People v. Allen, 109 Cal. App. 3d 981 (Cal. Ct. App. 1980). · Go Syfert
People v. Allen, 109 Cal. App. 3d 981 (Cal. Ct. App. 1980). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
90 citation events (73 in the last 25 years) across 6 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Mitchell v. County of Contra Costa (cand, 2023-04-17)
Treatment trajectory · 1980 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1980 2003 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 23 distinct citers.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Mitchell v. County of Contra Costa (2×)
N.D. Cal. · 2023 · confidence medium
For example, in People v. Allen, 109 Cal. App. 3d 981, 983 (1980), an officer 22 spotted a group of individuals standing around the trunk of a vehicle with the lid open.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Juricich v. County of San Mateo
N.D. Cal. · 2021 · confidence medium
In People v. Allen, 109 Cal. App. 3d 981, 987 (1980), 21 the California Court of Appeal held that a defendant violates Penal Code section 148 when he 22 flees with “the clear knowledge that the officer wanted to detain and talk with him.” The 23 defendant in that case violated section 148 because the officer possessed reasonable suspicion that 24 the defendant was involved in criminal activity and defendant fled when the officer tried to arrest 25 him.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Francis A.
Cal. Ct. App. · 2019 · confidence medium
(People v. Allen (1980) 109 Cal.App.3d 981, 987, fn. 1 .) There is insufficient evidence to support the juvenile court’s determination that Frank willfully resisted Officer Stahler for multiple reasons.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Amanda A.
Cal. Ct. App. · 2015 · confidence medium
(People v. Allen (1980) 109 Cal.App.3d 981, 986-987 [ 167 Cal.Rptr. 502 ]; see In re Gregory S. (1980) 112 Cal.App.3d 764 [ 169 Cal.Rptr. 540 ].) But section 148 ‘is not limited to nonverbal conduct involving flight or forcible interference with an officer’s activities.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Douglas
Cal. Ct. App. · 2015 · confidence medium
(See § 148; In re Muhammed C. (2002) 95 Cal.App.4th 1325, 1329-1330 [ 116 Cal.Rptr.2d 21 ]; In re Gregory S. (1980) 112 Cal.App.3d 764, 778 [ 169 Cal.Rptr. 540 ]; People v. Allen (1980) 109 Cal.App.3d 981, 986-987 [ 167 Cal.Rptr. 502 ].)
cited Cited as authority (rule) In re Victor C. CA1/5
Cal. Ct. App. · 2015 · confidence medium
(People v. Allen, supra, 109 Cal.App.3d at p. 987 [police officer had probable cause to arrest for violation of Pen.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. McCowan CA1/3
Cal. Ct. App. · 2014 · confidence medium
(See People v. Allen, supra, 109 Cal.App.3d at p. 987, fn. 1 [distinguishing Wetzel as follows: “The case at bench is distinguishable because appellant actively impeded an officer in the performance of his duty.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Valdez CA2/5
Cal. Ct. App. · 2014 · confidence medium
(See In re Muhammed C. (2002) 95 Cal.App.4th 1325, 1330-1331 [evidence that defendant failed to obey the officer’s lawful orders to step away from the patrol car supports a finding of a § 148 violation]; In re Gregory S. (1980) 112 Cal.App.3d 764, 780 [finding a § 148 violation when a minor refused to identify himself, refused to respond to questions posed by an officer, walked away, and struggled when an officer took his arm]; People v. Allen (1980) 109 Cal.App.3d 981, 987-988 [flight from police officers is sufficient to constitute “delaying” a peace officer in the discharge of his d…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Campos CA2/7
Cal. Ct. App. · 2013 · confidence medium
