CITY OF FINDLAY, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, v. PHILLIP M. JACKSON, DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
CASE NO. 5-14-02
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT HANCOCK COUNTY
November 24, 2014
2014-Ohio-5202
Appeal from Findlay Municipal Court
Trial Court No. 13 TRC 08487
Judgment Affirmed
Date of Decision: November 24, 2014
APPEARANCES:
John Kotyo for Appellant
Alan D. Hackenberg for Appellee
{¶1} Defendant-Appellant, Phillip Jackson, appeals the judgment of the Findlay Municipal Court, denying his appeal of an administrative license suspension (ALS) after being arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OVI) in violation of
{¶2} On September 5, 2013, Jackson was issued a citation for OVI in violation of
{¶4} Officer Lucas Benjamin of the Findlay City Police Department was called to testify. He testified that he had received training in the investigation of OVI offenses and passed a specialized class where he “learn[ed] to see the signs and to address some of the manners of it and you‘re able to prove that somebody is driving under the influence of alcohol.” Hearing Tr., p. 15. He went on to testify that at approximately 2:15 a.m. on September 5, 2013, he was traveling northbound on North Main Street in Findlay. Officer Benjamin observed that the car in front of him did not have a functioning light to illuminate the rear license plate. The car turned right down Pine Street, and “it seemed like the vehicle did speed up a little bit and as I had turned right he immediately ducked into a house.” Id. at p. 21. Officer Benjamin then turned on his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop for the equipment violation.
{¶5} Office Benjamin testified that when he approached the vehicle, the driver‘s side window was only open a few inches and Jackson had his hands up. Officer Benjamin asked Jackson to relax and roll the window down. Jackson “acted like [] he did not know how to roll down the window on the vehicle so the
{¶6} While searching for his license, Jackson “pulled out several credit cards and some business cards as well until I was able to tell him that the driver‘s license was right on top of all the other cards that he had pulled out and then he pretended like he did not see it, he said oops and then handed the I.D. to me.” Id. at p. 24.
{¶7} Officer Benjamin further testified:
[I]t seemed as if that his movements were slow, he had glossy [sic] eyes, his eyes were bloodshot and I could smell an odor of alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath.
***
It just seemed as if like when he was removing his driver‘s license he had slow movements, his dexterity was when he was trying to get the cards apart he was having a hard time doing that as well. It just seemed as if the movements were very slow as I was speaking with him.
Id. at p. 26-27. Officer Benjamin then took Jackson‘s driver‘s license back to his patrol car to check his driving status, where nothing came back as irregular.
{¶9} After these repeated refusals, Jackson was informed that he would be forcibly removed from the car if he did not comply. Jackson continued to refuse and Officer Benjamin forcibly removed him from the car and placed him under arrest. Officer Benjamin testified that Jackson had been compliant until he was asked to step out of the car, when he became “very angry, irate, yelling, all kinds of different things, basically.” Id. at p. 35.
{¶10} On cross-examination, Officer Benjamin admitted that he was able to understand Jackson when he spoke, but reiterated that his speech was slurred. Officer Benjamin testified that the factors that gave him a reasonable suspicion to believe Jackson was drinking and driving were “the odor, the bloodshot glassy
{¶11} Melina McGee was called as Jackson‘s first witness. She testified that she was Jackson‘s girlfriend on the night in question and was the passenger in the car. She had been drinking at Nino‘s with friends, having between four and five beers, and that alcohol had been spilled on her jacket over the course of the evening. She eventually called Jackson to come pick her up as she was unable to drive home. While on the phone with Jackson, McGee did not notice that his speech was slurred. She testified that Jackson was dropped off at the bar by a friend, as he was going to drive her home in her own car. She did not see Jackson drink any alcohol from the time he arrived until they left the bar.
{¶12} Upon leaving the bar, they entered her vehicle and travelled towards Hillcrest. McGee testified that after a few blocks, Jackson saw a police car behind them, and they “kept driving and kinda [sic] noticed that he was getting a little bit closer so he pulled on Pine Street and then the cop car pulled behind us too and
{¶13} On cross examination, McGee admitted that she did not live in Hillcrest and that the amount of alcohol she drank that night had impaired her own ability to drive. She did not see Jackson get dropped off at the bar and only spent a few minutes with him before they left. She testified that Jackson expressed concern that a police car was behind them and turned down Pine Street in the hopes that the police car would pass them.
