKE CITY CORPORATION, Defendants - Appellees. _ Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Utah (D.C. No. 2:17-CV-00312-DAK) _ Karra J. Porter (J.D. Lauritzen with her on the briefs), of Chr..
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FILED
United States Court of Appeals
PUBLISH Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS January 17, 2020
Christopher M. Wolpert
FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT Clerk of Court
_________________________________
KEVIN LEO DONAHUE,
Plaintiff - Appellant,
v. No. 19-4005
OFFICER SHAUN WIHONGI; SALT
LAKE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT;
SALT LAKE CITY CORPORATION,
Defendants - Appellees.
_________________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the District of Utah
(D.C. No. 2:17-CV-00312-DAK)
_________________________________
Karra J. Porter (J.D. Lauritzen with her on the briefs), of Christensen & Jensen, P.C., Salt
Lake City, Utah, for Plaintiff – Appellant.
John E. Delaney (Mark E. Kittrell with him on the brief), of Salt Lake City Corporation,
Salt Lake City, Utah, for Defendants – Appellees.
_________________________________
Before LUCERO, HARTZ, and MATHESON, Circuit Judges.
_________________________________
MATHESON, Circuit Judge.
_________________________________
Kevin Donahue was walking home one night when he saw a woman outside his
neighbor’s house. Dr. Donahue thought she was trespassing, and a heated conversation
ensued.1 They approached two police officers, Officer Shaun Wihongi and Officer
Shawn Bennett, who were investigating an incident a few houses away. The officers
questioned them separately. The woman told Officer Wihongi her name was “Amy
LaRose,” which later turned out to be untraceable. She claimed Dr. Donahue was drunk
and had insulted her. Dr. Donahue refused to provide his name but admitted he had been
drinking and said the woman had hit him. The officers eventually arrested and
handcuffed Dr. Donahue.
Dr. Donahue sued Officer Wihongi, the Salt Lake City Police Department
(“SLCPD”), and Salt Lake City Corporation (“SLC”) (collectively, “Defendants”). He
alleged Officer Wihongi violated his Fourth Amendment rights by (1) arresting him
without probable cause, (2) using excessive force during the arrest, and (3) detaining him
for too long. Officer Wihongi moved for summary judgment. The district court granted
the motion on all three claims and dismissed the case. Exercising jurisdiction under
28 U.S.C. § 1291, we affirm.
1
We refer to the Appellant as “Dr. Donahue” because he told the officers in this
case that he was a physician. See Wihongi 2 at 8:53-56.
2
I. BACKGROUND
A. Factual Background
We present the facts in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, drawing all
reasonable inferences in his favor. See Estate of Booker v. Gomez,
745 F.3d 405, 411
(10th Cir. 2014).2
At 10:45 p.m. on April 21, 2015, Dr. Donahue saw Ms. LaRose hiding near his
neighbor’s house. He questioned her and told her to leave. When Ms. LaRose refused,
Dr. Donahue called her “a piece of shit.” App. at 136. She responded by punching his
left jaw. Dr. Donahue told Ms. LaRose he would call the police. She said she was hiding
from police officers investigating an incident a few houses away.
Interviews of Dr. Donahue and Ms. LaRose
Dr. Donahue and Ms. LaRose approached SLCPD Officers Bennett and Wihongi
at the nearby house. Dr. Donahue explained, “This woman just assaulted me[;] I’d like to
press charges on her.”
Id. at 137. Officer Bennett then began interviewing Dr. Donahue.
Bennett 1 at 25:50-30:30; Bennett 2 at 0:00-2:10. Dr. Donahue explained Ms. LaRose
had hit him, but he asked to wait before deciding to file a report.
Id.
While Officer Bennett spoke with Dr. Donahue, Officer Wihongi separately
interviewed Ms. LaRose. Wihongi 1 at 26:05-29:45. She gave Officer Wihongi her name
2
This section draws on materials from the joint appendix that were presented to
the district court on the summary judgment motion. These include the police bodycam
videos from Officer Wihongi (“Wihongi 1” and “Wihongi 2”) and Officer Bennett
(“Bennett 1” and “Bennett 2”). When we cite the videos, we list the time stamp from the
pertinent recording.
3
and birthdate which he later discovered were untraceable in the police database.3 She
also recounted her version of events: Dr. Donahue, a stranger “drunker than Cooter
Brown,” had approached her and called her a “piece of shit.”
Id. at 26:40-57.
Pre-Arrest Conversation
After speaking with Ms. LaRose, Officer Wihongi joined Dr. Donahue and Officer
Bennett. Wihongi 2 at 29:34-45. He heard Officer Bennett ask for Dr. Donahue’s name.
Id. at 2:11-30. When Dr. Donahue refused, Officer Wihongi explained why a name is
necessary for police assistance and recounted Ms. LaRose’s allegations.
Id. at 2:33-3:32.
Dr. Donahue appeared to confirm that he had insulted Ms. LaRose during their
altercation,
id. at 3:14-15,4 but denied starting the altercation,
id. at 6:22-35.
Officer Bennett left to hear Ms. LaRose’s version of events. Officer Wihongi then
told Dr. Donahue why he needed to investigate: “Two people are telling us a story that’s
completely different in dynamics and we have to . . . [decide] what’s gonna happen here.”
Id. at 6:48-56. When Officer Wihongi asked, “Have you been drinking this evening,
sir?” Dr. Donahue responded, “Yes.”
Id. at 7:00-03.5 Officer Wihongi suggested Dr.
3
As Officer Bennett explained in his deposition, the officers were unable to
identify Ms. LaRose in the SLCPD database, which includes warrants and drivers
licenses.
4
Dr. Donahue’s complaint also states he “call[ed] Ms. LaRose ‘a piece of shit.’”
App. at 25.
5
Dr. Donahue’s declaration states he had one glass of wine during a late dinner
prior to walking in his neighborhood, but he did not disclose this to the officers.
4
Donahue was intoxicated and disruptive in violation of Utah’s public intoxication statute,
but Dr. Donahue denied both assertions.
Id. at 7:12-29.
Officer Bennett, having permitted Ms. LaRose to leave, rejoined them. He asked
Dr. Donahue if he had been drinking, and Dr. Donahue again replied, “Yes.”
Id. at 7:45-
48. Officer Wihongi again requested Dr. Donahue’s name, but he again refused.
Id. at
8:26-33.
Handcuffing
Officer Wihongi then pulled Dr. Donahue up by his arm, saying, “Stand up, sir . . .
You’re gonna be detained . . . I’m not asking you, I’m telling you.”
Id. at 8:33-41. The
officers pulled Dr. Donahue’s hands behind his back and handcuffed him.
Id. at 8:38-
9:20. Dr. Donahue protested, “Please don’t hurt me,” claimed the officers were “twisting
[his] wrist,” and asked, “Why am I being detained?”
Id. at 8:55-9:20. Officer Wihongi
explained they were detaining him for public intoxication and failure to provide his name.
Id. at 9:18-42. Officer Wihongi again requested Dr. Donahue’s name, and he again
refused.
Id. at 12:05-07.
When the officers briefly stepped away from Dr. Donahue, Officer Wihongi
whispered his suspicion that Ms. LaRose was a runaway from the nearby incident.
Id. at
17:00-15. He directed Officer Bennett to run “Amy LaRose” in the SLCPD database.
