Landya McCafferty, United States District Judge.
On June 22, 2015, Jeannette Hardy was assaulted by an unknown man as she attempted to enter her apartment building and then was shot by him as she escaped and ran outside. In the aftermath of the shooting, Hardy made statements to law enforcement officers and signed a consent form, authorizing them to search her apartment. While searching Hardy's apartment, which she leased with Zakee Stuart-Holt, officers discovered a large amount of what they believed to be heroin. Law enforcement officers subsequently executed a second search of the apartment after obtaining a warrant. Hardy and Stuart-Holt have been charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a). Both Stuart-Holt and Hardy move to suppress evidence seized during the searches of the apartment. Hardy also moves to suppress certain statements she made following the shooting.
On January 14 and 15, 2016, the court held an evidentiary hearing on the motions to suppress. At the hearing, the following Manchester Police Department ("MPD") police officers testified: Sergeants Michael Bergeron and Robert Bellenoit; Detectives Todd Leshney, Andrew Fleming, Derek Sullivan, Thomas DuBois, and Robert Tremblay; and Patrolman Shaun McKennedy. Hardy and Stuart-Holt also called two medical professionals: Dr. Michael Edwards, an emergency room physician, and Ann Berthiaume, a social work case manager. The court held the record open for a week so that Hardy and Stuart-Holt could depose Dr. Robert Parisien, a physician who performed surgery on Hardy's hand. Hardy and Stuart-Holt submitted a copy of Dr. Parisien's deposition to the court. The court heard oral argument on the motions to suppress on January 22, 2016.
On June 22, 2015, Jeannette Hardy left her apartment building through the front door to walk her dog. During the walk, Hardy spoke on the phone with Zakee Stuart-Holt, who was incarcerated at the Merrimack County House of Corrections ("MCHC"). While Hardy was out on her walk, an unknown man entered the front door of her apartment building. When Hardy returned and stepped through the door to her building, the unknown man attacked her. Hardy was still on the phone with Stuart-Holt at the time. As Hardy attempted to flee, her attacker shot her in the hand. Hardy then ran down the street to a convenience store. A video surveillance camera that captured the attack shows a timestamp of 9:07 p.m.
At about 9:08 p.m., the MPD received several 911 calls reporting a gunshot and a woman screaming. The MPD dispatch log shows that police officers arrived at Hardy's apartment building roughly two minutes later. Emergency Medical Services ("EMS") located Hardy at the convenience store. At 9:22 p.m., EMS transported Hardy to Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, New Hampshire by ambulance. Patrolman Shaun McKennedy accompanied Hardy to the hospital.
Shortly after the shooting, officers contacted Hardy's landlord, who informed them that Hardy lived in the second-floor unit of a two-unit apartment building. The first-floor unit was unoccupied. While standing outside the building in the aftermath of the shooting, an officer reported seeing movement in a window of the unoccupied first-floor unit.
At about 11:42 p.m., after conducting witness interviews and an extensive investigation outside of Hardy's apartment building, officers entered the building to
In the meantime, Hardy was in the emergency room at the hospital. Hardy arrived at the hospital at 9:37 p.m. Dr. Michael Edwards examined Hardy at 9:45 p.m. and described her as "emotionally upset." At that time, a nurse noted that Hardy was "anxious" and "in distress due to pain," but also found her "cooperative [and] alert." Hardy described her pain as sharp, constant, and "10" on a scale of 1 to 10. Hardy's medical record shows that, at 9:50 p.m., the hospital gave her morphine sulfate, which is a pain medication. Side effects of that medication include sleepiness and confusion.
At about 9:45 p.m., two officers from the MPD violent crimes unit, Sergeant Michael Bergeron and Detective Todd Leshney, joined McKennedy at the hospital. When Bergeron and Leshney arrived, Hardy was in the emergency room sitting upright in a hospital bed, with blood on her clothes, and with her hand bandaged. McKennedy described Hardy as "handling [the situation] very well." Although Hardy was visibly upset and in pain, McKennedy recalled that she was easy to speak to and could recollect what had happened.
Hardy told Leshney and Bergeron that the attacker was inside the common hallway of her apartment building when she returned from her walk, and that she had a surveillance system that would have captured the attack. Hardy informed the officers that the footage was stored on a digital video recorder ("DVR") located on a television stand in a bedroom of her apartment. During this conversation, Bergeron was "struck" by how "calm" Hardy appeared. Leshney informed Hardy that officers at her apartment building were preparing to search the building for her attacker.
