Stokes v. Brandenburg et al

Filing 28

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS by Magistrate Judge Laura Fashing. Objections to R&R due by 3/23/2018. Add 3 days to the deadline if service is by mailing it to the person's last known address (or means described in Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(b)(2)(D) and (F)); if service is by electronic means, no additional days are added. (Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(d); Fed. R. Crim. P. 45(c).) (cda)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW MEXICO
CHARLES STOKES
Plaintiff,
v.

1:15-cv-00079-RB-LF

RUSS LANDAVISO,
Defendant.
PROPOSED FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDED DISPOSITION
THIS MATTER comes before the Court on defendant Detective Russ Landavazo’s1
Martinez2 report filed, November 9, 2015. Doc. 21. Plaintiff Charles Stokes filed his response
to the Martinez report on January 15, 2016. Doc. 25. Detective Landavazo filed his reply in
support of the Martinez report and a notice of completion of briefing on February 5, 2016. Doc.
26, 27. The Honorable District Judge Robert C. Brack referred this case to me “to conduct
hearings, if warranted, including evidentiary hearings, and to perform any legal analysis required
to recommend to the Court an ultimate disposition of the case.” Doc. 18. Having read the
submissions of the parties and being fully advised in its premises, I find that Officer Landavazo
is entitled to qualified immunity and recommend that Stokes’ complaint be dismissed with
prejudice.
I.

Background Facts and Procedural Posture
On March 22, 2012, Stokes was indicted for murder in the first degree (open count),

bribery/intimidation of a witness, and tampering with evidence. Doc. 21-16 at 29–30. The
charges were based on events that took place on March 7, 2012, which resulted in the shooting
1

Detective Landavazo is identified by Stokes as “Russ Landaviso” in the complaint.

2

Martinez v. Aaron, 570 F.2d 317, 319–20 (10th Cir. 1978).

death of Rene Barbier. Following an investigation, Detective Landavazo drafted a warrant for
the search of “a single wide mobile home at the northeast corner of Badger Ln. and Adobe Rd. in
Veguita, New Mexico, with no visible address,” Doc. 21-16 at 21, and for the arrest of “AKA
Florida,” a “Black male adult, approximately 6'0" tall.” Doc. 21-16 at 24, 26–28. A judge
reviewed and approved the warrants on March 8, 2012. Doc. 21-16 at 23–24, 28. That same
day, officers executed the warrants and arrested Stokes. According to Stokes’ complaint, he
spent 15 months in jail awaiting trial, and his bail was set at $500,000.00, cash-only. Doc. 1 at 2.
At trial, Stokes prevailed on a motion for directed verdict. Id.
Stokes sued Detective Landavazo, District Attorney Kari Brandenburg, and Assistant
District Attorney Natalie Strub under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for a violation of his Fourth, Fifth, and
Eighth Amendment rights. Doc. 1. Upon initial screening, the Court dismissed Brandenburg
and Strub, dismissed Stokes’ Eighth Amendment claims, and construed Stokes’ Fifth
Amendment due process claim against Detective Landavazo as a Fourteenth Amendment due
process claim. Doc. 6. The Court ordered Detective Landavazo to prepare a Martinez report.
Doc. 16. Detective Landavazo’s Martinez report includes a motion for summary judgment based
on qualified immunity. Doc. 21.
II.

Legal Standards
A. Standard for Summary Judgement
Summary judgment is appropriate when “there is no genuine dispute as to any material

fact and the movant is entitled as a matter of law.” FED. R. CIV. P. 56(a). The party moving for
summary judgment has the initial burden of establishing, through admissible evidence in the
form of depositions, answers to interrogatories, admissions, affidavits or documentary evidence,
that there is an absence of evidence to support the opposing party’s case. Celotex Corp. v.

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Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). If this burden is met, the party opposing summary judgment
must come forward with specific facts, supported by admissible evidence, which demonstrate the
presence of a genuine issue for trial. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248–49
(1986). Although all facts are construed in favor of the nonmoving party, it still is the
nonmoving party’s responsibility to “go beyond the pleadings and designate specific facts so as
to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to [his] case in
order to survive summary judgment.” Johnson v. Mullin, 422 F.3d 1184, 1187 (10th Cir. 2005)
(alteration in original) (internal quotation marks omitted).
For purposes of summary judgment, a prisoner’s complaint is treated as an affidavit if it
alleges facts based on his personal knowledge and has been sworn under penalty of perjury. Hall
v. Bellmon, 935 F.2d 1106, 1111 (10th Cir. 1991). A Martinez report also is treated as an
affidavit. Id. A court cannot resolve material disputed factual issues by accepting a Martinez
report’s factual findings when they are in conflict with pleadings or affidavits. Id. at 1109.
Conclusory allegations, however, without specific supporting facts, have no probative value and
cannot create a genuine issue of fact. See Fitzgerald v. Corr. Corp. of Am., 403 F.3d 1134, 1143
(10th Cir. 2005); Annett v. Univ. of Kan., 371 F.3d 1233, 1237 (10th Cir. 2004); Ledoux v.
Davies, 961 F.2d 1536, 1537 (10th Cir. 1992). As is true with all affidavits, statements of mere
belief must be disregarded. Argo v. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Kan., Inc., 452 F.3d 1193, 1200
(10th Cir. 2006).
The Court liberally construes Stokes’ filings because he is appearing pro se. Hall, 935
F.2d at 1110. Nevertheless, the non-moving party still must “identify specific facts that show the
existence of a genuine issue of material fact.” Munoz v. St. Mary-Corwin Hosp., 221 F.3d 1160,
1164 (10th Cir. 2000) (internal quotation marks omitted). Conclusory allegations are insufficient