Id.
at 17:48-56. Officer Bennett did so, but found nothing.
Id. at 23:31-57. Officer Wihongi
then told Dr. Donahue he was “suspicious,”
id. at 24:21-27, of Ms. LaRose and would
5
“make it known to . . . the sergeant . . . that we probably [should] take your handcuffs
off,”
id. at 24:33-38.6
Throughout the encounter, Dr. Donahue had asked for a sergeant. See, e.g.,
id. at
4:56-59, 8:18-21, 8:29-31, 12:22-25. Sergeant Wallace arrived 19 minutes after Dr.
Donahue was handcuffed.
Id. at 27:39-43. The parties agree that Dr. Donahue was
released three minutes later.
6
See Wihongi 2 at 22:03-06 (stating he was “kind of suspicious”);
id. at 24:23-36
(stating he was “extremely suspicious”).
6
* * * *
The following time line summarizes the significant events described above.7
Time Line Event Bodycam Video Time
Stamp
0:00 Interviews of Ms. LaRose and Dr. Bennett 1 at 25:50-30:30;
Donahue begin. Bennett 2 at 0:00-2:10
11:40 Dr. Donahue first admits he has been Wihongi 2 at 7:00-03
drinking.
12:25 Dr. Donahue again admits he has been Wihongi 2 at 7:45-48
drinking.
13:06 Dr. Donahue refuses to provide his Wihongi 2 at 8:26-33
name.
13:13 Dr. Donahue is told he is being Wihongi 2 at 8:33-41
detained.
13:18 The officers handcuff Dr. Donahue. Wihongi 2 at 8:38-9:20
28:11 The officers discover Ms. LaRose’s Wihongi 2 at 23:31-57
name is not in the SLCPD database.
(approximately) Dr. Donahue is released. Off-camera
35:19
B. Procedural Background
Dr. Donahue filed a pro se complaint seeking damages under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.8
He alleged the Defendants violated his Fourth Amendment rights by (1) arresting him
7
The time line begins when the officers started interviewing Dr. Donahue and Ms.
LaRose, with 4 minutes and 40 seconds remaining on each officer’s first bodycam video.
The bodycam video time stamp, “Bennett 1 at 25:50,” is thus equivalent to “Time line at
0:00.”
8
Counsel started representing Dr. Donahue after the Defendants filed their answer
and following the initial pretrial conference.
7
without probable cause, (2) using excessive force during the arrest, and (3) detaining him
for an excessively long period. Officer Wihongi moved for summary judgment based on
qualified immunity.
On the first claim, the district court concluded Officer Wihongi had reasonable
suspicion that Dr. Donahue violated Utah’s “public intoxication” statute. Donahue v.
Wihongi, No. 17-312,
2018 WL 6699743, at *3-4 (D. Utah Dec. 20, 2018). Officer
Wihongi was therefore authorized to request Dr. Donahue’s name under Utah’s “stop-
and-question” statute. Id.9 The court further reasoned that Dr. Donahue’s refusal to
provide his name gave Officer Wihongi probable cause that Dr. Donahue had violated
Utah’s “failure-to-identify” statute.
Id. In turn, this authorized Officer Wihongi to arrest
Dr. Donahue under Utah’s “arrest-with-probable-cause” statute. Id.10
On the second claim, the court determined Officer Wihongi’s use of force to arrest
Dr. Donahue was objectively reasonable.
Id. at *4.
On the third claim, it determined Officer Wihongi detained Dr. Donahue for a
reasonable amount of time.
Id. at *4-5.
Because the district court found no constitutional violation by Officer Wihongi, it
granted summary judgment to him on all three claims and entered judgment dismissing
9
Although the district court found Officer Wihongi had reasonable suspicion, it
explained this was “reasonable suspicion, though mistaken, that [Dr.] Donahue was
publicly intoxicated.” Donahue,
2018 WL 6699743, at *3.
10
We discuss these four statutes, as referred to with this shorthand nomenclature,
in greater detail below.
8
the case. See Doc. 10683417 at 1; Dist. Ct. Doc. 58 at 1 (“[T]he Court rules as a matter
of law that no constitutional violation occurred . . . .”). Dr. Donahue timely appealed.
For the reasons discussed below, we affirm.11
II. DISCUSSION
Dr. Donahue cannot show Officer Wihongi violated his constitutional rights.
Without an underlying constitutional violation, Dr. Donahue’s claims for municipal
liability against SLCPD and SLC also cannot stand. We conclude the district court did
not err in granting summary judgment to Officer Wihongi and entering judgment for all
Defendants.
A. Legal Background and Standard of Review
Under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a state actor acting under color of state law who deprives
an injured person of “any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution
and laws, shall be liable to the party injured.” State actors sued in their individual
capacities may raise the defense of qualified immunity, which “shields public officials
from [§ 1983] damages actions unless their conduct was unreasonable in light of clearly
established law.” Estate of
Booker, 745 F.3d at 411 (alterations and quotations omitted).
11
We have appellate jurisdiction to review a final decision that “terminates all
matters as to all parties and causes of action.” Utah v. Norton,
396 F.3d 1281, 1286 (10th
Cir. 2005) (quotations omitted). We directed a limited remand to the district court to
clarify the finality of the district court’s summary judgment order and judgment with
respect to the SLCPD and SLC. The district court entered a clarifying supplemental
order explaining that “all claims against each and every named Defendant were and are
hereby dismissed with prejudice.” Dist. Ct. Doc. 58 at 1.
9
When a defendant asserts a qualified immunity defense, “the plaintiff carries a
two-part burden to show: (1) that the defendant’s actions violated a federal constitutional
or statutory right, and, if so, (2) that the right was clearly established at the time of the
defendant’s unlawful conduct.” Cillo v. City of Greenwood Village,
739 F.3d 451, 460
(10th Cir. 2013). We “exercise [our] sound discretion in deciding which of the two
prongs of the qualified immunity analysis should be addressed first.” Doe v. Woodard,
912 F.3d 1278, 1289 (10th Cir. 2019) (quotations omitted).
“[W]e review the award of summary judgment based on qualified immunity
de novo.” Lindsey v. Hyler,
918 F.3d 1109, 1113 (10th Cir. 2019) (quotations omitted).
The movant must “show[] that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact.” Estate
of
Booker, 745 F.3d at 411 (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a)). In applying this standard,
courts view the facts and draw inferences in the light most favorable to the non-movant.
Id. But the non-movant must “establish facts such that a reasonable jury could find in his
favor,” and “[u]nsubstantiated allegations will not suffice.”
Lindsey, 918 F.3d at 1113.
The Fourth Amendment “question [of] whether a police officer’s observations
amounted to reasonable suspicion or probable cause” and “the excessive force question”
are “mixed question[s] of law and fact.” Cavanaugh v. Woods Cross City,
718 F.3d
1244, 1253 (10th Cir. 2013) (quotations omitted). And “where there are no disputed
questions of historical fact . . . such as on summary judgment,” the court “make[s] the . . .
determination [of reasonable suspicion, probable cause, or excessive force] on its own” as
a question of law. Id.; see Scott v. Harris,
550 U.S. 372, 381 n.8 (2007) (stating that at
summary judgment, once the facts and inferences are drawn in the nonmovant’s favor,
10
the determination of excessive force is a “pure question of law”); Ornelas v. United
States,
517 U.S. 690, 696 (1996) (stating that once the facts are “admitted or established,”
the determination of reasonable suspicion or probable cause is a question of law); United
States v. Hauk,
412 F.3d 1179, 1185 (10th Cir. 2005) (same).
B. Analysis of Dr. Donahue’s Three Claims
Claim 1 – Arrest Without Probable Cause
Dr. Donahue argues the district court erred in finding Officer Wihongi had
probable cause to arrest him.12 We resolve this claim in two steps.