(See People v Allen (1980) 109 Cal.App.3d 981, 985-987 (Allen) (delaying); In re Gregory S. (1980) 112 Cal.App.3d 764, 777-778 (delaying); People v. Superior Court (Ferguson) (2005) 132 Cal.App.4th 1525, 1530-1534 (resisting).) In Allen, police officers, driving a marked patrol car, saw the defendant and others standing around an open car trunk filled with jackets, and suspected the defendant was receiving and selling stolen property. ( Allen, supra, 109 Cal.App.3d at pp. 983-985.) When the officers began to approach, the defendant saw the patrol car, slammed down the lid of the trunk and bega…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) In re Steven S. CA5
Cal. Ct. App. · 2013 · confidence medium
(In re Gregory S. (1980) 112 Cal. App.3d 764, 777-778 ; People v. Allen (1980) 109 Cal.App.3d 981, 985-987 (Allen).) In Allen, supra, 109 Cal.App.3d 981 , two police officers in a marked patrol car saw the defendant, Allen, in a group of people standing near the open trunk of a parked car, which appeared to contain a pile of jackets.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Sanchez
10th Cir. · 2009 · confidence medium
Stat. Ann. tit. 21, § 540 , have held that flight can constitute obstruction of an officer. “[F]light, or attempted flight, after a command to halt constitutes obstruction of an officer.” In re E.G., 286 Ga.App. 137 , 648 S.E.2d 699 , 701 (2007) (internal quotation marks omitted); see United States v. Gonzalez, 71 F.3d 819, 826-27 (11th Cir.1996) (defendant’s flight from agents gave them probable cause to arrest him for violating 18 U.S.C. § 111 (a)(1), which prohibits “forcibly assaulting], resisting], opposing], impeding], intimidating], or interfering] with” any federal officer)…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Ramirez
Cal. Ct. App. · 2006 · confidence medium
It follows, then, that we also reject the Attorney General’s reliance on People v. Allen (1980) 109 Cal.App.3d 981, 985-986 [ 167 Cal.Rptr. 502 ], which permits detention when a lawfully stopped suspect attempts to flee, thus delaying performance of the officer’s “official duty.” Because there was no legal basis for the initial stop, Allen is inapposite.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Muhammed C.
Cal. Ct. App. · 2002 · confidence medium
(People v. Allen (1980) 109 Cal.App.3d 981, 986-987 [ 167 Cal.Rptr. 502 ]; see In re Gregory S. (1980) 112 Cal.App.3d 764 [ 169 Cal.Rptr. 540 ].) But section 148 “is not limited to nonverbal conduct involving flight or forcible interference with an officer’s *1330 activities.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Pool v. City of Oakland (2×)
Cal. · 1986 · confidence medium
(Cf. In re Joe R. (1970) 12 Cal.App.3d 80, 83-84, 86 [ 90 Cal.Rptr. 530 ] [obstruction found where defendant, inter alia, hit officer and attempted to flee].) Although the police testified that Pool also shouted obscenities and threw his identification on the checkout counter, these alleged actions would not constitute a violation of section 148 because neither would have “actively impeded an officer in the performance of his duty.” (See People v. Allen (1980) 109 Cal.App.3d 981, 987, fn. 1 [ 167 Cal.Rptr. 502 ]; see also District of Columbia v. Little (1950) 339 U.S. 1, 6 [ 94 L.Ed. 599, …
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Gregory S. (2×)
Cal. Ct. App. · 1980 · confidence medium
Appellant on the other hand frustrated any legitimate action the officer may have considered taking. *778 A construction of Penal Code section 148, pertinent to appellant's conduct, was recently set forth in People v. Allen (1980) 109 Cal. App.3d 981, 985-986 [ 167 Cal. Rptr. 502 ] (hg. den.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Superior Court (Brown) (2×)
Cal. Ct. App. · 1980 · confidence medium
(People v. Allen (1980) 109 Cal.App.3d 981, 985 [ 167 Cal.Rptr. 502 ].) Defendant knew full well “that the officer’s attention was centered on him and that the officer wanted to talk with him.” (People v. Allen (1980) 109 Cal.App.3d 981, 987 [ 167 Cal.Rptr. 502 ].) In the process of detaining defendant for the purpose of issuing a citation for the traffic violation, Officer Vanderwal made a pat-down search for weapons which revealed a gun and a holster in his waistband.
