State v. Orihel, Unpublished Decision (1-28-2002)
State v. Orihel, Unpublished Decision (1-28-2002)
Opinion of the Court
Appellant assigns the following errors for review:
FIRST ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR:
"UNDER STATE V. SPILLERS, THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR IN OVERRULING THE MOTION TO SUPPRESS EVIDENCE BECAUSE THE STATE OF OHIO FAILED TO PROVE THERE WAS A REASONABLE AND ARTICULABLE SUSPICION TO ADMINISTER FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS."
SECOND ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR:
"THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR WHEN IT OVERRULED APPELLANT'S TIMELY OBJECTIONS AS TO A LACK OF A PROPER FOUNDATION AND PERMITTED THE OFFICER TO TESTIFY TO THE RESULTS OF THE HORIZONTAL GAZE NYSTAGMUS TEST."
THIRD ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR:
"THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ALLOWING THE OFFICER TO TESTIFY AS TO THE LIKELIHOOD APPELLANT WOULD TEST OVER THE LEGAL LIMIT BASED UPON WHAT HE FELT HER RESULTS OF THE FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS WERE."
FOURTH ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR:
"THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR IN OVERRULING APPELLANT'S OBJECTIONS TO TESTIMONY PERTAINING TO THE RESULTS OF THE H.G.N. FIELD SOBRIETY TEST, AS THE ARRESTING OFFICER FAILED TO ADMINISTER THE TEST IN STRICT COMPLIANCE WITH STANDARDS ADOPTED BY THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION."
FIFTH ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR:
"THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ADMITTING EVIDENCE OF THE RESULTS OF THE WALK — AND — TURN TESTS AS IT WAS NOT ADMINISTERED IN STRICT COMPLIANCE WITH N.H.T.S.A. STANDARDS."
SIXTH ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR:
"THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR IN OVERRULING APPELLANT'S MOTION TO SUPPRESS EVIDENCE GIVEN THE FACT THAT ALL EVIDENCE WAS OBTAINED AS A RESULT OF AN EXTRA-TERRITORIAL ARREST AND GOVERNED BY THE HOT-PURSUIT EXCEPTION."
Our review of the record reveals the following facts pertinent to the instant case. On February 10, 2001, at approximately 2:29 a.m., Ohio University Police Officer Mike Trout, while seated in his police cruiser parked near the Ohio University's Research Technology Building, observed appellant turning onto President's Street from South Court Street. Both streets are one-way streets and appellant was driving the wrong way down both one-way streets. The officer decided to conduct a traffic stop.
When Officer Trout approached the appellant's vehicle's driver's side window, he detected an odor of alcohol emanating from the vehicle. Officer Trout also observed four passengers inside the vehicle. The officer asked appellant for her driver's license and proof of insurance. Appellant was apparently unable to immediately produce her driver's license. She checked various places inside her vehicle, pulled her wallet out of her purse, checked her wallet and her purse for her driver's license, but could not locate it. She then checked her pockets but she still could not find her license. Appellant then looked again in her purse, then went back to her pockets, and finally found her license in her back pocket.
Officer Trout asked appellant to step out of her car. Appellant complied with the officer's request and, when she stepped out of the vehicle, she "almost fell." Officer Trout explained that "she just kind of lost her balance like she was almost ready to fall over but got her feet back underneath her to where she could stand up."
The officer and appellant then walked toward the rear of the vehicle. As appellant walked toward the rear of the vehicle, "she fell into the vehicle and kind of used it for balance as she walked around * * * to the rear of the vehicle." The officer stated that he has seen individuals with a lack of coordination before, "[b]ut for individuals that uses [sic] a vehicle for balance or almost fall over[,] those are more extreme cases * * * of persons being intoxicated."
When the two approached the rear of the vehicle, the officer detected "a strong odor of an intoxicating beverage." The officer stated that the odor originated from appellant's breath and that the odor was more pronounced when she was speaking to him. The officer explained that he did not notice the smell until reaching the rear of the vehicle because of the exhaust fumes from passing traffic.