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to establish an issue of fact that would defeat the motion. Harrison v. Wahatoyas, L.L.C., 253
F.3d 552, 557 (10th Cir. 2001).
B. Qualified Immunity
Qualified immunity recognizes the “need to protect officials who are required to exercise
their discretion and the related public interest in encouraging the vigorous exercise of official
authority.” Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 807 (1982). “Qualified immunity protects
federal and state officials from liability for discretionary functions, and from ‘the unwarranted
demands customarily imposed upon those defending a long drawn-out lawsuit.’” Siegert v.
Gilley, 500 U.S. 226, 232, (1991). Issues of qualified immunity are best resolved at the “earliest
possible stage in litigation.” Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 232 (2009). Qualified
immunity shields government officials from liability where “their conduct does not violate
clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have
known.” Pearson, 555 U.S. at 231.
When a defendant asserts qualified immunity, the plaintiff must demonstrate: (i) that the
defendant’s actions violated his or her constitutional or statutory rights; and (ii) that the right was
clearly established at the time of the alleged misconduct. See Riggins v. Goodman, 572 F.3d
1101, 1107 (10th Cir.2009). In Pearson, the Supreme Court held that lower courts “should be
permitted to exercise their sound discretion in deciding which of the two prongs of the qualified
immunity analysis should be addressed first in light of the circumstances of the particular case at
hand.” 555 U.S. at 236. “Ordinarily, in order for the law to be clearly established, there must be
a Supreme Court or Tenth Circuit decision on point, or the clearly established weight of authority
from other courts must have found the law to be as the plaintiff maintains.” Currier v. Doran,
242 F.3d 905, 923 (10th Cir.2001).

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C. Claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983
Section 1983 of Title 42 of the United States Code provides in relevant part:
Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation,
custom, or usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia, subjects,
or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within
the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities
secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an
action at law.
42 U.S.C. § 1983. “[Section] 1983 is not itself a source of substantive rights but merely
provides a method for vindicating federal rights elsewhere conferred.” Graham v.
Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 393–94 (1989) (internal citations and quotations omitted).
“To state a claim under § 1983, a plaintiff must allege the violation of a right secured by
the Constitution and laws of the United States, and must show that the alleged deprivation was
committed by a person acting under color of state law.” West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988).
There is no dispute that Detective Landavazo was acting under color of state law. The dispute
lies in whether Detective Landavazo violated Stokes’ constitutional rights.
Stokes contends that in obtaining an arrest warrant, Detective Landavazo withheld
exculpatory evidence, falsified the criminal complaint, tampered with evidence at the scene, and
coerced witnesses. Stokes further alleges that Detective Landavazo arrested him without
probable cause and maliciously pursued a criminal case against him. Basically, Stokes argues
that he was arrested under false pretenses, which led to his lengthy detention while he was being
prosecuted, and that his arrest and detention were unlawful. Stokes’ claims, therefore, include a
claim for a violation of his Fourth Amendment rights as well as a claim for a violation of his
Fourteenth Amendment right to due process based on his alleged false arrest, false
imprisonment, and malicious prosecution.

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III.

Discussion
A. Undisputed Material Facts
Detective Landavazo sets forth a statement of facts that provides background and details

of the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) investigation into the death of Barbier. Doc. 21 at
3–15. Some of the facts in Detective Landavazo’s statement of facts, however, are not material
to the determination of whether he is entitled to qualified immunity and summary judgment.
[T]he substantive law will identify which facts are material. 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 . . . . [I]t is the substantive law’s
identification of which facts are critical and which facts are irrelevant that
governs.
Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). Accordingly, some of Detective
Landavazo’s facts are not included here.
Stokes does not specifically dispute the facts set forth by Detective Landavazo. Instead,
Stokes lists what he considers admissions by Detective Landavazo, and discusses the witness
interviews and defects in the affidavit with respect to each witness’s statement. Doc. 25 at 2–12.
Because Stokes does not specifically dispute any of the material facts, the undisputed material
facts come either from those listed by Detective Landavazo in his Martinez report or directly
from information in the record.
I find that the undisputed material facts are as follows:
1.

At 2:50 p.m. on March 7, 2012, Detective J. Kelly of the Albuquerque Police
Department (“APD”) responded to a shooting callout at 500 Chama, Albuquerque,
New Mexico, and observed an unconscious male on the ground of the parking lot
suffering from apparent gun shot wounds. Doc. 21 at 3; Doc. 21-16 at 22.

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2.

The male, who was later identified as Rene Barbier, was transported to the University
of New Mexico Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Doc. 21 at 3.

3.

At approximately 3:40 p.m. that same day, APD Sgt. Barboa notified APD Detective
Russ Landavazo of a violent crime call at 500 Chama SE Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Id.

4.

After arriving at the scene, Detective Landavazo attended a briefing conducted by
Detective Kelly. Id.

5.

During the briefing, Detective Kelly advised that he and other officers spoke to
several witnesses (Saul Nevarez, Marisela Bustillos, Nicole Mishoe, and April
Lozano) who said that two dark skinned males may have been involved in the
shooting. Id. at 3–4.