About 15-20 minutes after he arrived at the hospital, Leshney took a telephone call at the nurses' station from someone claiming to be Hardy's husband. Leshney asked the caller for his name several times before the caller hung up. Several minutes later, MCHC Sergeant Matthew Lamanuzzi called the nurses' station. Lamanuzzi told Leshney that inmate Stuart-Holt was concerned for Hardy's welfare because Stuart-Holt was on the phone with Hardy when she was shot. Leshney asked Lamanuzzi to have Stuart-Holt call him back on his cell phone. Leshney testified that he wanted to speak with Stuart-Holt to gather information about the shooting and the surveillance system.
At 10:18 p.m., Dr. Edwards described Hardy as "oriented to person, place and time," which means that she knew what time it was, who she was, and where she was. In those same notes, Dr. Edwards indicated that Hardy's affect was "anxious," her judgment was "normal," her remote and recent memory were "normal," but her concentration was "poor."
At some point after Hardy signed the consent form, Stuart-Holt called Leshney's cell phone and asked to speak with Hardy. Leshney refused to allow Stuart-Holt to speak with Hardy because, as Leshney explained, he had a policy of prohibiting witnesses from speaking to one another during an investigation. Since Hardy was on the telephone with Stuart-Holt during the shooting, he did not want to permit them to speak to each other while the investigation was underway. During the telephone call, Leshney asked Stuart-Holt about the DVR. Stuart-Holt informed Leshney that the surveillance footage was stored off-site and could be accessed remotely. After speaking with Stuart-Holt, Leshney determined that Stuart-Holt did not have useful information about the surveillance system because the information Stuart-Holt gave him directly contradicted specific and credible information he had obtained from Hardy. Additionally, Stuart-Holt did not know the login and password to access the system remotely and could not identify who had set up the system.
Leshney told Stuart-Holt that the police intended to enter the apartment to collect the DVR pursuant to Hardy's consent to search. Stuart-Holt said nothing to indicate that he objected to the police entering the apartment.
After Leshney spoke with Stuart-Holt, Hardy's landlord, Art Gatzoulis, who is also a criminal defense lawyer, arrived at the hospital and asked to speak with Hardy. Gatzoulis informed the officers that he was there in his capacity as Hardy's landlord and not as her attorney. After checking with medical staff, the detectives allowed Gatzoulis to meet privately with Hardy.
After Hardy met with Gatzoulis, Leshney asked both Hardy and Gatzoulis if they were "all set" with the consent to search. Hardy replied in the affirmative. Gatzoulis made a noncommittal gesture which Leshney interpreted as "I'm not her lawyer, don't be asking me that." McKennedy, Leshney, and Bergeron left the hospital at approximately midnight.
Hardy remained at the hospital overnight on June 22, awaiting surgery on her hand the next day. No officers remained with Hardy overnight on June 22.
At 2:16 a.m. on June 23, 2015, Leshney and Bergeron, along with several other members of the MPD, entered Hardy's apartment to search for evidence of the shooting and to collect the DVR pursuant to Hardy's consent. While searching, the officers noticed "wads" of what appeared to be twenty-and hundred-dollar bills on a table in the living room, in a candle holder, and inside an open cardboard box. Per MPD policy, the officers called a supervisor to oversee the process of counting and then securing the cash they located in Hardy's apartment. The supervisor arrived at 2:31 a.m.
Officers also located the Keurig box to which the dog alerted during the protective sweep.
During the consent search, Detective Andrew Fleming was assigned to collect, bag, and label evidence. Fleming collected the contents of the Keurig box. He also located and collected the DVR on a TV stand in a bedroom, precisely where Hardy had described its location. Additionally, Fleming collected several items from the top of the TV stand, some of which were consistent with personal use of narcotics (i.e., orange and pink pills that he believed to be narcotics), and noted that the TV stand was covered with an off-white powdery substance.
Fleming testified that, after the officers finished searching the apartment, he made one last "sweep" of the apartment, looking for gloves or other equipment the officers may have left behind while collecting evidence. During his sweep of the room where he had located the DVR, Fleming noticed an open gray plastic shopping bag on the floor a few feet from the TV stand.