cited Cited "see" United States v. Darnell St. Clair
9th Cir. · 2023 · signal: see · confidence high
See Allen, 167 Cal. Rptr. at 505–06 (rejecting defendant’s argument “that the officer must advise the individual that he is under arrest or that the officer wants to detain him”).
discussed Cited "see" Field v. County of Orange (2×)
9th Cir. · 2009 · signal: see · confidence high
See People v. Allen, 109 Cal.App.3d 981 , 167 Cal.Rptr. 502, 505-06 (1980); In re Gregory S., 112 Cal.App.3d 764 , 169 Cal. Rptr. 540, 543, 547 (1980).
discussed Cited "see" Field v. County of Orange (2×)
9th Cir. · 2009 · signal: see · confidence high
See People v. Allen, 109 Cal.App.3d 981 , 167 Cal.Rptr. 502, 505-06 (1980); In re Gregory S., 112 Cal.App.3d 764 , 169 Cal. Rptr. 540, 543, 547 (1980).
examined Cited "see" Hernandez v. City of Pomona (4×)
Cal. · 2009 · signal: see · confidence high
Code, § 148, subd. (a)(1); see People v. Allen (1980) 109 Cal.App.3d 981, 985-987 [ 167 Cal.Rptr. 502 ]). (6) Because Cooper had probable cause to arrest Hernandez, under both statutes and case law, Cooper was not obliged simply to let Hernandez go.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." People v. Rosas CA4/2
Cal. Ct. App. · 2020 · signal: see also · confidence medium
(In re Andre P. (1991) 226 Cal.App.3d 1164, 1169 ; see also People v. Allen (1980) 109 Cal.App.3d 981, 986-987 (Allen) [defendant’s flight delayed the officers in detaining him and therefore violated section 148].) At trial, Officer Traynham said he had to sprint after Rosas who was running “pretty fast”, and Officer Moore said he tried unsuccessfully to corner him with his patrol car.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." People v. Claudio CA5
Cal. Ct. App. · 2015 · signal: see also · confidence medium
(See Chimel v. California (1969) 395 U.S. 752, 762-763 ; see also People v. Allen (1980) 109 Cal.App.3d 981, 985-986 [adequate grounds to temporarily detain, coupled with individual being aware of officer’s desire to detain, creates duty in individual to permit himself to be detained; refusal to do so violates § 148].) The Attorney General’s argument, however, presupposes reasonable belief defendant was armed.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." People v. Galdamez CA3
Cal. Ct. App. · 2015 · signal: see also · confidence low
“When a defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence, ‘ “[t]he court must review the whole record in the light most favorable to the judgment below to determine whether it discloses substantial evidence—that is, evidence which is reasonable, credible, and of solid value—such that a reasonable trier of fact could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” [Citation.]’ [Citations.] ‘Substantial evidence includes circumstantial evidence and any reasonable inferences drawn from that evidence. [Citation.]’ [Citation.] We ‘ “ ‘presume in support of the judg…
The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent,
v.
LEONARD ALLEN, Defendant and Appellant
Crim. 3900.
California Court of Appeal.
Aug 29, 1980.
109 Cal. App. 3d 981
Counsel, Quin Denvir, State Public Defender, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, Ezra Hendon, Chief Assistant State Public Defender, Laurance S. Smith and Roy M. Dahlberg, Deputy State Public Defenders, for Defendant and Appellant., George Deukmejian, Attorney General, Robert H. Philibosian, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Arnold O. Overoye, Assistant Attorney General, Charles P. Just, Charles J. James and Garrick W. Chock, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Brown (g.A.).
Cited by 43 opinions  |  Published