First, we consider whether the facts, viewed by an objectively reasonable police
officer, see
Ornelas, 517 U.S. at 696, gave Officer Wihongi reasonable suspicion that Dr.
Donahue violated Utah’s public intoxication statute, Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-701(1). If
so, Officer Wihongi had authority to demand Dr. Donahue’s name under the stop-and-
question statute,
id. § 77-7-15.
12
Handcuffing during a detention is not necessarily an arrest. See Muehler v.
Mena,
544 U.S. 93, 99-100 (2005) (holding use of handcuffs during search of a premises
was reasonable under the Fourth Amendment); United States v. Salas-Garcia,
698 F.3d
1242, 1249 (10th Cir. 2012) (using handcuffs during an investigative detention does not
necessarily turn a stop into an arrest). If Dr. Donahue was only detained and not arrested,
the officers would have needed only reasonable suspicion. See Cortez v. McCauley,
478
F.3d 1108, 1115 (10th Cir. 2007) (explaining an investigative detention, unlike an arrest,
need only be supported by reasonable suspicion, not probable cause). But Dr. Donahue
claims he was arrested without probable cause when he was handcuffed. See Aplt. Br. at
12-14;
id. at 22-36. “The use of firearms, handcuffs, and other forceful techniques
generally exceed the scope of an investigative detention and enter the realm of an arrest.”
Cortez, 478 F.3d at 1115-16 (brackets and quotations omitted). We analyze Claim 1 on
the basis that, when the officers handcuffed him, Dr. Donahue was under arrest and
probable cause was required.
11
Second, we consider whether the facts, viewed by an objectively reasonable police
officer, see
Ornelas, 517 U.S. at 696, gave Officer Wihongi probable cause that Dr.
Donahue violated Utah’s failure-to-identify statute, Utah Code Ann. § 76-8-301.5. If so,
Officer Wihongi had authority to arrest him under the arrest-with-probable-cause statute,
id. § 77-7-2(4).
We conclude Officer Wihongi had reasonable suspicion that Dr. Donahue was
publicly intoxicated and therefore had the authority to demand his name. We also
conclude Dr. Donahue’s refusal to identify himself gave the officers probable cause to
arrest him. The district court therefore did not err in finding no Fourth Amendment
violation.
a. Additional legal background
Dr. Donahue’s claim requires us to apply the federal Fourth Amendment13
reasonable suspicion and probable cause standards to Officer Wihongi’s detention and
arrest of Dr. Donahue for state law offenses.14 Below, we discuss (i) the Fourth
Amendment’s reasonable suspicion standard for an investigative stop, (ii) the Fourth
Amendment’s probable cause standard for a warrantless arrest, (iii) the circumstances in
13
The Fourth Amendment’s constitutional guarantees are “enforceable against the
States through the Fourteenth [Amendment].” Colorado v. Bannister,
449 U.S. 1, 2
(1980) (per curiam).
14
See Ivan E. Bodensteiner and Rosalie Berger Levinson, 1 State and Local Gov’t
Civ. Rights Liab. § 1:11 (Nov. 2019 update) (explaining a court can “determin[e] whether
an officer had probable cause to make an arrest for a violation of state law” by “applying
the Fourth Amendment standard” to the “identif[ied] . . . elements of a crime, based on
state law”).
12
which an informant’s tip might give rise to reasonable suspicion or probable cause, (iv)
the Utah state statutes at issue in this case, and (v) cases addressing Utah’s public
intoxication statute.
i. Reasonable suspicion
The Fourth Amendment permits a police officer to “stop and briefly detain a
person for investigative purposes if the officer has a reasonable suspicion supported by
articulable facts that criminal activity ‘may be afoot.’” United States v. Sokolow,
490
U.S. 1, 7 (1989) (quoting Terry v. Ohio,
392 U.S. 1, 30 (1968)); see INS v. Delgado,
466
U.S. 210, 217 (1984) (explaining that reasonable suspicion requires “some minimal level
of objective justification”). Reasonable suspicion must be more than an “inchoate and
unparticularized suspicion or hunch.” Alabama v. White,
496 U.S. 325, 329 (1990)
(quotations omitted). But it “is a less demanding standard than probable cause” and can
be established with information “differ[ing] in quantity or content” or that is “less
reliable.”
Id. at 330.15
To assess whether an officer had “particularized and objective” reasonable
suspicion, courts consider the “totality of the circumstances.” United States v. Arvizu,
534 U.S. 266, 273 (2002) (quotations omitted). The determination “must be based on
commonsense judgments and inferences about human behavior.” Illinois v. Wardlow,
15
This court has said that reasonable suspicion “requires considerably less than a
preponderance of the evidence and obviously less than that required for probable cause to
effect an arrest.” United States v. Esquivel-Rios,
725 F.3d 1231, 1236 (10th Cir. 2013)
(quotations omitted). It “can be shown by evidence that is inherently less reliable in kind
than the sort of evidence needed to establish probable cause.”
Id.
13
528 U.S. 119, 125 (2000). “A determination that reasonable suspicion exists, however,
need not rule out the possibility of innocent conduct.”
Arvizu, 534 U.S. at 277.
“[R]easonable suspicion may exist even if it is more likely than not that the individual is
not involved in any illegality.” Mocek v. City of Albuquerque,
813 F.3d 912, 923 (10th
Cir. 2015) (quotations omitted).
ii. Probable cause
Under the Fourth Amendment, a warrantless arrest requires probable cause. See
Devenpeck v. Alford,
543 U.S. 146, 152 (2004); A.M. v. Holmes,
830 F.3d 1123, 1140
(10th Cir. 2016) (identifying the “basic federal constitutional right of freedom from arrest
without probable cause” (quotations omitted)).
Police officers have probable cause to arrest if “the facts and circumstances within
the arresting officers’ knowledge and of which they had reasonably trustworthy
information were sufficient to warrant a prudent man in believing that the suspect had
committed or was committing an offense.” Adams v. Williams,
407 U.S. 143, 148 (1972)
(alterations and quotations omitted). As with reasonable suspicion, courts assess
probable cause “from the standpoint of an objectively reasonable police officer” under
the totality of the circumstances.
Ornelas, 517 U.S. at 696.
14
iii. Informants
Both reasonable suspicion and probable cause may arise from information
provided by individuals.16 An anonymous tip alone without “indicia of reliability” is not
enough. Florida v. J.L.,
529 U.S. 266, 270 (2000).
Relevant considerations include whether the officers corroborated details of the
tip, such as the informant’s “basis of knowledge” and “veracity.”
Id. at 241.17
“[E]yewitness knowledge . . . [also] lends significant support to the tip’s reliability.”
Navarette v. California,
572 U.S. 393, 399 (2014). Officers “may weigh the credibility
of witnesses.”
