Minnesota Judge Says Police Actions Justified In Maddox Murder Case
Posted
Shawn Hogendorf-
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Scott County Judge Jerome B. Abrams ruled that the Prior Lake Police Department's actions in the investigation into the disappearance and death of Ruth Anne Maddox were justified, according to a 37-page ruling filed in Scott County Court Thursday morning.
Attorneys for Charles Anthony Maddox Jr., 45, of Prior Lake - charged with second-degree murder in relation to the death of his wife, a Southwest Newspapers reporter - had questioned law enforcement's investigation of the case during a contested omnibus hearing May 14.A former Warsaw resident, Ruth Anne, 45, worked for the Times-Union from April 1, 1987, to July 8, 2003. During her tenure at the Times-Union, she covered general assignments, as well as police and courts under the bylines of Ruth Anne Lipka and Ruth Anne Long.
According to court records:
Abrams denied the defense's motions to suppress evidence obtained upon the execution of the search warrant conducted by police on Nov. 12, 2008.
The judge also struck down:
n A motion made by the defense to suppress evidence obtained by police as the result of a warrantless arrest;
n A motion to suppress statements made by Maddox on the basis of an alleged Scales violation, which requires the recording of interrogations including any information given to the defendant about the existence and content of a Miranda warning;
* A motion to suppress evidence obtained as the result of an alleged curtilage violation, which protects people from unreasonable infringements of search and seizures related to the area immediately surrounding a home.
Abrams also denied the defense's motion to suppress statements made by Maddox on the basis of an alleged pre-Miranda warning violation. Maddox's attorney had argued that police placed him under arrest without probable cause.
But in his ruling, Abrams pointed out that Maddox voluntarily offered police two statements of confession that indicated officers would find his wife's body in the garage, as well as how he was involved in her demise.
Upon arrest, Olson immediately advised Maddox of his constitutional rights, Abrams ruled. Maddox was not interrogated for purposes of the Miranda prior to his initial statement. Maddox was asked to sit on the couch while the search warrant was executed. After the initial confession of the crime, Olson asked Maddox to repeat what he had said.
"The clarification inquiry by Detective Olson was not words or actions that would be reasonably likely to elicit additional incriminating statements," Abrams ruled. "Even if they were, the defendant's statement was voluntary and not in violation of the Miranda."
Abrams did rule that statements obtained by police after Maddox asked to speak with a lawyer were in violation of the law regarding Miranda rights and Maddox's right to counsel, and those statements must be suppressed in court.
The rulings came after Maddox's defense attorney, Fred Bruno, filed motions with the court on April 29, requesting the charges against Maddox be dismissed or the evidence in the case be excluded in a jury trial due to alleged violations by police. Bruno argued that the alleged violations would not allow Maddox to confront evidence and have due process in the case.
Abrams' rulings had not been received by Bruno's office as of Friday morning, said Julie Nelson, an associate attorney with Bruno. "Until we receive and review those documents, we have no comment on the case at this time," she said.
At the conclusion of the contested omnibus hearing in May, attorneys requested the opportunity to submit additional written legal documents for Abrams to review. The court received the last of the written documents on July 20, and Abrams made his ruling in writing on Thursday.
The next court hearing has not yet been set in the case.
Ruth Anne Maddox was found dead on Nov. 12, 2008 in the garage of the estranged couple's townhome at 16492 Timber Crest Drive. The Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner's Office ruled her death a homicide.
