State v. Eismon, Unpublished Decision (6-10-1999)
State v. Eismon, Unpublished Decision (6-10-1999)
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
On August 8, 1998, appellant, Todd Eismon, was charged with one count of driving under the influence in violation of R.C.
I THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AND/OR ABUSED ITS DISCRETION BY FAILING TO GRANT A CONTINUANCE FOR THE SUPPRESSION HEARING AND/OR TRIAL.
II THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FINDING APPELLANT GUILTY OF RECKLESS OPERATION ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
III THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AND/OR ABUSED ITS DISCRETION BY DENYING APPELLANT'S MOTION TO SUPPRESS.
IV THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AND/OR ABUSED ITS DISCRETION BY DENYING APPELLANT'S O CRIM R 29(A) MOTION.
V THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO PROVIDE A FAIR TRIAL TO APPELLANT.
VI THE TRIAL COURT'S SENTENCE IS UNREASONABLE.
VII THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING APPELLANT'S MOTION TO DISMISS THE CHARGE OF RECKLESS OPERATION ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AT ARRAIGNMENT.
VIII THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED PLAIN ERROR BY ALLOWING APPELLEE TO ACT HEREIN BY A PERSON UNAUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE LAW.
IX THE VERDICT OF THE JURY IS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.
X THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AND/OR ABUSED ITS DISCRETION BY FAILING TO RULE ON MOTIONS FILED 12/15/98.
THE COURT: Oh, okay. Alright, no that'll be, that'll be denied. I understand your position, Mr. Stokes. It's just that, you know, the Court can't continue every case that comes along simply because the Court was unsuccessful in accomplishing service of a subpoena. These subpoenas were not issued in fact until October 28th, which is within the rule but, you know, it just makes it very difficult when anyone could subpoena anybody and, or issue a praecipe for anybody and you know I can't, I can't be continuing cases solely on the basis that they weren't served. I don't know if the subpoena ever will be served.
November 3, 1998 T. at 4.
Appellant informed the trial court that Mr. Williams was a civilian passenger with the arresting officer who may have "information pertinent to one or both parties." Id. However appellant was unable to proffer Mr. Williams' testimony because he had "no idea what he's going to say." Id. at 5. Based upon this admission, we fail to see how appellant can demonstrate any prejudice. As for the motion to continue the trial date due to Mr. Williams' unavailability, appellant again failed to proffer any testimony. Again, we find no prejudice has been shown by the trial court's decision. Assignment of Error I is denied.
MOTION TO DISMISS At the arraignment, appellant moved to dismiss the reckless operation charge, arguing as follows: MR. STOKES: * * * One, it fails to (tape inaudible) itself to any city as far as the ordinance is concerned. Secondly, the offense in the first charge alleges that it occurred on a public highway whereas the second offense indicates that the infraction occurred on private property. They both can't be true at the same time. And thirdly there are elements missing from the second offense, being without due regard to the rights, or safety, of persons or property.
August 10, 1998 T. at 2.
The trial court ruled as follows:
THE COURT: Okay. Mr. Stokes, I'll note that the ticket does indicate the City of Heath so I'll find that is sufficient for the codified ordinances. I'll note that it does claim it occurred on a highway, Hopewell Drive, at 441 Hopewell so I'll find it sufficiently states on private property and I'll also find that it doesn't need to contain all the requisites of due, without due regard, etc. to state a, an offense. I'll overrule your motion to dismiss at this point.
Id.
We concur with the trial court's findings. The complaint form sub judice (traffic citation) permits the filing of additional charges and specifically enumerated the code sections claimed to have been violated. The trial court did not err in denying appellant's motion to dismiss the reckless operation charge at arraignment.
MANIFEST WEIGHT Appellant was convicted of driving while under the influence and reckless operation on private property. Appellant argues he cannot be convicted of driving on public and private property at the same time given the facts. On review for sufficiency, a reviewing court is to examine the evidence at trial to determine whether such evidence, if believed, would support a conviction. State v. Jenks (1991),
* * *
A. Well, as, uh, as the vehicle entered in the parking lot there's a transition from pavement to gravel and it formed a big dust cloud kind of, not, you could see that once he'd hit the gravel he was obviously at a high rate of speed cause just rolling through there won't, won't cause such a, such a mess.
* * *
A. As I went though the, as I pulled through the lot, you could see where he had entered due to the dust and the, the spin marks in the gravel. I kind of came behind the, just to the east side of the, the storage building there. Uhm, it went through the lot and normally the only exit out of there is, or what's supposed to be an exit out is through the old Chubby's Country Palace parking lot which goes onto Industrial Parkway just to the east. I started that way and I just happened to look and I could see dust to the west side of the building kind of behind Wendy's where there's just barely enough room, it's not a designated driveway or street or anything. There's just barely enough room for a car to go between the buildings and up into the Wendy's parking lot. As I went past you could see the see the dust that way and then I saw the tail lights to the vehicle matching that description sitting at the drive-thru in the, in Wendy's parking lot.