[*983] Opinion

BROWN (G. A.), P. J.

Appellant, Leonard Allen, appeals from a judgment entered upon a jury verdict finding him guilty of receiving stolen property (Pen. Code, § 496). The trial court denied a pretrial motion to suppress.

The central issue to be decided is whether the police officer had probable cause to arrest appellant for violating Penal Code section 148; which in relevant part provides that “[e]very person who wilfully resists, delays, or obstructs any public officer, in the discharge or attempt to discharge any duty of his office,...” is guilty of a misdemeanor. (Italics added.) We hold that he did have probable cause and affirm.

Facts

Officer Barron, the only witness who testified on this issue, stated that on October 2, 1977, he and Officer Morrill were on patrol in a marked police vehicle. At approximately 1 p.m., while Officer Barron was driving, he observed a group of 10 to 15 people standing around the trunk of a vehicle. The trunk lid of the car was open. Appellant was on one side of the vehicle with his hand on the trunk lid. The other individuals were facing him from the opposite side of the car looking into the trunk area.

Officer Barron could see into the trunk area. There appeared to be a pile of clothes, specifically jackets. One individual in the group was examining a nylon jacket which was draped over his arm and was enclosed in a clear plastic wrapper. The individual placed the jacket back in the trunk after having looked in the direction of the police car. At that time the police vehicle was approximately 20 yards from the rear of the vehicle. After the individual placed the jacket into the trunk he immediately began to walk off at a “high step.” Almost simultaneously with the jacket’s being placed in the trunk, appellant looked in the direction of the police vehicle. After doing so he immediately slammed the trunk lid of the vehicle closed and began to hurry away. The other individuals in the group also began to disperse.

Officer Barron thought that the jackets were new. The one jacket he had plainly seen was in a clear plastic wrapper. The ones in the trunk appeared to have the same type of wrapper. There was a large quantity of the jackets in the trunk.

[*984] Officer Barron was in the process of stopping his police car when appellant began walking away from the other vehicle. Appellant’s manner of walking away was described as being “in a hurry” and “continuous looking over his shoulder back to us.” At that point, instead of exiting the vehicle, the officers began to go after appellant in their police car. The officer described it as follows: “I pulled on through the parking lot to the south side of the business at which time I caught a glimpse of the defendant running at this time southbound on Arthur, at which time numerous subjects were pointing in the same direction, stating that he was running from us.” Appellant ran into a residential area, and the officers began to search for him on foot. Appellant was found hiding underneath a table in some bushes beside a residence.

Upon making contact with appellant, Officer Barron arrested him for violating Penal Code section 148. Officer Barron had his gun drawn. Barron had him crawl out from under the bushes and then handcuffed him. He performed a pat-down search. A set of car keys was removed from appellant’s pocket. The keys were removed because Officer Barron thought there was possibly stolen property in the vehicle. The keys were removed before any questioning.

Appellant was advised of his Miranda (Miranda v. Arizona (1966) 384 U.S. 436 [16 L.Ed.2d 694, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 10 A.L.R.3d 974]) rights, and Officer Barron questioned him in regard to the vehicle and the clothing. When asked why he had run away, appellant responded he was afraid, stating that there were traffic warrants out for his arrest. Officer Barron also questioned him in regard to the clothes he had seen in the trunk of the vehicle. Appellant responded he didn’t know anything about a car or any clothes. After receiving that response, Officer Barron ran a warrant check. A check was also made on the license number of the vehicle. Officer Barron was informed there was a warrant for appellant’s arrest for driving the vehicle. Officer Barron told appellant of the results of the warrant check. He then requestioned him in regard to the vehicle and the clothes. At that point appellant changed his story, stating he had purchased the coats “at the Tucker’s Club” and had paid $2 apiece for them.

Officer Barron testified that the charge of Penal Code section 496 was not officially added until they had returned to the location of the vehicle and viewed the clothing. From Officer Barron’s testimony it is also clear, however, that at the time he first confronted appellant on[*985] Lorena Street he did so with the intent to initiate an investigation into the possibility that appellant was guilty of receiving stolen property.