Mocek, 813 F.3d at 928 (quotations omitted). Face-to-face informants
generally are more reliable than anonymous informants because they “allow[] the police
an opportunity to evaluate [their] credibility and demeanor.” See United States v.
Sanchez,
519 F.3d 1208, 1213 (10th Cir. 2008) (“A face-to-face informant must, as a
general matter, be thought more reliable than an anonymous . . . tipster.” (brackets and
quotations omitted)). Courts may also apply less “skepticism and careful scrutiny” to the
16
See Illinois v. Gates,
462 U.S. 213, 233 (1983) (explaining reasonable suspicion
can arise where an anonymous tip has sufficient indicia of reliability);
Adams, 407 U.S. at
147 (“[W]e reject [the] argument that reasonable [suspicion] for a stop and frisk can only
be based on the officer’s personal observation, rather than on information supplied by
another person.”); Jaben v. United States,
381 U.S. 214, 224 (1965) (citizen-witness’s tip
relevant to probable cause inquiry).
17
Whether reasonable suspicion exists is a highly fact-specific inquiry, and “[o]ne
simple rule will not cover every situation.”
Adams, 407 U.S. at 147; compare
White, 496
U.S. at 330-31 (reasonable suspicion existed when police “sufficiently corroborated”
anonymous tip’s prediction of suspect’s movements and car location); with
J.L., 529 U.S.
at 270-71 (no reasonable suspicion where anonymous informant’s tip accurately
described suspect but officers could not corroborate tip’s assertion of illegality).
15
reliability of “an identified victim or ordinary citizen witness” than the often-anonymous
informant who “supplies information on a regular basis.” Easton v. City of Boulder,
776
F.2d 1441, 1449-50 (10th Cir. 1985) (quotations omitted).
iv. Utah statutes
This case concerns four Utah statutes:
(1) The public intoxication statute, Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-701(1), which
prohibits a person from being “under the influence of alcohol . . . to a degree
that the person may endanger the person or another, in a public place.”
(2) The stop-and-question statute,
id. § 77-7-15, which allows a police officer to
“stop any individual” and “demand the individual’s name” if “the officer has
a reasonable suspicion . . . the individual has committed or is in the act of
committing or is attempting to commit a public offense.”
(3) The failure-to-identify statute,
id. § 76-8-301.5(1), which states:
A person is guilty of failure to disclose identity if during the
period of time that the person is lawfully subjected to a stop
as described in [the stop-and-question statute]:
(a) a peace officer demands that the person disclose the
person’s name or date of birth;
(b) the demand described in Subsection (1)(a) is
reasonably related to the circumstances justifying the
stop;
(c) the disclosure of the person’s name . . . does not
present a reasonable danger of self-incrimination in the
commission of a crime; and
(d) the person fails to disclose the person’s name . . . .
(4) The arrest-with-probable-cause statute,
id. § 77-7-2(4), which allows a police
officer to arrest without a warrant “when the peace officer has reasonable
16
cause to believe the person has committed the offense of failure to disclose
identity under [the failure-to-identify statute].”18
v. Case law on public intoxication
As already explained, Claim 1 requires us to determine whether Officer Wihongi
had reasonable suspicion that Dr. Donahue violated the public intoxication statute.
Utah’s public intoxication statute has three elements: (1) “under the influence of
alcohol,” (2) “to a degree that the person may endanger the person or another,” and (3)
“in a public place.” Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-701(1). Dr. Donahue “admits that he was in
public for purposes of Utah’s public intoxication statute.” Aplt. Br. at 32. But we must
still determine whether he satisfied the statute’s “under the influence” and “may
endanger” elements. The following case law informs our analysis.
1) Under the influence
The first element requires that a person be “under the influence of alcohol.” Utah
Code Ann. § 76-9-701(1). “[A] citizen-informant’s tip” can provide the police with
reasonable suspicion a person is “under the influence” because “members of the general
public have . . . common knowledge about whether a person is under the influence of
alcohol.” State v. Lloyd,
263 P.3d 557, 564 (Utah Ct. App. 2011) (alterations and
18
Although § 77-7-2(4) requires “reasonable cause,” not “probable cause,” the
Supreme Court has explained that statutes requiring “reasonable grounds” are equivalent
to the Fourth Amendment’s requirement of “probable cause.” See Wong Sun v. United
States,
371 U.S. 471, 478 n.6 (1963) (“The terms ‘probable cause’ for purposes of the
Fourth Amendment and ‘reasonable grounds’ as used in the statute, mean substantially
the same.”); 3 Wayne R. LaFave, Search and Seizure § 5.1(b) n.73 (5th ed. 2012)
(“Other verbal formulae used in statutes defining arrest powers are typically taken as
intended to express the Fourth Amendment probable cause test.”).
17
quotations omitted).19 For example, this circuit has held that an officer had reasonable
suspicion that a suspect violated Utah’s public intoxication statute when officers received
an anonymous report of an unconscious man in a field and corroborated the report’s key
information by “personally observ[ing]” the man’s presence in the field. United States v.
Garner,
416 F.3d 1208, 1215 (10th Cir. 2005).20 We also have found a suspect’s
admission that he “had one beer three hours ago” gave an officer reasonable suspicion
that a suspect was driving “under the influence.” Vondrak v. City of Las Cruces,
535
F.3d 1198, 1207 (10th Cir. 2008) (quotations omitted).21
2) May endanger
19
We have identified only one Utah Supreme Court case interpreting the “under
the influence” element of Utah’s public intoxication statute at length. See State v. Trane,
57 P.3d 1052, 1062 (Utah 2002) (determining officers had probable cause that a suspect
violated the public intoxication statute when the suspect “exhibited signs of intoxication”
by “smell[ing] of alcohol,” “swaying,” and “slurr[ing]” his speech.”).
20
Garner is a Tenth Circuit case, and Utah courts are the “ultimate authority” on
Utah law.
Holmes, 830 F.3d at 1140 (quotations omitted). But like this case, Garner
involved a federal constitutional right, and reasonable suspicion is a federal constitutional
standard. See, e.g., United States v. Becerra-Garcia,
397 F.3d 1167, 1173, 1173 n.3 (9th
Cir. 2005) (explaining where suspect “was the subject of an investigatory traffic stop, the
reasonableness of [the stop] depends only on reasonable suspicion, not on compliance
with state . . . law,” because “the reasonableness of a seizure depends exclusively on
federal law”). Garner is thus relevant to our analysis.
21
The Vondrak court found the officer properly conducted a field sobriety test
because the officer had reasonable suspicion the driver was “under the influence.”
Vondrak, 535 F.3d at 1206-07. We note the Vondrak court’s analysis arose under a
slightly more stringent statutory standard, as its analysis was “buttressed by New Mexico
law,” which proscribes driving while under the influence “to the slightest degree.”
Id. at
1207 (citing N. M. Stat. Ann. § 66–8–102(A) (2008)). By contrast, the Utah public
intoxication statute proscribes being “under the influence” to a degree that the person
may endanger the person or another.” Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-701(1) (emphasis added).
18
The public intoxication statute uses the phrase “may endanger the person or
another.” Utah Code. Ann. § 76-9-701(1). In Due South, Inc. v. Department of Alcoholic
Beverage Control,
197 P.3d 82 (Utah 2008), the Utah Supreme Court said this element
requires “a reasonable likelihood of harm based on the circumstances,” not “a speculative
possibility.”