6.

One of the males described by the witnesses was wearing a red hooded sweatshirt and
appeared to run from the scene towards the nearby apartments at 437 Mesilla SE and
into unit #202. The witnesses said that the other male drove away from the scene in a
red or burnt orange four-door car. Id. at 4.

7.

Detective Landavazo learned from Detective Kelly that Nevarez described a “reddish
four-door ‘Ford Focus’ outside with a black male driver, the victim in the front
passenger seat, and a black male rear seat passenger.” Doc. 21-1 at 7.

8.

Mishoe said the vehicle she saw was “a burnt orange car.” Doc. 21-4 at 24, 26–27.

9.

Bustillos described seeing a new red or maroon car. Doc. 21-1 at 7–8; Doc. 21-5 at
29, 32.

10.

Two officers located a red/burnt orange vehicle at 400 Rainbow Ct. SE that matched
the description of the vehicle identified by witnesses. Doc. 21 at 4–5.

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11.

Officers transported witnesses Saul Nevarez, Marisela Bustillos, and Nicole Mishoe
to the vehicle location and asked whether the vehicle was involved in the shooting. 3
Doc 21 at 5.

12.

While Nevarez and Bustillos denied the vehicle at 400 Rainbow was the one they
saw, Mishoe said that she was positive it was the vehicle involved in the shooting.
Id.; Doc. 21-4 at 36–37.

13.

Detective Landavazo learned from the briefing that Bustillos stated she saw two black
males, one wearing a red hooded sweatshirt, meet up with a male driving a red fourdoor vehicle. Doc. 21-1 at 7.

14.

During the briefing, Detective Kelly said that in the initial investigation of the
incident, officers made contact with three individuals in unit #202 at 437 Mesilla SE:
Andre Wallace, Alondo Butler, and Juanita Neil. Doc. 21 at 4, 7.

15.

Detective Kelly also stated during the briefing that a grey Honda Civic LX was found
near the scene that was registered to the decedent, Barbier. Doc. 21 at 4. Barbier’s
cell phone was located inside this vehicle. Id. at 10.

16.

Officers re-interviewed the eyewitnesses and recorded their statements. Doc. 21 at 5.

17.

In his recorded statement, Nevarez again identified the shooter’s vehicle as a newer
model, red four-door car, possibly a Ford Focus. Id. at 6; Doc. 21-6 at 9.

18.

Nevarez described the shooter as a large black man, taller than 6 feet, around 200
pounds. Doc. 21-6 at 10.

19.

In her recorded statement, Mishoe described the shooter as Hispanic with dark hair,
5’9” tall, and 180 pounds. Doc. 21-4 at 31–32.

3

Witness April Lozano also was transported to the vehicle at 400 Rainbow Ct. SE, but her
observations are not relevant to the issues presented here. Doc. 21 at 5.
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20.

Alondo Butler was interviewed by police at around 9:15 p.m. on March 7, 2012.
Doc. 21 at 8; Doc. 21-8 at 13.

21.

Butler told police that he knew Barbier (the victim), and that he met up with Barbier
at around 2:00 p.m. on the afternoon of March 7, 2012. Doc. 21 at 9.

22.

Butler said that Barbier asked him to mediate a dispute between Barbier and an
individual named “Florida” regarding a drug deal that had gone bad. Id.

23.

Butler stated that Florida arrived at 500 Chama in a maroon, four-door car that looked
like a new Chevy Cobalt. Id.; Doc. 21-8 at 29–30.

24.

Butler described Florida as a black man, about 5’10”, 190 to 200 pounds. Doc. 21 at
9; Doc. 21-8 at 25–26.

25.

Butler explained that he and Barbier entered Florida’s car, and Barbier and Florida
began to argue. Doc. 21 at 9. Florida pulled out a gun and told Barbier to get out of
his car or he would “burn” him. Id.

26.

Florida then got out of the car and walked to the front passenger side door, where
Barbier was sitting. Id. at 10. Barbier also got out and punched Florida in the face,
so Florida shot Barbier three times. Id.; Doc. 21-8 at 27, 32.

27.

Butler told Detective Landavazo that Barbier had called Florida earlier in the day so
they could talk about the drug deal, and therefore that Florida’s number could be
found on Barbier’s cell phone. Doc. 21 at 10; Doc. 21-9 at 19–20, 23–24.

28.

A search of Barbier’s cell phone revealed that the last outgoing call he made was to
359-1311. Doc. 21 at 10.

29.

After the recorded interview, Butler advised Detective Landavazo that Florida had
called Butler’s cell phone shortly after he drove away from the scene and told Butler

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not to talk to the police about what he had seen. Doc. 21 at 10; Doc. 21-1 at 21.
30.

Detective Landavazo searched Butler’s cell phone, and Butler identified Florida’s
phone number as 359-1311. Id.

31.

Detective Vollmer contacted the wireless carrier of the number 359-1311 and was
given the longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates where the phone was located. Doc.
21 at 11. These coordinates placed the phone in the area of Adobe Street and Badger
Street in Veguita, New Mexico. Id.

32.

Officers responded to the Veguita location and found a red four-door Nissan Sentra
parked in the driveway of a trailer located on the northeast corner of Adobe Street and
Badger Street. Id.; Doc. 21-2 at 27.

33.