Officer Trout then requested appellant to perform some field sobriety tests. Officer Trout first attempted to administer the Horizontal Gaze and Nystagmus Skill ("HGN"). The officer advised appellant that he wanted her to follow the tip of a pen. The officer held the pen approximately eighteen to twenty-four inches away from her face, slightly above eye level. Appellant "could not follow the pen," could not keep her head still, and would not face forward. The officer attempted to perform the test three of four times. Officer Trout eventually determined that appellant was unable to comply with the instructions.
Officer Trout next attempted to administer the "one-leg stand" test. The officer stated that appellant tried to perform the skill, but "each time she would raise her foot up off the ground * * * she would not be able to maintain her balance and she would have to put her foot back down." The officer explained that appellant never reached the point where she would begin to count. Appellant tried several times to perform the test until Officer Trout decided that it was unsafe for her to try to perform the test.
Next, the officer asked appellant to perform the "walk — and — turn" test. Officer Trout stated that appellant was unable to comply with the instructions. He stated that appellant kept stepping off the imaginary line. The officer explained that "[w]hen she got to step five she stepped off the line to the point that [he] thought that she was going to fall, and [he] caught her because [he] thought she was going to go to the ground." The officer then decided that appellant was intoxicated and that she should not be driving. He placed her under arrest.
Appellant subsequently was charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, in violation of R.C.
On April 16, 2001, appellant filed a motion to suppress evidence. Appellant argued, inter alia, that: (1) Officer Trout lacked reasonable suspicion that she was driving while intoxicated and thus lacked reasonable suspicion to continue to detain her to administer field sobriety tests; and (2) her arrest was invalid because Officer Trout was outside his jurisdiction when he conducted the stop. Appellant further argued that probable cause to arrest did not exist. Appellant asserted that Officer Trout failed to strictly comply with the established standards for conducting field sobriety tests and that, pursuant to Statev. Homan (1999),
On April 16, 2001, the trial court held a hearing to consider appellant's motion to suppress evidence. At the hearing, Officer Trout candidly admitted that he had not followed the established standards for performing field sobriety tests, the standards set forth by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ("NHTSA").
On April 17, 2001, the trial court denied appellant's motion to suppress evidence. On May 4, 2001, appellant pled no contest to driving while under the influence of alcohol, in violation of R.C.
In her first and sixth assignments of error, appellant asserts that the trial court erred by overruling her motion to suppress evidence. Appellant asserts that the trial court should have suppressed the evidence uncovered as a result of the traffic stop for the following reasons: (1) the officer lacked reasonable suspicion to continue detaining appellant to investigate whether appellant was driving while under the influence of alcohol; and (2) the officer was without jurisdictional authority to stop and detain appellant.
The
A traffic stop initiated by a law enforcement officer implicates the
"Temporary detention of individuals during the stop of an automobile by the police, even if only for a brief period and for a limited purpose, constitutes a seizure of `persons' within the meaning of [the
Fourth Amendment]. * * * An automobile stop is thus subject to the constitutional imperative that it not be `unreasonable' under the circumstances. As a general matter, the decision to stop an automobile is reasonable where the police have probable cause to believe that a traffic violation has occurred. * * *."
Id.,
In the absence of probable cause to believe that the driver of a vehicle has committed a traffic violation, a law enforcement officer generally may not stop the vehicle unless the officer observes facts giving rise to a reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. See, generally, Terry v. Ohio (1968),
In the case at bar, appellant does not challenge the lawfulness of the officer's initial stop. The officer observed appellant commit a traffic violation. Appellant's act in driving the wrong way down a one-way street is itself a violation of the law3 and provides both the probable cause and the reasonable suspicion necessary to effectuate a valid traffic stop. See Whren, supra; Erickson, supra. Thus, because the officer observed appellant commit a traffic violation, he possessed reasonable suspicion (and probable cause) to stop her vehicle.
