United States v. Bruce Cross

FILED NOT FOR PUBLICATION MAR 15 2011 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS U .S. C O U R T OF APPE ALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, No. 10-30127 Plaintiff - Appellee, D.C. No. 3:09-cr-00002-TMB-1 v. MEMORANDUM * BRUCE EDWARD CROSS, Defendant - Appellant. Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Alaska Timothy M. Burgess, District Judge, Presiding Submitted March 10, 2011 ** Seattle, Washington Before: FISHER, GOULD and TALLMAN, Circuit Judges. Bruce Edward Cross appeals the district court’s denial of his motion to suppress evidence discovered during an investigatory stop of his vehicle. We review the denial of the motion to suppress de novo, and affirm. See United States v. Jennen, 596 F.3d 594, 598 (9th Cir. 2010). * This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Circuit Rule 36-3. ** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2). “Officers have reasonable suspicion when ‘specific, articulable facts . . . together with objective and reasonable inferences, form the basis for suspecting that the particular person detained is engaged in criminal activity.’” United States v. Choudhry, 461 F.3d 1097, 1100 (9th Cir. 2006) (quoting United States v. Lopez- Soto, 205 F.3d 1101, 1105 (9th Cir. 2000)). We assess reasonable suspicion in light of the totality of the circumstances. See United States v. Montero-Camargo, 208 F.3d 1122, 1129 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). The totality of the circumstances here – including the officer’s training, experience and specific knowledge about the woman’s prior arrest, Cross’ location in a known area of prostitution late at night, and the woman’s appearance and conduct – gave the officer reasonable suspicion to believe the occupants of Cross’ vehicle were engaged in criminal activity involving prostitution, thereby justifying the investigatory stop. AFFIRMED. 2