Fleming thought the drugs could provide a motive for the shooting. The officers field-tested the contents of the bag and the result was "presumptive positive" for heroin.
On June 23, between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., detectives Derek Sullivan and Thomas DuBois, who specialize in narcotics investigations, went to the hospital to interview Hardy. Sullivan and DuBois wanted to investigate Hardy's source of supply because of the large quantity of drugs the officers found during the consent search. When the detectives arrived, Hardy was sleeping, but she woke up when the detectives entered the room. Prior to the detectives' arrival, a nurse's note indicated that Hardy was "anxious" and "overwhelmed."
Sullivan told Hardy that "if she was resting [they] would come back another time." He also explained that Hardy was not under arrest, but that detectives were applying for a warrant to search her apartment because they found what they suspected to be heroin while performing the consent search. Sullivan further explained that Hardy "would likely be charged with whatever drugs were found pursuant to that warrant." He told Hardy that if she assisted with the investigation, he could recommend leniency to the prosecutor. At some point, Hardy said "maybe I should speak to an attorney." Sullivan testified that he told Hardy that speaking with a lawyer was "an option" and reiterated that Hardy was not under arrest. DuBois testified that they told Hardy that it was "certainly her right" to speak with a lawyer but that she "did not require one at that point." Hardy agreed to talk to Sullivan and DuBois, and she then made incriminating statements.
Both Sullivan and DuBois testified that throughout their interaction with Hardy, she was alert and responded to their questions intelligently. Sullivan testified that Hardy did not appear to be in extreme pain or visibly ill. He described Hardy as "relaxed" and their interaction with her as "mellow." DuBois described their interaction with Hardy as "cordial." The detectives were wearing plain clothes and did not restrict Hardy's movement, although at one point they closed the door to her hospital room. Hardy's roommate was in the room for some portion of the interview. At around noon, Hardy appeared tired, so Sullivan and DuBois left the hospital.
After the detectives left, the medical records indicate that Hardy was prescribed klonopin "to help with anxiety." A nursing note also indicates that Hardy was "anxious, tearful/crying, restless, [and] overwhelmed." Earlier that morning, sometime before 11:38 a.m., Hardy met with Ann Berthiaume. Hardy told Berthiaume that she had a ten-gram-per-day heroin addiction and that she was experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Berthiaume noted that, at that time, Hardy's thoughts were "normal," and her speech was "normal" and "coherent." Berthiaume testified that Hardy was anxious, but was "otherwise... able to communicate effectively."
The police obtained a warrant to search Hardy's apartment at approximately 2:00 p.m. on June 23, 2015.
At about 2:30 p.m., Sullivan and DuBois returned to the hospital. They told Hardy about the cash and suspected heroin. The detectives again informed Hardy that she was not under arrest, and again Hardy agreed to speak with them and made incriminating statements.
During the warrant search, Sullivan and DuBois recovered a phone that Hardy had described to them earlier that morning. They hoped to arrange for a delivery of drugs. Sullivan testified that their interaction with Hardy was "calm" and "cordial." DuBois testified that their interaction was "pleasant" and that he was "joking" with Hardy. The detectives stayed at the hospital for approximately 90 minutes. Some portion of that time was spent waiting for officers at Hardy's apartment to bring another cell phone to the hospital because Sullivan and DuBois had not retrieved the correct one.
Sometime before 4:00 p.m., medical staff informed the detectives that Hardy's surgery was approaching, and they prepared to leave. On their way out, the detectives contacted their supervisor who, for the first time, informed them that an officer would stay with Hardy at the hospital and would arrest her if she tried to leave. The detectives informed Hardy of the change in circumstances and told her that before they spoke with her again, they would first advise her of her
Shortly before Hardy's surgery, Dr. Parisien dictated the following note:
Dr. Parisien began Hardy's surgery at 4:00 p.m. After her surgery, at 4:44 p.m., medical records indicate that Hardy was "alert and oriented" and "[c]alm and cooperative," but that she complained of "significant anxiety regarding [her] current situation and withdrawal symptoms." A uniformed MPD officer remained outside
On June 24, Sullivan and Dubois arrived at the hospital at 9:30 a.m. They remained in Hardy's hospital room as medical staff gave Hardy discharge instructions and paperwork. Hardy's discharge instructions included a prescription for pain medication and instructions to ice and elevate her hand. Prior to the detectives' arrival, medical staff noted that Hardy was experiencing acute, continuous, throbbing pain in her right hand. Because Hardy's clothes had been taken as evidence, the detectives requested that hospital staff give Hardy scrubs to wear instead of being released in a hospital gown. Hardy was discharged at 10:35 a.m.