Once an officer has lawfully stopped a vehicle, the officer must "carefully tailor" the scope of the stop "to its underlying justification," and the stop must "last no longer than is necessary to effectuate the purpose of the stop." Florida v. Royer (1983),
Thus, if a law enforcement officer, during a valid traffic stop, ascertains "reasonably articulable facts giving rise to a suspicion of criminal activity, the officer may then further detain and implement a more in-depth investigation of the individual." Id.,
An officer conducting a routine traffic stop may, therefore, expand the stop's scope in order to investigate whether the individual stopped is under the influence of alcohol and may continue to detain the individual to confirm or dispel his suspicions if the officer observes additional facts during the routine stop which reasonably lead him to suspect that the individual may be under the influence. See State v. Angel (Sept. 21, 2001), Miami App. No. 2001-CA-11, unreported; State v. Strausbaugh (Dec. 3, 1999), Montgomery App. No. 17629, unreported; State v. Strassman (Nov. 20, 1995), Athens App. No. 98 CA 10, unreported. As the court explained in State v. Yemma (Aug. 9, 1996), Portage App. No. 95-P-0156, unreported:
"Once the officer has stopped the vehicle for some minor traffic offense and begins the process of obtaining the offender's license and registration, the officer may then proceed to investigate the detainee for driving under the influence if he or she has a reasonable suspicion that the detainee may be intoxicated based on specific and articulable facts, such as where there are clear symptoms that the detainee is intoxicated."
See, also, State v. Downey (1987),
In Litteral, we reviewed prior cases that discussed whether the presence of certain facts justified an officer's continued detention of a lawfully stopped individual to investigate whether the individual had been driving while under the influence:
"In [State v.] Chelikowsky [Aug. 18, 1992), Pickaway App. No. 91 CA 27, unreported], we held that weaving and a strong odor of alcohol were sufficient to justify conducting field sobriety tests. We held that glassy bloodshot eyes and an odor of alcohol were sufficient to warrant field sobriety tests in State v. Whitt (Nov. 9, 1993), Lawrence App. No. 93 CA 11, unreported at 5-6, as is even a moderate odor of alcohol by itself. State v. Turner (Jan. 8, 1993), Highland App. No. 812, unreported at 6. Indeed, our own research indicates that, in most instances, when an initial stop is justified by reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing, a disoriented demeanor and/or odor of alcohol provides further impetus for more intrusive investigative procedures." See, e.g., State v. Gottfried (1993),86 Ohio App.3d 106 ,619 N.E.2d 1185 ; Columbus v. Comer (Dec. 21, 1993), Franklin App. No. 93 AP-960, unreported.
In the case at bar, we believe that Officer Trout lawfully expanded the scope of the routine traffic stop and lawfully continued to detain appellant in order to confirm or dispel his suspicions that she was driving while under the influence of alcohol. First, the officer observed appellant drive the wrong-way down not one, but two, one-way streets. An inability to follow traffic signs may indicate impaired driving skills. Second, when the officer approached appellant's vehicle he noticed a strong odor of alcohol emanating from the vehicle. Third, appellant's inability to quickly locate her license also aroused the officer's suspicions. The combination of the above factors, especially appellant's conduct in driving the wrong-way down a one-way street and appellant's disoriented demeanor when she attempted to locate her license, led Officer Trout to reasonably suspect that appellant may have been driving while under the influence. See Chelikowsky, supra (concluding that traffic violation and odor of alcohol sufficient to conduct field sobriety tests); Gottfried, supra (stating that disoriented demeanor may justify officer's decision to conduct field sobriety tests). We therefore believe that Officer Trout properly possessed a reasonable suspicion that appellant was driving while under the influence and that he lawfully expanded the scope of the stop to administer field sobriety tests.
We believe that appellant's reliance on State v. Kolesar (Sept. 20, 2001), Franklin App. No. 00AP-1435, unreported, is misplaced. We note that the officer in Kolesar did not observe the defendant commit a traffic violation. The Kolesar court therefore concluded that the officer had not observed any factors to indicate that the defendant's driving skills were impaired.
We therefore disagree with appellant that the trial court erred by overruling appellant's motion to suppress. We agree with the trial court that the officer possessed a sufficient basis to conduct field sobriety tests.
Assuming, arguendo, that Officer Trout violated R.C.