Although there were two other trailers located within the coordinates, neither had a
car parked near it matching the description given by the witnesses. Doc. 21 at 11.

34.

Detective Landavazo drafted a search warrant for the trailer and an arrest warrant for
“AKA ‘Florida,’ a ‘Black male adult, approximately 6’0” tall.’” Id.; see also Doc.
21-16 at 24, 26. True copies of the Affidavit for Search Warrant, Warrant for Arrest,
and Criminal Complaint – Arrest Warrant Affidavit are attached to the Martinez
Report. Doc. 21-16 at 21–28.

35.

When the officers executed the search warrant on March 8, 2012, Stokes was among
the people found in the trailer. Doc. 21 at 11. Stokes matched the description on the
arrest warrant of a black male adult, approximately 6'0" tall. Id.; Doc. 21-2 at 28.

36.

Stokes told Detective Vollmer that his phone number was 505-359-1311, and that he
goes by the name of “Florida.” Doc. 21 at 12; Doc. 21-2 at 28.

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37.

Detective Vollmer turned Stokes over to Detective Landavazo, who arrested Stokes.
Doc. 21-1 at 36; Doc. 21-2 at 28.
B. Fourteenth Amendment Claim for Malicious Prosecution
A plaintiff charging the government with unconstitutional imprisonment has at least two

potential constitutional claims: (1) a plaintiff who has been seized and imprisoned without legal
process may have a Fourth Amendment claim analogous to a tort claim for false arrest or false
imprisonment; and (2) a plaintiff who has been seized and imprisoned pursuant to legal but
“wrongful” process may have a Fourth Amendment claim analogous to a tort claim for malicious
prosecution. Myers v. Koopman, 738 F.3d 1190, 1194 (10th Cir. 2013) (as amended on denial of
reh’g Jan. 8, 2014). “Unreasonable seizures that occur after the institution of legal process can
also form the basis for Fourteenth Amendment malicious-prosecution claims where an adequate
state remedy does not exist.” Id. at 1194, n.3 (citing Mondragon v. Thompson, 519 F.3d 1078,
1082 (10th Cir. 2008)). Stokes, however, cannot sustain a Fourteenth Amendment malicious
prosecution claim under § 1983 because there is an adequate remedy under state law.
“The Fourteenth Amendment protects individuals against deprivations of liberty without
due process of law.” Myers, 738 F.3d at 1193 (citing U.S. CONST. amend. XIV, § 1). “If a state
actor’s harmful conduct is unauthorized and thus could not be anticipated pre-deprivation, than
an adequate post-deprivation remedy—such as a state tort claim—will satisfy due process
requirements.” Id. (citing Becker v. Kroll, 494 F.3d 904, 921 (10th Cir. 2007)).
Here, Stokes alleges that Detective Landavazo conjured up facts to create the illusion of
probable cause for an arrest warrant and subsequent prosecution. “Such lawlessness could not
have been anticipated or prevented pre-deprivation, but a post-deprivation malicious-prosecution
claim serves as an effective antidote.” Meyers, 738, F.3d at 1193. New Mexico law provides

11

that remedy. See, e.g., Durham v. Guest, 2009-NMSC-007, ¶ 29, 145 N.M. 694, 701, 204 P.3d
19, 26 (outlining the elements of a malicious abuse of process claim under New Mexico law);
N.M. STAT. ANN. § 41-4-12 (law enforcement officers are not immune from liability for injuries
resulting from various torts, including malicious prosecution). “The existence of the state
remedy flattens the Fourteenth Amendment peg on which [Stokes] now tries to hang his § 1983
malicious-prosecution claim.” Meyers, 738, F.3d at 1193. Because post-deprivation state tort
remedies exist and satisfy due process requirements, I find that Stokes has an adequate remedy
under state law. I therefore recommend that Stokes’ claim under the Fourteenth Amendment be
dismissed with prejudice.
C. Fourth Amendment Claim for Malicious Prosecution
The Fourth Amendment protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures.
U.S. CONST. amend. IV. To establish a Fourth Amendment claim for malicious prosecution
under § 1983, Stokes must prove that (1) Detective Landavazo caused Stokes’ continued
confinement or prosecution; (2) the original action terminated in favor of Stokes; (3) no probable
cause supported the original arrest, continued confinement, or prosecution of Stokes; (4)
Detective Landavazo acted with malice; and (5) Stokes sustained damages. Sanchez v. Hartley,
810 F.3d 750, 754 n.1 (10th Cir. 2016) (citing Wilkins v. DeReyes, 528 F.3d 790, 799 (10th Cir.
2008)). As Detective Landavazo points out, “[t]he focal point for claims of wrongful arrest,
detention, and prosecution under [§] 1983 is whether there is probable cause supporting an
arrest.” Doc. 21 at 17 (citing Grubbs v. Bailes, 445 F.3d 1275, 1278 (10th Cir. 2006)); Manuel v.
City of Joliet, Ill., 137 S. Ct. 911, 917 (2017) (“a pretrial restraint on liberty is unlawful unless a
judge (or grand jury) first makes a reliable finding of probable cause”); Wong Sun v. United
States, 371 U.S. 471, 481–82 (1963) (“The arrest warrant procedure serves to insure that the

