UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,
v.
CURTIS LEROY OWENS, DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

5th Cir. | 1973-03-30
No. 72-2567
Before WISDOM, GEWIN and COLEMAN, Circuit Judges.
475 F.2d 759 Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (1973) Caution
Cited by 8 cases

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Holding

The court held that the district court did not err in overruling the defendant's motion to suppress evidence obtained via a stomach pump.


Facts & Procedural History

The defendant was convicted of possession of heroin after he resisted arrest, attempted to flee, and a stomach pump was used to extract the drug. The …

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Opinion of the Court
PER CURIAM:

PER CURIAM:

The defendant, Owens, appeals from his non-jury conviction for possession of heroin in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 844(a).

There is no reason to explore the dimensions of “probable cause” in airport, arrests and searches. Here Owens voluntarily agreed to accompany Customs Security Officer Harris to the office of Customs Patrol Officer Castro. Apparently Owens panicked, knocked down Castro, put a cellophane package in his mouth, and began to run away. At this point there was probable cause to arrest Owens and remove the package from his mouth. It was heroin.

Owens cannot complain that his rights were violated by his being taken to a hospital where a stomach pump was used to extract heroin. At the time he appeared to be unconscious or semi-conscious and the officers acted in good faith to prevent further harm to him. This case bears no resemblance to Rochin v, California, 1952, 342 U.S. 165, 72 S.Ct. 205, 96 L.Ed. 183.

We hold, therefore, that the district court did not err in overruling the defendant’s motion to suppress the evidence. See Rener v. Beto, 5 Cir. 1971, 447 F. 2d 20.

The judgment is affirmed.


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