After appellant had been taken into custody the officers and appellant proceeded back to the parking lot where the other vehicle was. At that time the trunk of the vehicle was opened. A total of 21 coats were found in the trunk. Upon seeing the coats appellant was formally arrested for receiving stolen property. He was then searched and a total of $226 in currency was found in his pockets. Appellant stated that $162 of the money had been received from selling the coats and that the remainder, $64, was his own personal money. The only other item seized was a white ice dispenser. It was retrieved from the trunk of the car. The coats which were seized were new and were wrapped in clear plastic. When asked about them again appellant responded that he was selling them for $5 apiece. Appellant also reiterated that he had paid $2 for each coat, stating that he had gotten a “special price.”

Discussion

The issue is narrowed by the obvious conclusion that the recited facts furnished the officer with adequate grounds to effect a temporary detention for questioning or other limited investigation under the criteria prescribed by In re Tony C. (1978) 21 Cal.3d 888, 892 [148 Cal.Rptr. 366, 582 P.2d 957]. Indeed appellant makes no contention to the contrary.

Appellant argues only that the arrest for violation of Penal Code section 148 was unauthorized and that the subsequent events produced poisoned fruit of an illegal arrest. Appellant appears to concede that if the initial arrest was valid, then the events which followed, including the questioning, the opening of the trunk, and the observations of the officer, were not illegal and produced lawfully procured evidence. Independently we have analyzed the issue and have concluded that there was no illegally seized evidence if the initial arrest was valid.

Turning to the core issue, we first note that the language of the California statute (Pen. Code, § 148), unlike any others our research has turned up, uses the word “delays” in addition to “resists” and “obstructs.” Since the officer had the legal right, indeed duty, (see In re Tony C., supra, 21 Cal.3d 888, 894) to detain appellant, appellant, if he was aware of the officer’s desire, had the concomitant duty to permit himself to be detained. (Cf., Pen. Code, § 834a.) Therefore, on the face[*986] of the statute it would appear that the physical activity that appellant engaged in, flight and concealment, which delayed the officer’s performance of his official duty, violated the statute.

An American Law Report annotation ((1972) 44 A.L.R.3d 1018), entitled Crimes—Obstructing or Resisting Officers, under the subheading “Flight,” notes that “In a few California cases, it has been held that flight was sufficient to constitute a violation of a statute punishing a person who wilfully resists, delays, or obstructs a public officer in the discharge of any duty of his office.” (Id., at p. 1052.) The annotation cites People v. Wilson (1964) 224 Cal.App.2d 738 [37 Cal.Rptr. 42], Kellett v. Superior Court (1966) 63 Cal.2d 822 [48 Cal.Rptr. 366, 409 P.2d 206], In re Culver (1968) 69 Cal.2d 898 [73 Cal.Rptr. 393, 447 P.2d 633], and People v. Brooks (1901) 131 Cal. 311 [63 P. 464].

In People v. Wilson, supra, 224 Cal.App.2d 738, it was held that one who fled from an officer after arrest and then procured a gun with which he held the officer at bay had violated the statute before he obtained the gun. (Id., at pp. 743-744.) While Wilson was disapproved on other grounds in Kellett v. Superior Court, supra, 63 Cal.2d 822, Kellett did not invalidate the principle that flight may violate the statute. (63 Cal.2d 822, 827.) In fact, in In re Culver, supra, 69 Cal.2d 898, footnote 10 at page 905, the court stated: “[T]he court in Kellett nonetheless agreed that the flight from the officer constituted a separate offense from the procurement and threatened use of the gun.” The Culver court, in that footnote continued, “Although most cases, like the instant case, involve a struggle prior to the flight, the use of force is not an element in the violation of section 148.”