12

deliberate, impartial judgment of a judicial officer will be interposed between the citizen and the
police, to assess the weight and credibility of the information which the complaining officer
adduces as probable cause.”); Bailey v. United States, 568 U.S. 186, 192 (2013) (“[T]he general
rule [is] that Fourth Amendment seizures are ‘reasonable’ only if based on probable cause to
believe that the individual has committed a crime.”).
“Probable cause to arrest exists only when the facts and circumstances within the
officers’ knowledge, and of which they have reasonably trustworthy information, are sufficient
in themselves to warrant a man of reasonable caution in the belief that an offense has been or is
being committed.” Cortez v. McCauley, 478 F.3d 1108, 1116 (10th Cir. 2007). Probable cause
is not based on proof beyond a reasonable doubt or by a preponderance of the evidence. Florida
v. Harris, 568 U.S. 237, 243 (2013). The prosecution does not need to establish a prima facie
case in order to establish probable cause. St. John v. Justmann, 771 F.2d 445, 448 (10th Cir.
1985). Instead, “it may establish probable cause for issuance of an arrest warrant by
demonstrating a substantial probability that a crime has been committed and that a specific
individual committed the crime.” Id. The courts only require a “‘fair probability’ on which
‘reasonable and prudent people, not legal technicians, act.’” Id. (internal citation omitted).
Stokes contends that the affidavit used to support his arrest is defective because Detective
Landavazo omitted certain information that was exculpatory and included certain information
that was false. Before a warrant for an arrest or a search can issue, the Fourth Amendment
requires that a judicial officer “be supplied with sufficient information to support an independent
judgment that probable cause exists for the warrant.” Whiteley v. Warden, Wyo. State
Penitentiary, 401 U.S. 560, 564 (1971). When faced with the determination of probable cause
where the plaintiff alleges the existence of false statements and material omissions, the Tenth

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Circuit directs as follows:
[T]he court’s task is to determine whether the document, shorn of the false
information, would still demonstrate probable cause to believe that the plaintiff
committed the crime in question. If an arrest warrant affidavit contains false
statements, the existence of probable cause is determined by setting aside the false
information and reviewing the remaining contents of the affidavit. Where
information has been omitted from an affidavit, we determine the existence of
probable cause by examining the affidavit as if the omitted information had been
included and inquiring if the affidavit would still have given rise to probable
cause for the warrant.
Taylor v. Meacham, 82 F.3d 1556, 1562 (10th Cir.1996). “If hypothetically correcting the
misrepresentation or omission would not alter the determination of probable cause, the
misconduct was not of constitutional significance and is not actionable under § 1983; but if this
hypothesizing would alter the probable-cause determination, the misconduct undermined Fourth
Amendment guarantees and may support redress under § 1983.” Grubbs v. Bailes, 445 F.3d
1275, 1278 (10th Cir. 2006) (citation omitted).
In this case, hypothetically correcting the misrepresentation or omission does not alter the
determination of probable cause. The alleged misconduct by Detective Landavazo is not of
constitutional significance and is not actionable under § 1983.
1. Probable Cause in the Affidavit
The Criminal Complaint – Arrest Warrant Affidavit (hereinafter “affidavit”) drafted by
Detective Landavazo established probable cause to arrest Stokes for the crimes charged.4

4

The criminal complaint charged Plaintiff with the crimes of murder, intimidation of a witness,
and tampering with evidence. “Murder in the first degree is the killing of one human being by
another without lawful justification or excuse, by any of the means with which death may be
caused: (1) by any kind of willful, deliberate and premediated killing; (2) in the commission of
or attempt to commit any felony; or (3) by any act greatly dangerous to the lives of others,
indicating a depraved mind regardless of human life. Whoever commits murder in the first
degree is guilty of a capital felony.” N.M. STAT. ANN. § 30-2-1. “Bribery or intimidation of a
witness consists of any person knowingly: . . . (3) intimidating or threatening any person or
giving or offering to give anything of value to any person with the intent to keep the person from
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Detective Landavazo included the following information obtained from the investigation into his
affidavit.
Butler, an eyewitness to the shooting, identified “Florida” as the shooter. Doc. 21-9 at
11–12; Doc. 21-16 at 27 (Butler is identified as “A.B.” in the affidavit). Butler told the police
that Barbier had spoken with Florida prior to the shooting to set up a meeting, and so Florida’s
number would be on Barbier’s cell phone. Doc. 21-2 at 38; Doc. 21-9 at 20, 23–24, 25, 28; Doc.
21-16 at 27. When the police searched Barbier’s cell phone, they found that the last outgoing
call was to 359-1311 at approximately 2:27 p.m. Doc. 21-16 at 27. The shooting took place less
than a half hour later, at around 2:50 p.m. Doc. 21-16 at 26; Doc. 26-1 at 1. Butler also told the
police that after the shooting, “‘Florida’ called [Butler’s] cell phone and threatened that he better
not talk to the police about what he had witnessed.” Doc. 21-16 at 27. Butler identified
Florida’s number on his cell phone as 359-1311. Id.; see also Doc. 21-1 at 21. Detective
Landavazo relayed the phone information to detectives who were able to locate the phone to
within an 80-meter radius at a location in Veguita, New Mexico. Doc. 21-16 at 27. Within that
80-meter radius was a trailer with a red four-door car parked in the carport next to the trailer. Id.
Several witnesses say they saw the shooter drive away in a car that was some hue of red,
and that was in the class of vehicles that matched the car parked next to the trailer. For example,
Mishoe described the shooter’s car as a nice-looking, “burnt orange” car. Doc. 21-4 at 18, 20,
24, 26-27. Bustillos said the car was between a red and a maroon color and was “a new car.”