Id. at 90. The court pointed to State v. Trane,
57 P.3d 1052 (Utah 2002),
where the suspect’s “aggressive behavior” of “‘puff[ing] his chest out’” and “‘[taking] a
defensive posture’” made the officers fear for their safety, as an example of probable
cause of endangerment. Due South,
Inc., 197 P.3d at 91 (quoting
Trane, 57 P.3d at
1062). The Due South court also looked to the Texas public intoxication statute, which
employs the same “may endanger” element as Utah’s statute and requires “proof of
potential danger.”
Id. at 90.22
b. Analysis
We agree with the district court that Officer Wihongi had reasonable suspicion
that Dr. Donahue violated Utah’s public intoxication statute. Officer Wihongi therefore
had authority to demand Dr. Donahue’s name under Utah’s stop-and-question statute.
We also agree that Officer Wihongi had probable cause that Dr. Donahue violated Utah’s
22
For example, Texas courts have found that an individual “buying tire chains”
from a service station “and indicating an intent to drive” showed probable cause of
endangerment. Due South,
Inc., 197 P.3d at 90 (citing Bentley v. State,
535 S.W.2d 651,
653 (Tex. Crim. App. 1976)). Texas courts have also held that an individual “sleeping in
a car . . . [and] presenting the likelihood that the individual would wake up and drive
home” satisfied the endangerment requirement.
Id. (citing Dickey v. State,
552 S.W.2d
467, 468 (Tex. Crim. App. 1977)). They have also specified that the potential danger
“need not be [an] immediate” or “specific, identifiable danger.” Padilla v. State,
697
S.W.2d 522, 524 (Tex. Ct. App. 1985).
19
failure-to-identify statute, which gave Officer Wihongi authority to arrest under the
arrest-with-probable-cause statute. The arrest thus did not violate Dr. Donahue’s Fourth
Amendment rights. The district court properly granted summary judgment for Officer
Wihongi.
i. Reasonable suspicion of intoxication to justify stop-and-question
We begin by determining whether Officer Wihongi had reasonable suspicion
under the “totality of the circumstances” that Dr. Donahue violated Utah’s public
intoxication statute.
Arvizu, 534 U.S. at 273 (quotations omitted). We draw all facts and
inferences in Dr. Donahue’s favor and determine whether reasonable suspicion existed as
a question of law. See
Cavanaugh, 718 F.3d at 1253. Our analysis considers whether
Officer Wihongi had reasonable suspicion that Dr. Donahue satisfied the “under the
influence” and “may endanger” elements. We address these interrelated elements in turn,
acknowledging that the statute ties the extent of intoxication to the risk of endangerment.
See Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-701(1) (“[U]nder the influence . . . to a degree that the person
may endanger the person or another.”).
1) Under the influence
Considering the totality of the circumstances, we conclude Officer Wihongi had
reasonable suspicion that Dr. Donahue was “under the influence.” This suspicion arose
from two sources. First, Ms. LaRose told Officer Wihongi that Dr. Donahue appeared
“drunker than Cooter Brown.” App. at 122;
id. at 53. She had observed Mr. Donahue’s
behavior and could judge whether he was intoxicated. See
Navarette, 572 U.S. at 399
(eyewitness knowledge supported the tip’s reliability);
Lloyd, 263 P.3d at 564 (holding
20
that ordinary citizens can assess whether a person is under the influence of alcohol).
Even discounting for her apparent hostility to Dr. Donahue, the officers could reasonably
conclude that Ms. LaRose, who spoke face-to-face with the police, had more incentive to
tell the truth about his drunkenness than an anonymous informant. See
Sanchez, 519 F.3d
at 1214 (police’s ability to evaluate face-to-face informant’s credibility and demeanor
supported tip’s reliability). Her information provided an even stronger basis for
reasonable suspicion than the anonymous tip in
Garner, 416 F.3d at 1215, which
determined that an anonymous informant’s tip and the officer’s corroboration constituted
reasonable suspicion. Further, we are generally less skeptical of the reliability of
victim-witnesses who are not anonymous, professional informants. See
Easton, 776 F.2d
at 1449-50.
Second, Officer Wihongi heard Dr. Donahue corroborate Ms. LaRose’s story.
While speaking with the officers, Dr. Donahue acknowledged he had an altercation with
Ms. LaRose. Wihongi 2 at 2:33-3:32. He also twice admitted that he had been drinking.
Wihongi 2 at 7:00-03, 7:45-48. These admissions support Officer Wihongi’s reasonable
suspicion that Dr. Donahue was “under the influence.” See
Vondrak, 535 F.3d at 1207
(officer had reasonable suspicion that suspect was “under the influence” where suspect
admitted to having “had one beer three hours ago”).
Dr. Donahue argues Officer Wihongi lacked reasonable suspicion because he did
not appear intoxicated, was “articulate,” and “wasn’t slurring his words.” App. at 82
(Officer Wihongi’s deposition testimony describing Dr. Donahue’s behavior). But
“reasonable suspicion may exist even if it is more likely than not that the individual is not
21
involved in any illegality,”
Mocek, 813 F.3d at 923 (quotations omitted), and it “need not
rule out the possibility of innocent conduct,”
Arvizu, 534 U.S. at 277. Further, even if Dr.
Donahue did not exhibit outward signs of intoxication, Officer Wihongi had two
“particularized and objective” reasons—Ms. LaRose’s statements and Dr. Donahue’s
own admissions—to suspect he was intoxicated.
Arvizu, 534 U.S. at 273 (quotations
omitted). Officer Wihongi had “some minimal level of objective justification” to believe
Dr. Donahue was under the influence in violation of Utah’s public intoxication statute.
Delgado, 466 U.S. at 217. This reasonable suspicion was based on more than an
“unparticularized suspicion,” even if less than what is required for a showing of probable
cause.
White, 496 U.S. at 329.
2) May endanger
Officer Wihongi also had reasonable suspicion to believe Dr. Donahue satisfied
the “may endanger” element of the public intoxication statute. When the officers first
encountered Dr. Donahue and Ms. LaRose, it was nearly 11 o’clock at night, and the
officers were investigating a separate incident. Ms. LaRose and Dr. Donahue agreed that
Dr. Donahue had been drinking and had shouted an epithet at her. Each claimed the other
had started the altercation. Wihongi 1 at 26:40-44; Wihongi 2 at 6:22-35. Dr. Donahue
also alleged that Ms. LaRose had punched him.
The officers weighed the credibility of the two accounts as they endeavored to sort
out what had happened. See
Mocek, 813 F.3d at 928 (explaining officers may weigh the
credibility of witnesses). Although Dr. Donahue did not demonstrate overtly aggressive
behavior in front of the officers, see
Trane, 57 P.3d at 1062, they observed he was
22
“agitated, irritated,” and “argumentative.” App. at 226. By contrast, the videos show that
Ms. LaRose cooperated with the officers’ questioning. See, e.g., Wihongi 1 at 26:05-
29:45. Under the totality of the circumstances, the officers reasonably assessed the two
accounts. In deposition testimony, Officer Wihongi explained that Ms. LaRose was
“confronted by somebody who she described as drunk” and perceived that Dr. Donahue
had “threatened her.” App. at 81. Officer Bennett similarly questioned why Dr. Donahue
was “scaring” and “questioning [people] when they’re just walking.” Wihongi 2 at
7:54-57.