{¶14} After McGee‘s testimony, Jackson took the stand. He testified that he spent time with a friend during the day and did not drink any alcoholic beverages. He received a call from McGee to pick her up from Nino‘s at
{¶15} After he was pulled over, Officer Benjamin asked him for his license and registration. Jackson testified that “at that time I had been through previous investigations I have known to move very slowly so that you know, they don‘t think I‘m moving quickly so at this time my hands were up, when he told me to put my hands on the wheel I did so * * * .” Id. at p. 85-86. He testified that he did not use any profanity when speaking with the officer and was cooperative to the best of his ability. He also testified that he did not have any trouble rolling down the window.
{¶16} When asked when his interaction with the officer changed, Jackson testified:
It changed I suppose when he came back from going through our licenses, he suspected odor of alcohol and which I told him that I had picked [McGee] up from the Nino‘s Bar and that it was her that probably smelled like alcohol and that I was just picking her up to
take her back home, I had not even been at Nino‘s for that long. And at that time he asked me to step out of the car and I did not understand why. I said you know, I haven‘t been drinking, this isn‘t my car, I will get the license plate light, I don‘t understand why you would want to get me out of the car for any reason.
Id. at p. 87. Jackson refused to exit the vehicle and asked to speak to his attorney. The officer did not allow Jackson to call his attorney, but asked two or three more times that he exit the vehicle. The officer eventually forcibly removed Jackson from the car and arrested him.
{¶17} On cross examination, the following exchange took place:
Q: So when you picked [McGee] up at the bar and headed North on Main Street you weren‘t taking her home like you testified, correct?
A: I was taking her to Chad‘s place. Eventually we were going to go home.
Q: But you‘ve testified actually twice and we can play it back but your testimony to the court in response to [your attorney‘s] question was that you were taking her home.
A: Yes. I was taking her home and —
Q: That‘s all. You were taking her home; correct? That was what you testified to, right?
A: Yes. I testified to the fact that I was taking her home, not in that particular drive but I was going to take her home.
Id. at p. 94. When asked why he failed to exit the vehicle when requested, he testified:
I personally felt like I didn‘t need to get out of the car, he wanted to get me out of the car, he forcefully put me out of the car but you know I mean I was going to sit there until he did anything otherwise or until I called my lawyer.
***
Q: You disagreed with what [the officer] was doing and therefore you weren‘t going to cooperate and get out of the vehicle?
A: Yes.
Id. at p. 95-96.
{¶18} At the conclusion of Jackson‘s testimony, Officer Benjamin‘s narrative report was admitted into evidence without objection. The narrative report was similar to Officer Benjamin‘s testimony. After admitting the evidence and hearing arguments, the trial court indicated that a ruling on the suppression motion would be forthcoming.
{¶19} On January 22, 2014, the City and Jackson stipulated to the following:
- That all evidence and arguments received by this court during the suppression hearing conducted on January 15, 2013 in this matter shall be fully admissible and may be used by the Court for all purposes in ruling on the ALS appeal also pending before the court and filed in this matter. No further evidence will be presented.
- Defendant hereby withdraws his assigned error that he was not fully advised of the consequences of a refusal and the court need only determine whether the arresting law enforcement officer lacked reasonable ground to believe that the Defendant was operating a vehicle in violation of the applicable OVI ordinance.
{¶20} On February 4, 2014, the trial court denied Jackson‘s suppression motion. The entry denying the motion incorporated the facts as they were presented in the arresting officer‘s narrative report. The trial court also found Officer Benjamin‘s testimony credible, while McGee‘s and Jackson‘s testimony was not. Specifically, the court found that McGee‘s prior relationship with Jackson, her stated concern for his well-being, and that “she had consumed an amount of alcohol that affected her cognitive and physical abilities” diminished her credibility. (Docket No. 24, p. 6). Jackson‘s testimony was not found credible in light of a prior conviction for OVI, which provided “a motive to minimize his culpability.” (Id.). Further, the trial court noted that Jackson changed his story as to where he was taking McGee that night. The trial court found that the officer had reasonable grounds to stop Jackson‘s car for an equipment violation.