truthfully reporting to a law enforcement officer or any agency of government that is responsible
for enforcing criminal laws information relating to the commission or possible commission of a
felony offense or a violation of conditions of probation, parole or release pending judicial
proceedings.” N.M. STAT. ANN. § 30-24-3. “Tampering with evidences consists of destroying,
changing, hiding, placing or fabricating any physical evidence with intent to prevent the
apprehension, prosecution or conviction of any person or to throw suspicion of the commission
of a crime upon another.” See N.M. STAT. ANN. § 30-22-5.
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Doc. 21-5 at 29. Nevarez described the shooter’s car as a newer model, four-door, red car,
possibly a Ford Focus. Doc. 21-6 at 6, 9 (speaking through an interpreter). Butler described
Florida’s vehicle as a new, maroon, Chevy Cobalt, with four doors. Doc. 21-8 at 30. At the
trailer located in Veguita, NM, officers observed a red, four-door 2011 Nissan Sentra parked in
the driveway on the south side of the trailer. Doc. 21-16 at 27. There was no other vehicle in the
area matching this description. Doc. 21-2 at 27.
The facts presented to the judge in the criminal complaint demonstrated a substantial
probability that a crime had been committed, and that a man known by the name “Florida,” with
the phone number 359-1311 and who drove a red four-door sedan committed the crime. When
the officers executed the search warrant on the property on March 8, 2012, Stokes was among
the people found in the trailer. Doc. 21 at 11. When the police encountered Stokes, he
confirmed that his phone number was 359-1311. Doc. 21 at 12; Doc. 21-2 at 28; Doc. 21-12 at
29. Stokes also confirmed that he went by the moniker “Florida.” Doc. 21-2 at 28; Doc. 21-12
at 30. Stokes matched the description on the arrest warrant of a black male adult, approximately
6’0” tall. Doc. 21 at 12; Doc. 21-2 at 28. In other words, sufficient information in the affidavit,
combined with the information gathered by the police when they executed the search warrant,
established probable cause to arrest Stokes.
In support of his arrest warrant, Detective Landavazo specifically used information from
Marisela Bustillos, Saul Nevarez, and Alondo Butler. Stokes’ criticisms of each are addressed
below.
2. Marisela Bustillos
Stokes contends that Detective Landavazo changed Marisela Bustillos’ statement in
several ways. First, in the affidavit, Detective Landavazo noted that “M.B.” (Marisela Bustillos)

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said “she heard several shots fired and looked out her window.” Doc. 21-16 at 22, 26. Stokes
argues that this is incorrect because Bustillos waited until it was quiet before she looked out her
window. Doc. 25 at 4, ¶ 13. While Detective Landavazo’s affidavit implies that Bustillos
immediately looked out her window, the detective’s failure to include a precise time period
between what Bustillos heard and when she looked out her window does not make the affidavit
incorrect. Nevertheless, reading the facts in the light most favorable to Stokes, the Court will
add to the affidavit that “Bustillos waited until it was quiet and then” looked out her window. I
find that the adding this language to the affidavit has no effect on the determination of probable
cause.
Next, Detective Landavazo states in the affidavit that Bustillos “stated the male in the red
hooded sweatshirt ran East on Bell,” and that she said that “she recognized the red vehicle as
being a drug dealer who frequents the area.” Doc. 21-16 at 26. Stokes contends that Bustillos
did not say this in her recorded statement. Doc. 1 at 7; Doc. 21 at 22; Doc. 25 at 13. Although
Bustillos said that she saw a red or maroon car, Doc. 21-5 at 29, 32, and saw a man in a red
jacket walking around the neighborhood, Doc. 21-5 at 28, Stokes is correct that Bustillos did not
say in her recorded statement that she recognized the red vehicle as belonging to a drug dealer
who frequents the area. 5 That statement will be omitted from the affidavit. I find that the

5

Although Bustillos did not say “the male in the red hooded sweatshirt ran East on Bell,” and
that “she recognized the red vehicle as being a drug dealer who frequents the area” in her
recorded statement, Detective Kelly interviewed Bustillos prior to Detective Landavazo’s arrival
at the scene. In the interview with Detective Kelly, Bustillos said “she saw two black males, one
wearing a red hooded sweatshirt; meet up with a male driving a red four door vehicle. Marisela
said she heard three gunshots and believed the driver of the vehicle shot one of the other males.
Marisela said the driver of the red car left the scene north on Chama and east on Bell and the
male in the red hooded sweatshirt ran north on Chama.” Doc. 21-1 at 7–8. Detective Kelly
relayed this information to Detective Landavazo. Id. “Police officers are entitled to rely upon
information relayed to them by other officers in determining whether there is reasonable
suspicion to justify an investigative detention or probable cause to arrest,” as long as such
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omission of this language has no effect on the determination of probable cause.
In the affidavit, Detective Landavazo writes that “M.B. stated the male in the red hooded
sweatshirt ran East on Bell to the apartments on the Northwest corner of Bell and Mesilla into
apartment number 202.” Doc. 21-16 at 22. Stokes points out, however, that Bustillos did not say
this in her recorded statement. In fact, Bustillos said that she didn’t know where the man in the
red sweatshirt went. Doc. 25 at 4; Doc. 21-5 at 30. This language also will be omitted from the
affidavit. I find, however, that the omission of this language has no effect on the determination
of probable cause.
3. Saul Nevarez
Stokes argues that Detective Landavazo misstated Saul Nevarez’s statement. Doc. 25 at
5. In the affidavit, Detective Landavazo writes that “S.N.” (Saul Nevarez) said:
the rear male passenger exited the vehicle and was wearing a red hooded
sweatshirt with a grey shirt. S.N. stated the male wearing the red sweatshirt made
a phone call with a cell phone and ran from the scene East on Bell to apartments
located on the corner of Bell and Mesilla.
Doc. 21-16 at 26. Stokes is correct. In his recorded statement, Nevarez said that the male in the
rear passenger seat was wearing a brown sweatshirt. Doc. 25 at 5; Doc. 21-6 at 12. The Court
will omit the “red” sweatshirt color from the affidavit and replace it with “brown” sweatshirt in
the affidavit. Nevertheless, I find that the color of the hooded sweatshirt has no effect on the
determination of probable cause.