The detectives then transported Hardy to the MPD. During the drive, Hardy was not handcuffed and sat in the front seat of Sullivan's car. On the way, Hardy asked the detectives to fill her prescription for pain medication, but the detectives declined because of a department policy prohibiting officers from administering medication.
Once at the MPD, Sullivan and DuBois reviewed Hardy's
Sullivan and DuBois debriefed Hardy until about 12:40 p.m. During her debriefing, Hardy made incriminating statements. Hardy then started making calls to arrange for a delivery of drugs. Hardy spent most of her time at the MPD that afternoon sitting in an interview room and waiting as she and the detectives attempted unsuccessfully to arrange controlled drug deliveries. Hardy remained at the MPD until 8:45 p.m.
During the day, Sullivan and DuBois offered Hardy food, but she declined. They also took Hardy outside for cigarette breaks. The detectives asked Hardy about her pain throughout the day and Hardy told them it was "not too bad." Sullivan testified that their interaction was "very relaxed." Sullivan also testified that, through his work as a drug investigator, he had seen people go through withdrawal and Hardy did not appear to have symptoms of withdrawal.
Hardy filed two motions to suppress. In the first (doc. no. 19), she seeks to suppress the statements she made at the hospital on June 23, 2015, and those she made at the MPD on June 24, 2015. In the second (doc. no. 20), Hardy seeks to suppress evidence seized during the searches of her apartment. Stuart-Holt's motion (doc. no. 22) also seeks to suppress the evidence seized during the searches of Hardy's apartment.
The court first examines the motions to suppress the evidence seized during the searches of Hardy's apartment and then turns to the motion to suppress her statements.
Hardy and Stuart-Holt argue that both the consent search and warrant search
Hardy contends that evidence seized during the consent search should be suppressed because she did not give valid consent to the search and, even if she did, the search exceeded the scope of her consent. Stuart-Holt adopts Hardy's arguments, and also contends that the consent search was unlawful because the MPD failed to obtain his consent before conducting it.
"Consent is an `established exception[]' to the Fourth Amendment warrant requirement."
Hardy argues that her consent was not valid because the police obtained it through coercion. Hardy contends that: (1) she consented to the search only because the officers told her they would get a warrant if she did not consent, even though the officers lacked probable cause to get a warrant; (2) the officers misrepresented the purpose of seeking consent to search her apartment, telling her that they were investigating the shooting when they were actually investigating drug crimes; and (3) her physical and mental condition at the hospital was so limited that she was unable to provide knowing and voluntary consent. None of Hardy's contentions is supported by the evidence.
Hardy asserts that her consent to search was coerced because she gave consent only after Leshney stated that the officers would get a search warrant if she did not consent, which Hardy contends was a false statement. "[C]onsent to a search is invalid if given only because of an officer's knowingly false assurance that there will soon be a lawful search anyway."
"[A] law enforcement officer's application for a search warrant must demonstrate probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed" and that "enumerated
Hardy contends that Leshney knew that the officers lacked probable cause to obtain a search warrant. The government asserts and the record shows, however, that the officers had ample probable cause to support an application for a search warrant.
Hardy told the officers that she had a surveillance system that would have captured the attack, and that the footage was stored on a DVR located in her apartment. In light of Hardy's statement, the officers could have reasonably believed that they had probable cause to get a warrant to search Hardy's apartment for the DVR and any other evidence of the shooting. Therefore, any representation by Leshney that the officers would get a search warrant if Hardy withheld consent does not render Hardy's consent invalid.
In addition, Hardy's version of events is inaccurate. Leshney told Hardy that if she did not consent to a search of her apartment, he would apply for a warrant. He explained that a judge might not approve the application, but if the judge did, the MPD would search Hardy's apartment pursuant to the warrant. Therefore, no coercion occurred.
Therefore, Leshney's statements concerning applying for a search warrant in the event that Hardy withheld consent does not establish coercion.