Reasonable suspicion requires only “some minimal level of objective
justification,”
Delgado, 466 U.S. at 217, “based on commonsense judgments and
inferences about human behavior,”
Wardlow, 528 U.S. at 125. Further, the public
intoxication statute prohibits being under the influence only “to a degree that the person
may endanger the person or another.” See Utah Code. Ann. § 76-9-701(1) (emphasis
added). We conclude the officers had reasonable suspicion that Dr. Donahue posed a
non-“speculative” risk of endangerment. Due South,
Inc., 197 P.3d at 90.
* * * *
Officer Wihongi had reasonable suspicion to believe Dr. Donahue was “under the
influence” and posed a risk of endangerment in violation of the public intoxication
statute. See Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-701(1). Officer Wihongi was therefore authorized to
“demand” Dr. Donahue’s name under the stop-and-question statute.
Id. § 77-7-15.
23
ii. Probable cause to arrest for failure-to-identify
Having determined that Officer Wihongi had authority to demand Dr. Donahue’s
name, we proceed to the second step of our analysis. This step requires us to determine
whether Officer Wihongi had probable cause to arrest Dr. Donahue for “fail[ing] to
disclose [Dr. Donahue’s] name” while “lawfully subjected to a stop,” as required under
the failure-to-identify statute.
Id. § 76-8-301.5(1). We conclude that he did.
When Officer Wihongi demanded Dr. Donahue’s name and Dr. Donahue refused,
Wihongi 2 at 8:26-33, Officer Wihongi had probable cause that Dr. Donahue violated the
failure-to-identify statute, Utah Code Ann. § 76-8-301.5.23 This authorized Officer
Wihongi to arrest him without a warrant under the arrest-with-probable-cause statute,
id.
§ 77-7-2(4). We therefore agree with Officer Wihongi that “[w]hen [Dr.] Donahue
refused [to provide his name], he broke the law in [Officer] Wihongi’s presence, thus
giving immediate rise to probable cause.” Aplee. Br. at 21.
23
This satisfies elements (1) and (4) of the failure-to-identify statute: (1) Officer
Wihongi demanded Dr. Donahue’s name and (4) Dr. Donahue failed to provide his name.
See Utah Code Ann. § 76-8-301.5(1)(a), (d). The parties do not contest elements (2) and
(3) of Utah’s failure-to-identify statute: (2) the demand was “reasonably related” and (3)
Dr. Donahue’s disclosure would not have presented a “reasonable danger of self-
incrimination.” See
id. § 76-8-301.5(1)(b), (c).
24
c. Dr. Donahue’s “stop” argument
Dr. Donahue argues he was not “lawfully subjected to a stop” under Utah’s
stop-and-question statute. See Aplt. Br. at 36-37; Aplt. Reply Br. at 11-13.24 We
disagree. Although Dr. Donahue initially approached the officers, they eventually
detained him “for purposes of investigating possibly criminal behavior.”
Terry, 392 U.S.
at 22. “[T]aking into account all of the circumstances surrounding the encounter, the
police conduct would have communicated to a reasonable person that he was not at
liberty to ignore the police presence and go about his business.” Kaupp v. Texas,
538
U.S. 626, 629 (2003) (quotations omitted); see also United States v. Roberson,
864 F.3d
1118, 1121 (10th Cir. 2017) (explaining an officer may seize someone without using
physical force when the officer shows his authority and the citizen submits).25 “Even an
initially consensual encounter can be transformed into a seizure or detention within the
meaning of the Fourth Amendment.”
Kaupp, 538 U.S. at 632 (alterations and quotations
omitted). As we explain below, the detention here occurred no later than Dr. Donahue’s
second admission of drinking.
24
In Oliver v. Woods,
209 F.3d 1179, 1186 (10th Cir. 2000), we said the stop-and-
question statute, Utah Code Ann. § 77-715, “codifies the requirements for investigative
detention.”
25
Compare United States v. Hernandez,
93 F.3d 1493, 1499 (10th Cir. 1996)
(determining officer’s “routine questions,” which were not made in a “commanding or
threatening manner or tone of voice,” did not render the consensual encounter a seizure),
with United States v. Little,
60 F.3d 708, 712-13 (10th Cir. 1994) (determining drug
enforcement agent’s “[a]ccusatory, persistent, and intrusive questioning” of suspect in
confined location was a seizure (quotations omitted)).
25
After Dr. Donahue and Ms. LaRose approached the police, the officers
interviewed them separately about their altercation.26 At about 7 minutes into the
interviews, the officers ordered Dr. Donahue to provide his name. Wihongi 2 at 2:11-30.
Dr. Donahue refused.
Id. He was seated on a retaining wall while each officer stood
above and questioned him from either side. Officer Wihongi continued questioning Dr.
Donahue while Officer Bennett walked about one house away, questioned Ms. LaRose,
and permitted her to leave. After his first denial of drinking,
id. at 7:00-03, the officers
told him he was intoxicated and disruptive, which he denied,
id. at 7:12-29. After Dr.
Donahue’s second denial of drinking,
id. at 8:26-33, the officers had reasonable suspicion
that he had violated the public intoxication statute.
At this point, under “all of the circumstances,” a reasonable person in Dr.
Donahue’s position would not have felt free to leave. See
Kaupp, 538 U.S. at 629;
California v. Hodari D.,
499 U.S. 621, 638 (1991). The officers’ questioning may not
have been especially accusatory and intrusive. See United States v. Little,
60 F.3d 708,
712-13 (10th Cir. 1994). But as evidenced in the video, they used a “commanding
manner or tone.” United States v. Hernandez,
93 F.3d 1493, 1500 (10th Cir. 1996).
While the officers permitted Ms. LaRose to leave, they continued questioning Dr.
26
See Reyes v. Ctr. N. M. Cmty. Coll., 410 F. App’x 134, 135 (10th Cir. 2011)
(unpublished) (holding detention reasonable to investigate an “argument” that “became
contentious and nearly escalated to a physical altercation”). Although not precedential,
we find the reasoning of this unpublished opinion instructive. See 10th Cir. R. 32.1
(“Unpublished decisions are not precedential, but may be cited for their persuasive
value.”); see also Fed. R. App. P. 32.1.
26
Donahue.27 They repeatedly conveyed their need for Dr. Donahue’s name for their
investigation of the altercation. Wihongi 2 at 6:48-56; see
Bostick, 501 U.S. at 437; see
also Morgan v. Woessner,
997 F.2d 1244, 1253 (9th Cir. 1993) (“When a citizen
expresses his or her desire not to cooperate, continued questioning cannot be deemed
consensual.” (emphasis omitted)).28 The officers developed and expressed concerns
about Dr. Donahue’s drinking, his ambivalence about reporting the altercation, his refusal
to identify himself, and his overall agitation and lack of cooperation.
Although Dr. Donahue had initially approached the officers, and the officers did
not apply physical force, the interaction became a “stop.” A reasonable person would
have recognized and submitted to their show of authority. See
Roberson, 864 F.3d at
1121 (citing Hodari
D., 499 U.S. at 626). The detention occurred before he refused to
give his name a second time, Wihongi 2 at 8:26-33, at which point the officers had
probable cause for a failure-to-identify violation.