Thus, assuming, arguendo, that Officer Trout arrested appellant outside of the officer's territory, this arrest may constitute a statutory violation, not a constitutional violation which could involve the exclusionary rule and invalidate the arrest. Consequently, we disagree with appellant that the trial court erred by overruling her motion to suppress on the basis that the officer exceeded his jurisdictional authority in arresting appellant.
Accordingly, based upon the foregoing reasons, we overrule appellant's first and sixth assignments of error.
In Homan, the Ohio Supreme Court held that before a court may consider the results of field sobriety tests as evidence of probable cause to arrest, the officer "must have administered the test in strict compliance with standardized testing procedures." Id., paragraph one of the syllabus. In so concluding, the court observed that the reliability of field sobriety tests "depends largely upon the care with which they are administered." Id.,
In the case sub judice, the trial court found, and the officer conceded, that the officer did not administer the field sobriety tests in strict compliance with the established standardized testing procedures. Thus, in determining whether probable cause to arrest existed, we agree with appellant that the trial court could not consider evidence of the officer's testing regarding the appellant's performance of the field sobriety tests. See id., paragraph one of the syllabus.
After our review of the record, we note that whether the trial court did, in fact, rely upon the officer's testimony concerning his attempts to administer the sobriety tests is unclear. Assuming, however, that the trial court did improperly rely upon such testimony, we find the error to be harmless. See Crim.R. 52(A) (stating that harmless errors "shall be disregarded"). We note that even if the field sobriety test evidence must be excluded due to an officer's failure to administer the tests in strict compliance with established standards, evidence other than the accused's performance of the tests may nevertheless demonstrate probable cause to arrest. See Homan,
"The totality of the facts and circumstances can support a finding of probable cause to arrest even where no field sobriety test were administered or where * * * the test results must be excluded for lack of strict compliance."
Id.
In determining whether probable cause to arrest exists, the totality of the facts and circumstances must be "sufficient to warrant a prudent man in believing that the [suspect] had committed or was committing an offense." Beck v. Ohio (1964),
"To determine whether an officer had probable cause to arrest an individual for a violation of R.C.4511.19 (A), the court must examine whether, at the moment of the arrest, the officer had knowledge from a reasonably trustworthy source of facts and circumstances sufficient to cause a prudent person to believe that the suspect was driving while under the influence of alcohol. * * * * An arrest for driving under the influence need only be supported by the arresting officer's observations of indicia of alcohol consumption and operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol."
Id.,
In the case at bar, we believe that the totality of the circumstances known to Officer Trout demonstrate that he possessed probable cause to arrest for a R.C.
Accordingly, based upon the foregoing reasons, we overrule appellant's second through fifth assignments of error. Thus, we hereby affirm the trial court's judgment.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Athens County Municipal Court to carry this judgment into execution.
If a stay of execution of sentence and release upon bail has been previously granted, it is continued for a period of sixty days upon the bail previously posted. The purpose of said stay is to allow appellant to file with the Ohio Supreme Court an application for a stay during the pendency of the proceedings in that court. The stay as herein continued will terminate at the expiration of the sixty day period.
The stay will also terminate if appellant fails to file a notice of appeal with the Ohio Supreme Court in the forty-five day period pursuant to Rule II, Sec. 2 of the Rules of Practice of the Ohio Supreme Court. Additionally, if the Ohio Supreme Court dismisses the appeal prior to the expiration of said sixty days, the stay will terminate as of the date of such dismissal.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute that mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Harsha, J. Evans, J.: Concur in Judgment Opinion.
No person shall operate any vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley within this state, if any of the following apply:(1) The person is under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or alcohol and a drug of abuse.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Section
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and possessions, against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated, and no warrant shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, particularly describing the place to be searched, and the person and things to be seized.
