Civil Rights: Seizure-Search Warrant-Official Capacity Claim

Where an appellant brought an action against deputies and a sheriff for unreasonable search and seizure after the defendants entered his property after a tip about a stolen vehicle, the deputies were entitled to qualified immunity since reasonable officers under the circumstances would think that authorization to seize the vehicle would include implicit authorization to seize the vehicle’s keys, and the official-capacity claim against the sheriff also failed because the appellant did not present evidence of an official policy or municipal custom that led to a constitutional violation.

Judgment is affirmed.

Thiel v. Korte (MLW No. 74803/Case No. 19-1860 – 6 pages) (U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit, Arnold, J.) Appealed from U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri, Perry, J. (Brandy B. Barth, St. Louis, argued for appellant) (Joel D. Brett, St. Charles, argued for appellee; Bryon Earl Hale appeared on the brief).