Id. at 7, 8 and 9, respectively.
We find the erratic movement of appellant's vehicle, the squealing tires and the dash across private properties to be sufficient indicia of reasonable suspicion, especially after having been passed by a police car. Given the totality of the circumstances and an analysis of the "whole picture" pursuant to United States v. Cortez (1981),
The standard to be employed by a trial court in determining a Crim.R. 29 motion is set out in State v. Bridgeman (1978),
The standard for manifest weight/sufficiency has been set forth supra. The state presented the testimony of two officers, Patrolman Keeley and Patrolman David Kendall. In addition to Patrolman Keeley's observations cited supra, Patrolman Keeley testified to the following: I stop at the light, I just get stopped behind traffic, and then I hear tires squealing and I, my initial thought was that it was an accident, that someone was coming up behind us and someone was gonna get hit. So, just reflex, I looked, I looked back to see if it's gonna be me that's gonna be hit or a vehicle in another lane. Uh, and just then I see that the 240SX that's in the far right hand lane to turn north cut across all the lanes of traffic and then go into a gravel parking lot behind TCI's service building. It's all gravel in there, uh, the, you could hear the tires spinning all the way across the road, there was gravel that was flying. You could hear it hitting either his car or another car, a huge dust cloud. I realized then that it was not going to be an accident, that whoever was in this vehicle was obviously in a hurry to get somewhere which is generally away from a police car.
* * *
As I went through, headed towards Industrial Parkway, I looked at my right behind the TCI Building and you could see that the dust was still, the dust was settling behind the building. And as I look up into Wendy's parking lot, which is right, directly to my right, there is no actual driveway through there. There's just barely enough room that you can fit a car behind that building. The parking lot's actually raised to where there's only one place that you could barely get a vehicle up onto it. It's probably a four or five foot rise, other than this one spot right behind the building, which we never use as access. I've never seen it used as access to that parking lot before. The dust was clearly behind that building and I knew then that he didn't go to the left to go out to Industrial Parkway and then you could see the vehicle's brake lights right in the, uh, that kind of dumps you right into the back of the drive-through at the Wendy's Restaurant on 79. So I then radioed that the vehicle was pulling into the drive-through and then at that point that's when I pulled around to there and the same vehicle that I'd seen with the missing hubcap was sitting, was the very last car at the drive-through at Wendy's.
* * * Q. Did you actually see him enter the parking lot there?
A. Yes, I did.
Q. Alright and was that a controlled entry, would you say?
A. I would say no.
Q. Well, how would you describe it then?
A. It was a very reckless entry. If you go from squealing the tires on pavement and then hit the gravel parking lot and then continue to accelerate.
T. at 14, 15 and 19, respectively.
After stopping appellant, Patrolman Keeley detected a smell of alcohol coming from appellant, and appellant's eyes were "glassed over and somewhat bloodshot." T. at 24, 26. During the field sobriety tests, appellant failed to follow instructions, leaned on the wall and was unable to complete the "one-leg stand test." T. at 27-28. During the "walk and turn test," appellant had to be instructed repeatedly and was unable to complete the test. T. at 29. On the "horizontal gaze nystagmus test," appellant demonstrated all six indicators of alcohol impairment. T. at 30-33. Patrolman Kendall arrived on the scene to transport appellant to the police department. T. at 37-38. Both patrolmen opined appellant was under the influence of alcohol. T. at 34, 97. Following his arrest, appellant became "agitated and argumentative" and "aggressive, combative and rude." T. at 35, 92. At the police department, appellant threatened the officers. T. at 40, 95-96. Upon review, we find this evidence was sufficient to establish the elements of driving under the influence to defeat a Crim.R. 29 motion for acquittal. Appellant testified on his own behalf. Appellant's description of his driving differed from Patrolman Keeley's testimony. Appellant testified he was merely taking a short cut to Wendy's. T. at 116. Appellant blamed his inability to satisfactorily perform the field sobriety tests on a broken leg which had occurred in 1988 and subsequent back problems. T. at 119. Although appellant admitted coming from a bar just prior to the 11:13 p.m. stop, he claimed he did not have any alcohol beverage after 3:00 p.m. that day. T. at 118, 130. Appellant explained his passenger had an open beer in the vehicle. T. at 140. Appellant denied initializing any threats against the officers. T. at 126. Upon review, we find sufficient evidence, if believed, to convict appellant of driving under the influence, and no manifest miscarriage of justice. Assignments of Error IV and IX are denied.
The judgment of the Municipal Court of Licking County, Ohio is hereby affirmed.
By Farmer, J. Gwin, P.J. and Edwards, J. concur.
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