* * * *
27
The videos show that Dr. Donahue and Ms. LaRose were about one house apart
on the same block and that it took Officer Bennett approximately 10 seconds to walk
from Dr. Donahue to Ms. LaRose. See Bennett 2 at 4:07-21. This suggests that Dr.
Donahue observed that Ms. LaRose was free to leave, while he was not.
28
The resolution of particularized and objective yet still ambiguous—potentially
lawful, potentially unlawful—facts is the central purpose of an investigative detention.
See Illinois v. Wardlow,
528 U.S. 119, 125 (2000) (“Even in Terry, the conduct justifying
the stop was ambiguous and susceptible of an innocent explanation . . . . Terry
recognized that the officers could detain the individuals to resolve the ambiguity.”).
27
Officer Wihongi had reasonable suspicion that Dr. Donahue violated the public
intoxication statute. This authorized the police to demand Dr. Donahue’s name under the
stop-and-question statute. When Dr. Donahue refused, the police had probable cause to
arrest him under the failure-to-identify statute. The district court therefore correctly
determined that Officer Wihongi did not violate Dr. Donahue’s Fourth Amendment rights
in arresting him.
Claim 2 – Excessive Force
Dr. Donahue asserts that Officer Wihongi used excessive force while arresting
him, thereby violating his Fourth Amendment rights. Below, we provide legal
background on Fourth Amendment excessive force claims. We conclude Officer
Wihongi did not use excessive force and the district court therefore did not err in finding
no Fourth Amendment violation.
a. Additional legal background
When a plaintiff alleges an officer used excessive force to arrest, “the federal right
at issue is the Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable seizures.” Tolan v. Cotton,
572 U.S. 650, 656 (2014). Courts consider excessive force claims under the balancing
test from Graham v. Connor,
490 U.S. 386 (1989), which delineates “three, non-
exclusive factors”: “[1] the severity of the crime at issue, [2] whether the suspect poses
an immediate threat to the safety of the officers or others, and [3] whether he is actively
resisting arrest or attempting to evade arrest by flight.” Fisher v. City of Las Cruces,
584
F.3d 888, 894 (10th Cir. 2009) (quoting
Graham, 490 U.S. at 396).
28
Under the first factor, a “minor offense . . . support[s] the use of minimal force.”
Perea v. Baca,
817 F.3d 1198, 1203 (10th Cir. 2016). A misdemeanor committed in a
“particularly harmless manner . . . reduces the level of force . . . reasonable for [the
officer] to use.” Casey v. City of Fed.
Heights, 509 F.3d at 1281; see Fogarty v.
Gallegos,
523 F.3d 1147, 1160 (10th Cir. 2008) (petty misdemeanor required reduced
force).
Under the second factor, an officer may use increased force when a suspect is
armed, repeatedly ignores police commands, or makes hostile motions towards the officer
or others. Compare Thomson v. Salt Lake Cty.,
584 F.3d 1304, 1318 (10th Cir. 2009)
(suspect who repeatedly refused to drop gun and had previously threatened his wife was
immediate threat); with
Casey, 509 F.3d at 1282 (“slightly upset but not disrespectful”
suspect was not immediate threat (quotations omitted)).
As to the third factor, courts do not consider a suspect who asks questions, or asks
to be treated carefully, as actively resisting. See
Cortez, 478 F.3d at 1128 (no active
resistance where plaintiff briefly “asked [d]efendants what was going on”);
Fisher, 584
F.3d at 896 (no active resistance where suspect “begged the officers to take account of his
injuries”).
The Graham test asks if the officers’ actions were “objectively reasonable,”
Cortez, 478 F.3d at 1125 (quotations omitted), and recognizes that officers need to make
“split-second judgments,”
id. at 1138 (quotations omitted). “[A] small amount of force,
like grabbing [a suspect] and placing him in the patrol car, is permissible in effectuating
an arrest under the Fourth Amendment.”
Id. at 1128.
29
An excessive force claim that includes a challenge to the “[m]anner or course of
handcuffing” requires the plaintiff to show both that “the force used was more than
reasonably necessary” and “some non-de minimis actual injury.”
Fisher, 584 F.3d at
897-98 (quotations omitted).29 Compare
Vondrak, 535 F.3d at 1209 (“actual injury”
showing where plaintiff’s doctors identified permanent nerve injury directly attributable
to the tight handcuffing), with Koch v. City of Del City,
660 F.3d 1228, 1248 (10th Cir.
2011) (no “actual injury” showing from photographs and hospital records describing
plaintiff’s injuries as “superficial abrasions”), and
Cortez, 478 F.3d at 1129 (no “actual
injury” showing where only record evidence was plaintiff’s “affidavit that the handcuffs
left red marks that were visible for days afterward”).
b. Analysis
When Officer Wihongi and Officer Bennett arrested Dr. Donahue, Officer Wihongi
pulled Dr. Donahue up, and both officers pulled Dr. Donahue’s arms back and
handcuffed him. See Wihongi 2 at 8:33-9:42. Under Graham, these actions were
“objectively reasonable” and not excessive.
Cortez, 478 F.3d at 1124.
All three Graham factors favor minimal force: (1) the crimes at issue were
misdemeanors, (2) Dr. Donahue was unarmed and did not make hostile motions toward
the officers, and (3) although Dr. Donahue did not stand up when asked, he did not
29
We explained why this additional showing was required in
Fisher, 584 F.3d at
897: “Because handcuffing itself is not necessarily an excessive use of force in
connection with an arrest, a plaintiff must show actual injury in order to prove that the
officer used excessive force in the course of applying handcuffs.”
30
actively resist. Even so, as confirmed by the video evidence, Officer Wihongi used the
minimal, “small amount of force, like grabbing [a suspect],” that is “permissible in
effecting an arrest.”
Id. at 1128.30
Further, the handcuffing was not an act of excessive force because a reasonable
jury could not conclude Dr. Donahue suffered a non-de minimis “actual injury.” See
Fisher, 584 F.3d at 896-900 (determining a jury could conclude the suspect’s affidavit
and corroborating circumstances established a non-de minimis “actual injury” because
the suspect’s gunshot wounds were exacerbated by officers’ handcuffing). Although Dr.
Donahue alleges he sustained bruising, the record reveals no evidence of permanent
injury. See
Vondrak, 535 F.3d at 1209 (explaining plaintiff’s permanent nerve injury
from handcuffing established “actual injury”). Dr. Donahue’s photographs show, at
most, “superficial abrasions,”
Koch, 660 F.3d at 1248 (quotations omitted), and his
affidavit alleging injury does not suffice under
Cortez, 478 F.3d at 1129 (affidavit
describing handcuff marks was “insufficient, as a matter of law, to support an excessive
force claim”).
* * * *
Officer Wihongi appropriately used minimal force and Dr. Donahue did not suffer
a non-de minimis actual injury. The district court therefore correctly determined that
30
Dr. Donahue’s declaration claims that Officer Wihongi “intentionally wrenched
[his] shoulder and hyperflexed [his] wrist.” App. at 163. The “videotape capturing the
events in question” shows otherwise.
Scott, 550 U.S. at 378.
31
Officer Wihongi did not use excessive force in violation of Dr. Donahue’s Fourth
Amendment rights when arresting him.
