United States Ninth Circuit

The collective knowledge doctrine includes no requirement regarding the content of the communication that one officer must make to another. Where one officer knows facts constituting reasonable suspicion or probable cause sufficient to justify action under an exception to the warrant requirement, and he communicates an appropriate order or request, another officer may conduct a warrantless stop, search, or arrest without violating the Fourth Amendment.

Appellate Information

• Argued 08/17/2006
• Decided 01/16/2007
• Published 01/16/2007

Judges

• Before ALEX KOZINSKI, DIARMUID F. O'SCANNLAIN, and JAY S. BYBEE, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Ninth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• Craig A. Harbaugh, Deputy Federal Public Defender, Los Angeles, CA, argued the cause for the defendants-appellants.  Maria E. Stratton, Federal Public Defender, and Sean K. Kennedy, Deputy Federal Public Defender, were on the briefs for Defendant-Appellant Beltran.  Brad D. Levenson, Deputy Federal Public Defender, was on the reply brief.  Jerald Brainin, Los Angeles, CA, filed a brief for Defendant-Appellant Ramirez., Gonzalo P. Curiel, Assistant United States Attorney, Los Angeles, CA, argued the cause for the plaintiff-appellee.  Debra Wong Yang, United States Attorney, and Thomas P. O'Brien, Assistant United States Attorney, were on the brief.