State v. Robinson, Unpublished Decision (2-26-2007)
State v. Robinson, Unpublished Decision (2-26-2007)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} Officer Miller radioed for assistance. Officers Carroll and Evans found appellant, Nathaniel Robinson, in some weeds close to where he had started running. Officer Carroll conducted a pat-down search of appellant and found a crack pipe and a rock of crack cocaine wrapped up in a dollar bill. Officer Miller identified appellant as the individual who had fled from him.
{¶ 3} Appellant was charged with one count of possession of crack cocaine in violation of R.C.
{¶ 4} On March 1, 2006, appellant pled no contest. The trial court found appellant guilty. By judgment entry filed same date, the trial court sentenced appellant to nine months in prison, suspended in lieu of community control.
{¶ 5} Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for consideration. Assignment of error is as follows:
{¶ 8} There are three methods of challenging on appeal a trial court's ruling on a motion to suppress. First, an appellant may challenge the trial court's findings of fact. In reviewing a challenge of this nature, an appellate court must determine whether said findings of fact are against the manifest weight of the evidence. State v. Fanning (1982),
{¶ 9} In his November 17, 2005 motion to suppress and accompanying memorandum, appellant argued, "police had no encounter with Defendant that satisfied *Page 4
any of the conditions of any of the three types of detention" i.e., casual encounter, Terry — type stop and frisk and reasonable suspicion pursuant to Terry v. Ohio (1968),
{¶ 10} The trial court's February 3, 2006 decision was based upon the right to pursue and stop appellant, not the pat-down search after the stop:
{¶ 11} "The defendant argues that the conduct of the defendant does not rise to the level of criminal conduct or create a legitimate suspicion of criminal behavior. That argument is not supported by case law. Specifically, the United States Supreme Court in Illinois v.Wardlow, (2000)
{¶ 12} "Additionally, in Illinois v. Wardlow, supra, the Court, in considering the `totality of the circumstances', included the idea that officers have to base their assessment on common sense judgment and inferences about human behavior that they have learned in their training and years of experience on the job. In this instance, Officer Miller, with significant years of experience as an (sic) law enforcement officer, was permitted to assess the circumstances and apply his training and experience in determining whether or not the defendant's conduct was, in fact, suspicious and rose to the level of a belief that there was criminal activity afoot."
{¶ 13} In his appellate brief at 4-5, appellant attacks the pat-down search by Officer Carroll after the stop. Appellant argues the evidence was insufficient to establish Officer Carroll's pat-down was consistent with State v. Bobo (1989),
{¶ 14} Pursuant to Crim.R. 47, a motion to suppress "shall state with particularity the grounds upon which it is made and shall set forth the relief or order sought. It shall be supported by a memorandum containing citations of authority, and may also be supported by an affidavit." See also, State v. Shindler,
{¶ 15} The February 3, 2006 judgment entry is the only decision made by the trial court. During the hearing on the motion to suppress, the trial court's dialogue with defense counsel centered on the issues of the attempted stop, chase and detention. December 27, 2005 T. at 20-23. It was not until the end of his closing argument that defense counsel argued the state failed to meet its burden or state the reason for the pat-down search. Id. at 23.
{¶ 16} We concur with appellee's argument the motion to suppress did not give fair notice that the pat-down search was at issue. This is further substantiated by the trial court's judgment entry which spoke only to the right of Officer Miller to stop and have appellant identify himself and the subsequent chase.
{¶ 17} In reviewing the trial court's decision, we find the evidence presented during the suppression hearing substantiated a Terry stop: *Page 6
{¶ 18} In Terry v. Ohio (1968),
{¶ 19} Officer Miller was patrolling "his neighborhood" and saw appellant at 2:36 a.m. in a high crime area which had been experiencing a rash of burglaries. December 27, 2005 T. at 4-5, 9. His initial motive was to stop and have appellant identify himself, and determine whether appellant belonged in the neighborhood. Id. at 5, 9. Appellant was in an alley adjacent to a home which had previously been burglarized "at least *Page 7 maybe four times in a month period." Id. at 5. Officer Miller, in a marked police cruiser, turned around to go back toward appellant. Id. at 6. When appellant observed him "coming at him, he took off." Id. Officer Miller radioed for assistance and Officers Carroll and Evans found appellant hiding in tall grassy weeds "just a short distance from where he initially fled. Id. at 7.
{¶ 20} We find the facts presented led Officer Miller to a reasonable suspicion of criminal behavior; therefore, a Terry stop was appropriate. The facts indicate a consensual encounter that was elevated to aTerry stop with the fleeing of appellant.
{¶ 21} Upon review, we find the trial court did not err in denying appellant's motion to suppress.
{¶ 22} The sole assignment of error is denied.
{¶ 23} The judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Richland County, Ohio is hereby affirmed.
*Page 8By Farmer, J. Gwin, P.J. and Hoffman, J. concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- State of Ohio v. Nathaniel Robinson
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Unpublished