reliance is “objectively reasonable.” Oliver v. Woods, 209 F.3d 1179, 1190–91 (10th Cir. 2000).
Although Detective Landavazo was entitled to rely on information relayed to him by Detective
Kelly, viewing the facts in the light most favorable to Stokes, I will accept Stokes’ version of the
facts and disregard Bustillos’ statements to Detective Kelly.
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4. Alondo Butler
Stokes describes Alondo Butler as “the main witness to this crime and he was the major
part to the information the [Detective] Landavazo used to get a warrant for my arrest.” Doc. 25
at 12. Knowing the importance of Butler’s statement, Stokes attempts to discredit Butler by
suggesting Butler was under the influence of crack cocaine when he gave his statement, and by
pointing out that Butler lied to police during the course of his interview. Doc. 1 at 4; Doc. 25 at
8, 9, 13, 15. Evaluations of witness credibility, however, are inappropriate at the summaryjudgment stage. The Court’s role is not to weigh the evidence. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249;
Windon Third Oil and Gas v. Federal Deposit Ins., 805 F.2d 342, 346 (10th Cir.1986) (“a
summary judgment motion does not empower a court to act as the jury and determine witness
credibility, weigh the evidence, or choose between competing inferences”).
The standard for evaluating probable cause is whether the officer has
“reasonably trustworthy” information sufficient to lead a prudent person to
believe that the person arrested has committed the offense. In determining
whether an officer has sufficient reasonably trustworthy information to constitute
probable cause, clearly established case law requires officers to look at the
“totality of the circumstances.”
Baptiste v. J.C. Penney Co., 147 F.3d 1252, 1259 (10th Cir. 1998). It is Stokes’ burden to show
that the evidence Detective Landavazo relied upon was not reasonably trustworthy. Romero v.
Fay, 45 F.3d 1472, 1476 & n.1 (10th Cir. 1995).
Stokes points out that Andre Wallace told police that he and Butler smoked a “stone”
when Butler came to his house the day of the shooting around 3:00 in the afternoon. Doc. 21-7
at 16, 18, 33, 34. Butler, on the other hand, did not state he had used drugs that day. See
generally Doc. 21-8 at 12–32. Juanita Neil stated that Wallace and Butler did not do any drugs
that afternoon. Doc. 21-7 at 4. Even assuming that Wallace was telling the truth, Butler did not
give his statement to the police immediately after the shooting—which occurred around 2:50 in

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the afternoon. Doc. 21-16 at 22. Rather, the police interviewed Butler over six hours later at
around 9:00 p.m. Doc. 21-8 at 13. There is no indication that Butler was under the influence of
drugs when he was interviewed by police.
Stokes also attempts to discredit Butler’s statement by pointing out that Butler changed
his story though the course of his statement and lied to the police. Doc. 25 at 12, 15. Butler’s
statement did change during the course of his interview. For example, Butler told the police that
he “barley” knew the victim. Doc. 21-3 at 37; Doc. 21-8 at 16. Later Butler explained that
Barbier called Butler and asked Butler to talk to Florida on his behalf. Doc. 21-9 at 14, 20. At
first, Butler said that he did not know the name of the guy Barbier was meeting. Doc. 21-8 at 27.
Later in the interview, Butler admitted that he knew that the name of the guy who shot Barbier
was “Florida.” Doc. 21-9 at 12–13. Butler actually knew Florida and previously had purchased
“weed” from him. Doc. 21-9 at 21, 26. Butler explained that he didn’t tell the officers Florida’s
name at first because he was afraid of retaliation, and he knew “what he’s capable of because I
[saw] it firsthand for myself.” Doc. 21-9 at 11, 13.
Further, Butler initially said that Florida’s phone number was not on his phone, Doc. 21-9
at 16, and that after the shooting he talked to his girlfriend and no one else, Doc. 21-8 at 35–40.
Later Butler explained that “Florida” called him after the shooting and told him to not talk to the
police, so Florida’s number would be on his phone. Doc. 21-1 at 21. Butler’s statement was
corroborated when the officers examined both Butler’s and Barbier’s phones and found Florida’s
phone number on both of them. Doc. 21 at 10; Doc. 21-1 at 21; Doc. 21-9 at 19–20, 23–24.
Stokes later confirmed that this was his phone number, and that he went by the moniker
“Florida.” Doc. 21-12 at 29–30. Thus, despite the changes in his story during the course of the
interview, I find that under the totality of the circumstances, a reasonable officer would believe