Hardy asserts that Leshney and Bergeron misrepresented the purpose of the consent search. She argues that prior to obtaining her consent, the officers falsely assured her that they wanted to search her apartment to investigate the shooting rather than admit that the real purpose was to look for drugs. Hardy points to the
The evidence shows, however, that the purpose of seeking Hardy's consent to search was to investigate the shooting. Both Bergeron and Leshney, the officers who questioned Hardy at the hospital and obtained her consent, worked in the MPD violent crimes unit. Prior to obtaining her consent, Bergeron and Leshney questioned Hardy only about the shooting, and did not mention narcotics. The evidence shows that the officers were investigating the shooting before and during the consent search, and that the focus of the investigation changed only
In short, the officers did not misrepresent the purpose of the consent search.
Finally, Hardy argues that because of her physical and mental condition at the time she gave consent, her consent was not knowing or voluntary. When Hardy consented to the search of her apartment, she was receiving treatment for the gunshot wound to her hand, including pain medication. Hardy's pain was intense; she described experiencing a pain level of "10" on a scale of 1-10. The medical records and testimony from the officers who obtained Hardy's consent, however, show that despite her pain Hardy was coherent, alert, and answering questions intelligently. Hardy's questions seeking clarification of certain parts of the consent form also show her ability to understand and comprehend.
The government has, therefore, carried its burden to show that Hardy knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently consented to a search of her apartment.
Hardy contends that evidence seized during the consent search should be
The MPD consent form that Hardy signed authorized the officers to collect "any letters, papers, materials or other property which they may desire." However, in response to Hardy's question about that language, Leshney explained that the search of her apartment would focus on looking for evidence of the shooting and collecting the DVR. A reasonable person would have understood that Hardy consented to a search of her apartment to recover the DVR and to look for any evidence related to the shooting.
Hardy contends that the MPD's seizure of the shopping bag full of drugs went beyond the scope of her consent. The court finds, however, that the seizure of the shopping bag was permissible under the plain view exception.
"The theory of [the plain view] doctrine consists of extending to nonpublic places such as the home, where searches and seizures without a warrant are presumptively unreasonable, the police's longstanding authority to make warrantless seizures in public places of such objects as weapons and contraband."
At the evidentiary hearing, Hardy conceded that, to the extent the officers were lawfully in her apartment at the time, both the money and evidence of personal narcotics use were in plain view. And, it is undisputed that the open shopping bag was clearly visible from the entrance to the bedroom where the DVR was located.
"[An] officer need not be certain of the incriminating character of an object, but, rather, must have a belief based on a `practical, nontechnical probability' that the object is evidence of a crime."
Here, prior to picking up the shopping bag, Fleming had ample probable cause to believe the bag contained contraband. Fleming testified that he could see that the shopping bag contained a Ziploc bag within which he could see chalk-like objects that had an off-white color similar to the color of the powder residue on top of the TV stand. Viewed in the context of the wads of cash and other evidence of narcotics use in the apartment, there was more than a "practical, nontechnical probability" that the bag contained an illegal substance.
Hardy argues that the incriminating nature of the bag only became apparent to Fleming after he picked it up and looked inside it. However, Fleming credibly testified that before he picked up the bag, he could see a Ziploc bag, as well as the off-white chalk-like objects inside it.
In short, the officers were permitted to search for any evidence of the shooting, and for the DVR, which was located on a TV stand in Hardy's bedroom. Fleming observed the shopping bag full of drugs in plain view as the officers were concluding their lawful search and preparing to leave. Therefore, Fleming's seizure of the shopping bag was not unlawful.
Stuart-Holt argues that the consent search was unlawful because the MPD failed to obtain his consent. He contends that because he was a co-tenant, the MPD could not conduct a consent search without procuring both his and Hardy's consent.
Here, Hardy and Stuart-Holt both rented the apartment that was subject to the consent search. Therefore, Hardy and Stuart-Holt both had common authority to consent to a search of the apartment. Once the officers obtained Hardy's consent, they were not required to also obtain Stuart-Holt's consent in order to proceed with the search.
The government has carried its burden to show that Hardy's consent was voluntary, knowing, and intelligent, and that her consent alone, without Stuart-Holt's, was sufficient to allow the MPD to conduct a warrantless search. The government has also carried its burden to show that the search did not exceed the scope of Hardy's consent. Therefore, Hardy's and Stuart-Holt's motions to suppress evidence seized during the searches of their apartment are denied to the extent they seek to suppress evidence seized during the consent search.