Claim 3 – Excessive Detention
Dr. Donahue argues he was unreasonably detained because any reasonable
suspicion of intoxication dissipated either before or after probable cause for the arrest
arose. We agree with the district court that there was no constitutional violation.
a. Additional legal background
“[R]easonable suspicion must exist at all stages of the detention, although it need
not be based on the same facts throughout.” United States v. De La Cruz,
703 F.3d 1193,
1198 (10th Cir. 2013) (quotations omitted).31 Further, “[a]n investigative [detention] can
continue, even after the initial suspicion has dissipated, if the additional detention is
supported by new reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. In other words, reasonable
suspicion must exist at all stages of the detention, although it need not be based on the
same facts throughout.”
Id. at 1198 (alterations and quotations omitted).
b. Analysis
We address Dr. Donahue’s dissipation argument as applied to the time periods
before and after probable cause arose.
31
This court has explained that “as long as nothing in the first [investigative stop]
serves to dispel [the officer’s] fears or suspicions that criminal activity may be afoot,” the
officer “may perform a second investigative stop.” United States v. Padilla-Esparza,
798
F.3d 993, 1000 (10th Cir. 2015) (alterations and quotations omitted).
32
i. Pre-probable cause detention
Dr. Donahue asserts that even if reasonable suspicion of public intoxication
initially existed, it dissipated before probable cause arose. He avers that because Officer
Wihongi lacked authority to demand his name, his refusal did not give rise to probable
cause that he violated the failure-to-identify statute, and his detention should have
ceased.32 We are not persuaded.
In her interview with Officer Wihongi, Ms. LaRose described Dr. Donahue as
drunk and claimed he had insulted her. See Wihongi 1 at 26:05-57. Roughly 12 minutes
after the interviews began, Dr. Donahue admitted to drinking. See Wihongi 2 at 7:00-03.
Less than one minute later, Dr. Donahue again admitted to drinking.
Id. at 7:45-48. As
discussed above, these admissions, combined with Ms. LaRose’s account, gave Officer
Wihongi reasonable suspicion that Dr. Donahue was “under the influence” in violation of
Utah’s public intoxication statute. Further, under the circumstances, Officer Wihongi
appropriately weighed the credibility of two conflicting accounts and had reasonable
suspicion that Dr. Donahue was under the influence to a degree of endangerment. This
reasonable suspicion, in turn, authorized Officer Wihongi to ask for Dr. Donahue’s name.
Less than one minute after Dr. Donahue’s second drinking admission, Officer
Wihongi requested Dr. Donahue’s name. Dr. Donahue refused to provide it. See
32
See Aplt. Br. at 37 (arguing even if Officer Wihongi had reasonable suspicion
Dr. Donahue was publicly intoxicated, “by [the time Dr. Donahue refused to give his
name], [Officer] Wihongi’s own interactions with [Dr.] Donahue had dissipated any
suspicion of intoxication.”).
33
Wihongi 2 at 8:26-33.33 As explained above, this refusal gave Officer Wihongi probable
cause that Dr. Donahue had violated the failure-to-identify statute. The record shows no
events in the short interval between Dr. Donahue’s admissions (which supplied
reasonable suspicion to demand his name) and his refusal to provide his name (which
provided probable cause to arrest) that could have dispelled the initial reasonable
suspicion. See United States v. Padilla-Esparza,
798 F.3d 993, 1000 (10th Cir. 2015)
(determining nothing between first and second investigative stops dispelled officer’s
reasonable suspicion of criminality).
ii. Post-probable cause detention
Dr. Donahue also appears to argue he was unduly detained because Officer
Wihongi’s reasonable suspicion of public intoxication dissipated after the arrest when the
officers began to have questions about Ms. LaRose. This argument is unpersuasive.
Even if reasonable suspicion for public intoxication dissipated after Dr. Donahue was
arrested, by that point he had failed to identify himself. Dr. Donahue’s violation of the
failure-to-identify statute supplied a fresh basis for his detention. See De La
Cruz, 703
F.3d at 1198 (noting that “additional detention [must] be supported by new reasonable
suspicion of criminal activity,” and thus reasonable suspicion “need not be based on the
same facts throughout [the detention]” (alterations and quotations omitted)).
33
Although Dr. Donahue offered to give his name as he was arrested, see
Wihongi 2 at 8:40-46, Dr. Donahue did not provide his name and the officers already had
probable cause that he had violated the failure-to-identify statute. After Dr. Donahue was
arrested, he again refused to give his name. Wihongi 2 at 12:05-07.
34
If the officers’ reasonable suspicion of public intoxication had dissipated before
they demanded Dr. Donahue’s name, their request for identification would not have been
authorized under the stop-and-question statute. In that scenario, Dr. Donahue’s failure to
identify himself would not have provided probable cause for an arrest, and continued
detention may have been unreasonable. But those are not the facts before us, where a
fresh basis for detention arose. See United States v. Lopez-Moreno,
420 F.3d 420, 431
(5th Cir. 2005) (stating that “if additional reasonable suspicion arises in the course of the
stop and before the initial purpose of the stop has been fulfilled, then the detention may
continue until the new reasonable suspicion has been dispelled or confirmed”).
* * * *
Dr. Donahue’s dissipation argument fails. Officer Wihongi had reasonable
suspicion to justify the pre-probable cause detention, and Dr. Donahue’s failure to
identify himself supplied a fresh basis for the post-probable cause detention. The district
court therefore correctly determined that Officer Wihongi did not violate Dr. Donahue’s
Fourth Amendment rights in continuing to detain him.
C. Municipal Liability
As noted above, after oral argument, we remanded this case to the district court to
clarify the finality of (1) its memorandum decision and order, which granted Officer
Wihongi’s motion for summary judgment, see Donahue,
2018 WL 6699743, at *1, and
(2) its judgment, which stated that “the case is dismissed,” App. at 18. On remand, the
court issued an order stating that “the Court clarifies and supplements its original order
and judgment to make clear that, because the Court rules as a matter of law that no
35
constitutional violation occurred, all claims against each and every named Defendant
were and are hereby dismissed with prejudice.” Dist. Ct. Doc. 58 at 1. Because we
affirm summary judgment for Officer Wihongi on the ground that no constitutional
violation was committed, judgment was proper for defendants SLCPD and SLC.
The SLCPD and SLC are “persons” subject to § 1983 liability. See Monell v.
Dep’t of Soc. Servs.,
436 U.S. 658, 690 (1978) (noting § 1983 applies to municipalities
and other local government units). Under § 1983, a municipality is responsible only for
its own illegal acts. It “may not be held liable where there was no underlying
constitutional violation by any of its officers.” Hinton v. City of Elwood,
997 F.2d 774,
782 (10th Cir. 1993) (citing City of Los Angeles v. Heller,
475 U.S. 796, 799 (1986)); see
also Martinez v. Beggs,
563 F.3d 1082, 1092 (10th Cir. 2009). Without an underlying
constitutional violation by Officer Wihongi, SLCPD and SLC cannot be liable. The
district court properly entered judgment dismissing the case.
III. CONCLUSION
Dr. Donahue failed to show a constitutional violation. The district court did not
err in granting summary judgment for Officer Wihongi and entering judgment to dismiss
the case. We affirm.
36