(D) If a sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, municipal police officer, member of a police force employed by a metropolitan housing authority under division (D) of section3735.31 of the Revised Code, member of a police force employed by a regional transit authority under division (Y) of section306.35 of the Revised Code, special police officer employed by a port authority under section4582.04 or4582.28 of the Revised Code, township constable, police officer of a township or joint township police district, state university law enforcement officer appointed under section3345.04 of the Revised Code, peace officer of the department of natural resources, individual designated to perform law enforcement duties under section511.232 [511.23.2], 1545.13, or6101.75 of the Revised Code, the house sergeant at arms if the house sergeant at arms has arrest authority pursuant to division (E)(1) of section101.311 [101.31.1] of the Revised Code, or an assistant house sergeant at arms is authorized by division (A) or (B) of this section to arrest and detain, within the limits of the political subdivision, metropolitan housing authority housing project, regional transit authority facilities or those areas of a municipal corporation that have been agreed to by a regional transit authority and a municipal corporation located within its territorial jurisdiction, port authority, college, or university in which the officer is appointed, employed, or elected or within the limits of the territorial jurisdiction of the peace officer, a person until a warrant can be obtained, the peace officer, outside the limits of that territory, may pursue, arrest, and detain that person until a warrant can be obtained if all of the following apply:(1) The pursuit takes place without unreasonable delay after the offense is committed;
(2) The pursuit is initiated within the limits of the political subdivision, metropolitan housing authority housing project, regional transit authority facilities or those areas of a municipal corporation that have been agreed to by a regional transit authority and a municipal corporation located within its territorial jurisdiction, port authority, college, or university in which the peace officer is appointed, employed, or elected or within the limits of the territorial jurisdiction of the peace officer;
(3) The offense involved is a felony, a misdemeanor of the first degree or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, a misdemeanor of the second degree or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, or any offense for which points are chargeable pursuant to division (G) of section
4507.021 [4507.02.1] of the Revised Code.(E) In addition to the authority granted under division (A) or (B) of this section:
(1) A sheriff or deputy sheriff may arrest and detain, until a warrant can be obtained, any person found violating section
4503.11 ,4503.21 , or4549.01 , sections4549.08 to4549.12 , section4549.62 , or Chapter 4511. or 4513. of the Revised Code on the portion of any street or highway that is located immediately adjacent to the boundaries of the county in which the sheriff or deputy sheriff is elected or appointed.(2) A member of the police force of a township police district created under section
505.48 of the Revised Code, a member of the police force of a joint township police district created under section505.481 [505.48.1] of the Revised Code, or a township constable appointed in accordance with section509.01 of the Revised Code, who has received a certificate from the Ohio peace officer training commission under section109.75 of the Revised Code, may arrest and detain, until a warrant can be obtained, any person found violating any section or chapter of the Revised Code listed in division (E)(1) of this section, other than sections4513.33 and4513.34 of the Revised Code, on the portion of any street or highway that is located immediately adjacent to the boundaries of the township police district or joint township police district, in the case of a member of a township police district or joint township police district police force, or the unincorporated territory of the township, in the case of a township constable. However, if the population of the township that created the township police district served by the member's police force, or the townships that created the joint township police district served by the member's police force, or the township that is served by the township constable, is sixty thousand or less, the member of the township police district or joint police district police force or the township constable may not make an arrest under division (E)(2) of this section on a state highway that is included as part of the interstate system.(3) A police officer or village marshal appointed, elected, or employed by a municipal corporation may arrest and detain, until a warrant can be obtained, any person found violating any section or chapter of the Revised Code listed in division (E)(1) of this section on the portion of any street or highway that is located immediately adjacent to the boundaries of the municipal corporation in which the police officer or village marshal is appointed, elected, or employed.
(4) A peace officer of the department of natural resources or an individual designated to perform law enforcement duties under section
511.232 [511.23.2], 1545.13, or6101.75 of the Revised Code may arrest and detain, until a warrant can be obtained, any person found violating any section or chapter of the Revised Code listed in division (E)(1) of this section, other than sections4513.33 and4513.34 of the Revised Code, on the portion of any street or highway that is located immediately adjacent to the boundaries of the lands and waters that constitute the territorial jurisdiction of the peace officer.
"Whether a stop and detention of a motorist by a police officer, who is beyond his or her jurisdictional limits, for an offense observed and committed outside the officer's jurisdiction automatically constitutes a per se unreasonable seizure under theFourth Amendment, thereby triggering the mandatory application of the exclusionary rule to suppress all evidence flowing from the stop."
State v. Weideman (2001),
The court recognized the conflict cases as State v. Filler (1995),
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.