Hardy contends that evidence seized during the warrant search should be suppressed because without information unlawfully gained during the consent search, the affidavit and warrant for the warrant search lacked probable cause. For the reasons discussed above, the consent search was lawful. Therefore, any information gained during that search which was used as a basis for either the affidavit or the warrant was not improperly collected.
Accordingly, Hardy's and Stuart-Holt's motions to suppress evidence seized during the searches of their apartment are denied.
Hardy seeks to suppress the statements she made to Sullivan and DuBois at the hospital on June 23, 2015, and at the MPD on June 24, 2015. Hardy asserts that she should have been, but was not, given
Hardy contends that she was in custody while she was in the hospital, which triggered the requirement of
"Law enforcement officers must give
To determine whether an individual is in custody for the purposes of
First, the evidence shows that Hardy's hospital room was a neutral setting. Although a police officer accompanied Hardy to the hospital, the MPD was not involved in her hospitalization and did not interfere in any way with her care or extend her hospital stay.
Second, the number of law enforcement officers present weighs in favor of finding that Hardy was not in custody during the hospital interviews. During the interviews on June 23, only two detectives, Sullivan and DuBois, both of whom were wearing plain clothes, were present in the hospital room with Hardy.
Third, the officers did not physically restrain Hardy in any way during the hospital interviews. Although Hardy may have been confined to her hospital bed because of her injury, that restriction does not weigh in favor of a finding that she was in custody.
Fourth, although the duration of Sullivan and DuBois's interaction with Hardy was lengthy, the nature of the interviews was relaxed and cordial. Although the record is not entirely clear about the duration of the interviews, the court finds that Hardy was questioned for four hours in the morning and for 90 minutes in the afternoon, with approximately 90 minutes between the two interviews. Sullivan and DuBois both testified about the nature of their interactions with Hardy, describing them as relaxed and cordial. At the conclusion of the interviews on June 23, DuBois helped a nurse transport Hardy to surgery and joked with Hardy about the situation.
The court's conclusion that Hardy was not in custody at the hospital is supported by the First Circuit's decision in
In light of the totality of circumstances, the court concludes that a reasonable person in Hardy's shoes would have felt free to terminate the June 23 interviews and ask Sullivan and DuBois to leave. Accordingly, Hardy was not in custody when she made statements to Sullivan and DuBois at the hospital on June 23, 2015.
Hardy concedes that she was given
"To protect the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination, law enforcement officials must advise suspects in custody of their
Hardy concedes that she was advised of and waived her
"A waiver is voluntary when it is the product of a free and deliberate choice rather than intimidation, coercion, or deception."
The government has shown by a preponderance of the evidence that Hardy's waiver of her
Hardy argues that her waiver was not voluntary because she was given pain medication immediately prior to leaving the hospital and because she had been suffering from heroin withdrawal during her hospital stay. While the evidence shows that Hardy had been administered pain medication at the hospital prior to her discharge, there is no evidence that this medication or any withdrawal symptoms had a negative impact on her mental functioning. The government produced convincing evidence that Hardy's mental state was not deficient. DuBois testified that Hardy did not seem to be under the influence of medication while at the MPD, and that she was alert and not slurring her words. Sullivan, who is an experienced drug investigator, also testified that Hardy did not appear to be suffering from withdrawal symptoms.
The government has met its burden of showing that Hardy's waiver of her
"A defendant's waiver of the Fifth Amendment privilege is knowing and intelligent where he is advised and understands that he has the right to remain silent and that any statements he makes may be used as evidence against him."
The government has shown by a preponderance of the evidence that Hardy knowingly and intelligently waived her
Considering the totality of the circumstances, the court finds that Hardy voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently waived her
In addition to compliance with
Sullivan and DuBois interviewed Hardy twice while she was at the hospital on June 23 — once in the morning and once in the afternoon. The court finds that, considering the totality of the circumstances, the government has shown that the statements Hardy made during the hospital interviews were voluntary.
As the court noted previously, the length of time the officers spent questioning Hardy was extensive. The lengthy period of time spent interviewing Hardy does not, however, render her statements involuntary, as the nature of the questioning was not coercive.
