Carr v. Hoover et al

Filing 90

ORDER denying 69 Motion for Summary Judgment. Signed by District Judge Michael P. Mills on 4/13/18. (cr)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI
GREENVILLE DIVISION
GREGORY PAUL CARR

PLAINTIFF

v.

No. 4:16CV88-MPM-DAS

OFFICER LLOYD HOOVER
CHIEF FREDDIE CANNON
MAYOR JOHN COX

DEFENDANTS

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION
FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
This matter comes before the court on the pro se prisoner complaint of Gregory Paul Carr,
who challenges the conditions of his confinement under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. For the purposes of the
Prison Litigation Reform Act, the court notes that the plaintiff was incarcerated when he filed this suit.
The plaintiff has brought the instant case under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, which provides a federal cause of
action against “[e]very person” who under color of state authority causes the “deprivation of any
rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws.” 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The
plaintiff alleges that he was falsely arrested for a crime he did not commit – and for which the charges
were later dismissed. The plaintiff has moved for summary judgment; the defendants have not
responded, and the matter is ripe for resolution. For the reasons set forth below, the instant motion for
summary judgment will be denied.
Summary Judgment Standard
Summary judgment is appropriate if the “materials in the record, including depositions,
documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations (including those
made for purposes of the motion only), admissions, interrogatory answers, or other materials” show
that “there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a

matter of law.” FED. R. CIV. P. 56(a) and (c)(1). “The moving party must show that if the evidentiary
material of record were reduced to admissible evidence in court, it would be insufficient to permit the
nonmoving party to carry its burden.” Beck v. Texas State Bd. of Dental Examiners, 204 F.3d 629,
633 (5th Cir. 2000) (citing Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317 (1986), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 1066
(1988)). After a proper motion for summary judgment is made, the burden shifts to the non-movant to
set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc.,
477 U.S. 242, 249, 106 S. Ct. 2505, 2511, 91 L. Ed. 2d 202 (1986); Beck, 204 F.3d at 633; Allen v.
Rapides Parish School Bd., 204 F.3d 619, 621 (5th Cir. 2000); Ragas v. Tennessee Gas Pipeline
Company, 136 F.3d 455, 458 (5th Cir. 1998). Substantive law determines what is material. Anderson,
477 U.S. at 249. “Only disputes over facts that might affect the outcome of the suit under the
governing law will properly preclude the entry of summary judgment. Factual disputes that are
irrelevant or unnecessary will not be counted.” Id., at 248. If the non-movant sets forth specific facts
in support of allegations essential to his claim, a genuine issue is presented. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 327.
“Where the record, taken as a whole, could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the non-moving
party, there is no genuine issue for trial.” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S.
574, 587, 89 L. Ed. 2d 538 (1986); Federal Savings and Loan, Inc. v. Krajl, 968 F.2d 500, 503 (5th
Cir. 1992). The facts are reviewed drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of the non-moving
party. Allen, 204 F.3d at 621; PYCA Industries, Inc. v. Harrison County Waste Water Management
Dist., 177 F.3d 351, 161 (5th Cir. 1999); Banc One Capital Partners Corp. v. Kneipper, 67 F.3d 1187,
1198 (5th Cir. 1995). However, this is so only when there is “an actual controversy, that is, when both
parties have submitted evidence of contradictory facts.” Little v. Liquid Air Corp., 37 F.3d 1069, 1075
(5th Cir. 1994); see Edwards v. Your Credit, Inc., 148 F.3d 427, 432 (5th Cir. 1998). In the absence of

-2-

proof, the court does not “assume that the nonmoving party could or would prove the necessary facts.”
Little, 37 F.3d at 1075 (emphasis omitted).
Factual Allegations
The plaintiff claims that in Greenville, Mississippi, on July 31, 2014, an unknown female
allegedly called 911 dispatch, said, “I need a policeman,” then hung up. While the 911 operator tried
to call back, Officer Lloyd Hoover was dispatched to the 400 block of Sunflower Lane. When he
arrived at the scene, he said he could hear a female crying inside, and someone locked the door. When
he first knocked on the door, no one would answer, but the door opened after several minutes. Officer
Hoover entered the house and ordered the two males and four females to the ground until he could
assess the situation. He saw Gregory Paul Carr among those in the house, looked into Carr’s 2001
Chevrolet pickup, and saw 7 boxes of the newer version of Sudafed (that cannot be used to
manufacture crystal methamphetamine). When Hoover questioned Mr. Carr about the Sudafed, he
claims that Carr began yelling and cursing at him. Hoover also said he smelled alcohol on Mr. Carr’s
breath.1 Hoover then arrested Carr for possession of a controlled substance, the Sudafed. An
inventory search prior to towing revealed “what appeared to be stolen items” in the front and back of
the truck. Carr expressed his doubt at the Spears hearing that the items “appeared to be stolen,” noting
that the origin of the items could not be determined until later.
At the time of his arrest, Mr. Carr was out on bond arising out of charges of possession of a
firearm by a convicted felon and aggravated assault. Upon return to the Police Department, Carr’s
vehicle and property were “put on hold” by investigator O’Neil. When the dispatcher at the police
station told Officer Hoover that Sudafed was not a controlled substance, he charged Carr, instead, with
public drunkenness and creating a disturbance – both misdemeanors. The next day, August 1, 2014,