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that Butler’s statement was reasonably trustworthy.
5. Nichole Mishoe
Stokes argues that Detective Landavazo failed to include in his affidavit that Nichole
Mishoe positively identified another car as the shooter’s car. Doc. 25 at 13. Two officers
located a red/burnt orange vehicle at 400 Rainbow Ct. SE that matched the description of the
vehicle identified by witnesses. Doc. 21 at 4–5. The officers took Mishoe to the vehicle, and she
positively identified it as the vehicle she saw at the scene. Id. at 5; Doc. 21-4 at 36–37.
Detective Landavazo did not include this fact in his affidavit.
There were two occupants in the vehicle identified by Mishoe, a male and a female.
Mishoe could not positively identify the male and did not recognize the female. Doc. 21-4 at
37–38. Nevarez and Bustillos were sure that the car at 400 Rainbow was not the vehicle
involved in the shooting. Doc. 21-1 at 10. The officers thoroughly investigated whether the
occupants of the vehicle stopped at 400 Rainbow were involved in the shooting and determined
that they were not involved in Barbier’s death. See Doc. 21 at 5; Doc. 21-1 at 10, 15–16; Doc.
21-14 at 24 thru Doc. 21-15 at 24. Under the totality of the circumstances, the officers had
reasonably trustworthy information to determine that the vehicle identified by Mishoe was not
the vehicle involved in the shooting. Accordingly, I find that adding the information that Mishoe
identified another vehicle as the one belonging to the shooter—when two other witnesses stated
that it was not the right vehicle, and the police determined that the occupants of the vehicle were
not involved in the shooting—did not have an effect on the determination of probable cause.
6. Stokes’ Other Arguments are Unavailing.
Stokes argues that none of the witnesses gave the same description of the car. Doc. 25 at
14. I find this argument unpersuasive. All of the witnesses gave the same general description of

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the shooter’s car. None of the witnesses described anything other than a vehicle that matched the
same physical characteristics of the red Nissan Sentra parked at the trailer where Stokes was
found. None of the witnesses said that the car was blue, white, green, yellow, black, or grey. All
of the witnesses agreed that the car was some shade of red. None of the witnesses described the
shooter’s vehicle as a truck or SUV. All of the witnesses described the car as a four-door
compact sedan. There was nothing particularly unusual about the red Nissan Sentra parked at the
trailer where Stokes was found, and it matched the general description given by all of the
witnesses.
Stokes further points out the discrepancies in the several witness statements. Doc. 25 at
5–9 (discussing the statements of witnesses Sherry Archuleta, Nicole Mishoe, Jeannie Rocque,
April Lozano Juanita Neil, and Andre Wallace). Discrepancies in witness statements, however,
do not necessarily negate probable cause. See Taylor v. Meacham, 82 F.3d 1556, 1562–63 (10th
Cir. 1996) (inaccuracies in affidavit and inconsistencies in witnesses’ statements did not negate
the similarities between the witnesses’ statements and did not affect the determination of
probable cause); Romero, 45 F.3d at 1477 (“Once [the officer] concluded based on the facts and
information known to him that probable cause existed to arrest Plaintiff for the murder of [the
victim], his failure to question Plaintiff’s alibi witnesses prior to the arrest did not negate
probable cause.”).
Stokes also contends that no one picked him out of a photo array, and fingerprints did not
connect him to the murder. Doc. 1 at 7; Doc. 25 at 14. Detective Landavazo did not base his
statement of probable cause in the affidavit on photo identification or fingerprints. Instead, the
affidavit was based on an eyewitness’s statement that the shooter was known by the name
“Florida,” the fact that the victim and the eyewitness both had matching phone numbers in their

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phones that the eyewitness claimed belonged to the shooter, the location information derived
from the shooter’s phone number, and the fact that a car similar to the one driven by the shooter
was found at this location. When the police also encountered Stokes at this location, Stokes
informed Detective Vollar that his phone number was 359-1311, and that he went by the moniker
“Florida.” Doc. 21-2 at 28. This evidence established probable cause to arrest Stokes.
IV.

Recommendation
The undisputed material facts establish that although some of the details provided in the

affidavit were incorrect, even if the Court were to hypothetically correct the alleged
misrepresentations or omissions contained in the affidavit, those corrections would not affect the
determination of probable cause. Detective Landavazo’s alleged misconduct, therefore, was not
of constitutional significance, and is not actionable under § 1983. Detective Landavazo is
entitled to judgment as a matter of law and qualified immunity because Stokes cannot establish a
violation of his constitutional rights.
Accordingly, I recommend that the Court GRANT Detective Landavazo’s motion for
summary judgment and DISMISS Stokes’ complaint with prejudice.
THE PARTIES ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED THAT WITHIN 14 DAYS OF SERVICE of
a copy of these Proposed Findings and Recommended Disposition they may file written
objections with the Clerk of the District Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). A party
must file any objections with the Clerk of the District Court within the fourteen-day period
if that party wants to have appellate review of the proposed findings and recommended
disposition. If no objections are filed, no appellate review will be allowed.

__________________________
Laura Fashing
United States Magistrate Judge

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