Other factors also weigh in favor of finding that Hardy's statements at the hospital were given voluntarily. Sullivan told Hardy that he would make recommendations to the prosecutor in exchange for Hardy's cooperation, but that he could not make any promises. Sullivan and DuBois told Hardy that she would likely be arrested at a later date for the drugs found in her apartment, and they did not suggest she would avoid arrest if she cooperated with their investigation. In addition, there is no evidence that Hardy was deprived of any essentials during her interactions with the detectives at the hospital on July 23. To the contrary, during both interviews Hardy was being cared for by hospital staff, and the officers did nothing to interfere with that care.
Hardy's situation and personal attributes also do not weigh in favor of suppressing her statements at the hospital. Hardy argues that her mental state was compromised because she was a shooting victim, on pain medication, and experiencing withdrawal symptoms throughout the relevant time period. There is no evidence in the record, however, supporting Hardy's argument that these facts compromised her mental state.
To be sure, being the victim of a violent crime is a traumatic experience. Indeed, the evidence reflects that Hardy was emotionally upset and in a great deal of pain when she arrived at the hospital. And, on the morning of June 23, before she made her statements to Sullivan and DuBois, a nurse noted that Hardy was anxious and overwhelmed. But, Hardy's medical record is also replete with notes that Hardy was alert and coherent. The medical records further indicate that Hardy was given medication for pain and anxiety. Although the pain medication given to Hardy can cause confusion, there is no evidence that Hardy was mentally compromised. Lastly, although Hardy did complain to Berthiaume at mid-day on June 23 that she was experiencing withdrawal symptoms, Berthiaume testified that Hardy's thoughts and speech were "normal," and that Hardy could "communicate effectively." The court finds that any withdrawal symptoms Hardy was experiencing did not compromise her mental state.
In light of the totality of these circumstances, the court finds that the government has shown by a preponderance of the evidence that Hardy spoke freely with Sullivan and DuBois at the hospital and that her statements at the hospital on July 23 were voluntary.
Hardy argues that her statements on June 24 at the MPD were involuntary for two reasons. First, Hardy argues that her statements on June 24 were involuntary because they were the fruit of her June 23 statements. Having found that Hardy's June 23 statements were voluntary, the court rejects this argument.
While the duration of Hardy's interrogation on June 24 was extensive, the nature of the interrogation is not indicative of coercion. On June 24, after Sullivan and DuBois drove Hardy from the hospital to
In addition, there is no evidence that Sullivan and DuBois made any promises to Hardy or threatened her. The court also finds that Sullivan and DuBois did not deprive Hardy of any essentials. During Hardy's time at the MPD that day, the detectives offered Hardy food, which she refused. They also took her outside for cigarette breaks.
Hardy argues that Sullivan and DuBois deprived her of clothing, the ability to follow her discharge instructions, and pain medication. When Hardy was released from the hospital, the detectives requested a pair of scrubs for Hardy to wear because the MPD had taken her clothing as evidence on the night of the shooting. While Hardy would have been more comfortable in her own clothing, the court does not find that wearing scrubs instead of her own clothing amounts to depriving Hardy of an essential.
At the hearing, Hardy made much of the fact that her discharge instructions included a recommendation that she ice and elevate her hand. Hardy asserts that Sullivan and DuBois did not provide her with ice for her hand or an opportunity to elevate it. Sullivan and DuBois testified, however, that they were not aware of the recommendation and that Hardy never asked them for ice. Had Hardy asked for ice and been refused, she would have a stronger argument. In the absence of any information about Hardy's need for ice, the court cannot find that Sullivan and DuBois deprived Hardy of an essential. Nor does Hardy explain how the detectives prevented her from elevating her hand.
Hardy's argument that the officers failed to fill her prescription for pain medication is equally unavailing. While the officers did refuse to fill Hardy's prescription for pain medication because of MPD policy, they asked Hardy about her pain throughout the day. Hardy told them that her pain was "not too bad."
Accordingly, the court finds that the government has shown by a preponderance of the evidence that Hardy's statements on June 24, 2015 were voluntary.
For the foregoing reasons, Hardy's and Stuart-Holt's motions to suppress evidence seized during searches of their apartment (doc. nos. 20 and 22), and Hardy's motion to suppress statements she gave to officers at the hospital and at the MPD (doc. no. 19) are denied.
SO ORDERED.