Our Supreme Court in In re Culver has made it unequivocally clear that under circumstances where a defendant has been lawfully arrested and escapes by flight before booking and imprisonment he is guilty of violating Penal Code section 148. People v. Diaz (1978) 22 Cal.3d 712, 717 [150 Cal.Rptr. 471, 586 P.2d 952], approved that holding. (See also People v. Carroll (1971) 133 Ill.App.2d 78 [272 N.E.2d 822].)

Appellant distinguishes the above cases on the primary ground that the defendants therein had been placed under arrest before flight. Appellant also expresses fear that any extension would create grounds for the potential arrest of every citizen who left the scene of a neighborhood fracas. However, we decide the case at bench on the facts of this case and extend it no further. Appellant appears to agree that if the of[*987] ficer had used his voice instead of his actions to make it clear appellant was being detained and that the officer wanted to talk to him there would have been cause to arrest under Penal Code section 148 if appellant then ran and hid. That is, appellant apparently contends that the officer must advise the individual that he is under arrest or that the officer wants to detain him. However, there is no reason to believe that appellant would have heeded a verbal warning with any more alacrity than he heeded the clear knowledge that the officer wanted to detain and talk with him.

The officer was not required to engage in an idle act. Appellant knew full well, and counsel conceded so at argument, that the officer’s attention was centered on him and that the officer wanted to talk with him. When appellant saw the police car he slammed the trunk lid down and took off at a high step. As he left the scene he continued to look back nervously toward the officers as he hurried away. Finally, as the officers closed in, he broke into a run and eventually attempted to hide from the officers. Bystanders knew appellant was aware of the officers’ desire and that appellant was attempting to escape from the officers. Officer Barron testified “... numerous subjects were pointing in the same direction, stating he was running from us.” Under the ambient circumstances here involved and the totality of facts of this case, we believe that it was unequivocally clear to appellant that the object of the police’s attention was appellant as an individual.

Since appellant knew he was going to be detained, and since the detention would clearly have been lawful, it was the officers’ duty to cause the detention to be made. The actions of appellant (running and hiding) caused a delay in the performance of Officer Barron’s duty. As Officer Barron personally perceived these events, he had probable cause to arrest for violation of Penal Code section 148, a misdemeanor. [1] As noted above, we have concluded that since the arrest was valid, there were no illegally seized items of evidence.

Two other points raised by appellant may be quickly disposed of.

[*988] Appellant argues that the trial court improperly considered factors relating to him, as compared to the crime, and thereby erred in aggravating the sentence. People v. Cheatham (1979) 23 Cal.3d 829 [153 Cal.Rptr. 585, 591 P.2d 1237] holds contrary to appellant’s contention.

Appellant contends that Penal Code sections 2900.5 and 4019 entitle him to good time/work time credits for presentence custody. The Supreme Court decision in People v. Sage (1980) 26 Cal.3d 498 [165 Cal.Rptr. 280, 611 P.2d 874] holds that equal protection compels such conduct credits.

The judgment is affirmed. The Department of Corrections is directed to determine the presentence conduct credits to which appellant is entitled upon appellant’s application for administrative determination of such credits.

Thompson, J., * and Pierson, J., concurred.

Appellant’s petition for a hearing by the Supreme Court was denied November 12, 1980.

1

People v. Wetzel (1974) 11 Cal.3d 104 [113 Cal.Rptr. 32, 520 P.2d 416], cited by appellant, is not in point. There a person was arrested for violating Penal Code section 148 when the only conduct on the part of the defendant was a refusal to give consent for officers to enter and search an apartment. (Id., at p. 109.) The case at bench is distinguishable because appellant actively impeded an officer in the performance of his duty. The defendant in Wetzel could refuse consent—but could not impede entry. Appellant could refuse to cooperate, but could not run and hide.

*

Retired judge of the superior court sitting under assignment by the Chairperson of the Judicial Council.

Assigned by the Chairperson of the Judicial Council.