1

At his Spears hearing, Mr. Carr denied that he shouted and that he had been drinking.
-3-

Carr was charged with two counts of burglary of an automobile, for which he was later convicted.
Carr was then held without bail in the Washington County Regional Correctional Facility until July 8,
2015, when all three of the pending charges – possession of a controlled substance, public
drunkenness, and causing a disturbance – were dismissed. During his stay in jail, he lost his job, his
income, his truck, and its contents (tools, power tools, jewelry, and clothes). He pled guilty on
December 30, 2015, to the charges of aggravated assault and burglary of an automobile, and he
received credit towards his sentence for the time he served in jail awaiting disposition of the case.
Probable Cause
In the instant summary judgment motion, the plaintiff stated that he had attached various
documents in support of the motion. He did not, however, attach any documents to either the motion
or the brief in support of it, though some of the documents appear elsewhere in the record. In any
event, Mr. Carr has not presented proof sufficient to sustain his motion for summary judgment. The
gravamen of Mr. Carr’s case is that Officer Hoover arrested him without probable cause. Want of
probable cause is an element of false arrest and malicious prosecution.2 The tort of false
imprisonment has but two elements: “detention of the plaintiff and the unlawfulness of such
detention ….” Thornhill v. Wilson, 504 So. 2d 1205, 1208 (Miss. 1987). In this case, the
unlawfulness alleged is that Officer Hoover did not have probable cause to detain Mr. Carr.
The proof Mr. Carr has presented does not, however, establish that Officer Hoover acted
without probable cause. Probable cause to arrest exists when, at the time of arrest, the facts and
circumstances within the knowledge of the arresting officer are sufficient to cause a police officer of

2

Though malicious prosecution is a tort under state law, it is not a valid claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
Castellano v. Fragozo, 352 F.3d 939 (5th Cir. 2003).
-4-

reasonable caution to believe an offense has been or is being committed.3 See Duckett v. Cedar
Park, 950 F.2d 272, 278 (5th Cir.1992) (citing Eugene v. Alief Indep. Sch. Dist., 65 F.3d 1299,
1305 (5th Cir. 1995)). The probable cause requirement does not require any showing that such a
belief is correct or more likely true than false. Baker v. McCollan, 443 U.S. 137, 144, 99 S. Ct.
2689, 61 L. Ed. 2d 433 (1979). A sheriff executing an arrest warrant is not required by the
Constitution to independently investigate every claim of innocence. Id. “The Constitution does
not guarantee that only the guilty will be arrested. If it did, § 1983 would provide a cause of
action for every defendant acquitted – indeed, for every suspect released.” Baker, 443 U.S. at
145. A person arrested pursuant to a warrant issued by a magistrate on a showing of probable cause is
not entitled to a separate judicial determination that probable cause exists to detain him prior to trial.
Id. at 144.
On summary judgment review, the court must consider the facts in the light most favorable to
the non-moving party, the defendant in this case. Officer Hoover was dispatched to the residence
based on the 911 call of an unknown woman who said only, “I need a policeman,” then hung up.
Upon arriving at the residence, Officer Hoover told the occupants to get on the ground, a measure to
ensure officer safety. As set forth above, a determination of probable cause depends heavily on the
facts and circumstances within the knowledge of the arresting officer at the time of the arrest. Without
Officer Hoover’s testimony, the court cannot determine the facts and circumstances within his
knowledge. Some of the facts within his knowledge may be gleaned from the documents in the
record, but there is no proof that those facts were the only ones he knew at the time. As such, the court

Whether a court is determining probable cause to issue a warrant prior to arrest – or deciding whether
probable cause exists to hold a defendant after a warrantless arrest – the standard is the same. Baker v.
McCollan, 443 U.S. 137, 143, 99 S. Ct. 2689, 61 L. Ed. 2d 433 (1979).
3

-5-

cannot issue a ruling on whether Officer Hoover arrested Mr. Carr based upon probable cause. For
this reason, the instant motion for summary judgment is DENIED.
SO ORDERED, this, the 13th day of April, 2018.
/s/ MICHAEL P. MILLS
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI

-6-