{¶21} The trial court then examined the totality of the circumstances to determine whether probable cause existed for the arrest. The court began its analysis by determining whether “a reasonable, articulable suspicion existed for [the officer] to believe [Jackson] was impaired and in requesting [Jackson] to perform field sobriety tests.” (Id. at p. 7). The court utilized a factor test
{¶22} Next, the trial court determined whether this reasonable, articulable suspicion became probable cause to arrest by utilizing the same factors as well as “the additional factor that [Jackson] refused to get out of the car, let alone, do any field sobriety tests.” (Id. at p. 7). The trial court indicated that Jackson‘s requests for an attorney were not an adequate basis to refuse to exit the vehicle under these circumstances, and ultimately found that the arrest was supported by probable cause.
{¶24} Jackson timely filed this appeal, presenting the following assignments of error for our review.
Assignment of Error No. I
THE TESTIMONY AND WRITTEN REPORT OF THE ARRESTING OFFICER SHOW THAT HE HAD NOT PROPERLY CONCLUDED AT THE TIME OF THE ARREST THAT HE HAD REASONABLE GROUND TO BELIEVE THAT APPELLANT HAD BEEN OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE IMPAIRED BUT MERELY A REASONABLE SUSPICION.
Assignment of Error No. II
THE FACTUAL AND LEGAL CONCLUSIONS MADE BY THE COURT MATERIAL TO THE ISSUE OF IMPAIRMENT, SUCH AS ERRATIC DRIVING AND REFUSAL TO PERFORM FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS BY APPELLANT, ARE RESPECTIVELY, NOT SUPPORTED BY COMPETENT, CREDIBLE EVIDENCE AND ARE LEGALLY INSUFFICIENT.
THE ARREST WAS BASED ON THE CHARGE OF “OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE UNDER THE INFLUENCE REFUSAL . . .(SIC)“, AN OFFENSE LEGALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE BEEN COMMITTED UNDER THE EXISTING FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES AT THE MOMENT OF ARREST.
{¶25} Due to the nature of the assignments of error, we elect to address the first and second assignments together.
Assignments of Error Nos. I & II
{¶26} In Jackson‘s first and second assignments of error, he argues that the trial court‘s factual findings that he drove erratically and refused to perform field sobriety tests are not supported by competent, credible evidence. He further argues that the totality of the circumstances did not provide Officer Benjamin with reasonable grounds to believe that Jackson was driving in violation of an OVI ordinance. We agree in part and disagree in part.
I. Standard of Review
{¶27} We review a trial court‘s ruling on an ALS appeal to determine whether it is supported by competent, credible evidence. State v. Mallin, 6th Dist. Ottawa No. OT-06-040, 2007-Ohio-4476, ¶ 26. Further,
{¶28} Here, it is undisputed that Jackson was lawfully stopped for the equipment violation. However, Jackson argues that Officer Benjamin lacked probable cause to arrest him for OVI, in essence arguing that the City failed to make its prima facie case. We will discuss whether each contested factual finding is supported by competent, credible evidence before turning our analysis to whether the City made its prima facie case that Officer Benjamin had probable cause to arrest Jackson for OVI.
A. Erratic Driving
{¶29} Jackson argues that the trial court‘s factual determination that he was driving erratically is not supported by competent, credible evidence. We agree.
{¶30} Examples of erratic driving include “speeding, weaving [and] unusual braking * * * .” Evans, 127 Ohio App.3d at fn. 2. However, this court has found that “speeding alone does not constitute erratic operation of a vehicle.” State v. Bailey, 3d Dist. Logan No. 8-07-02, 2008-Ohio-2254, ¶ 21. Further, pulling into someone else‘s driveway is not erratic driving. See State v. Rhude, 91 Ohio App.3d 623, 626 (12th Dist.1993) (finding that a driver did not operate his vehicle erratically when he pulled into two separate driveways.).
{¶31} Here, there is no indication of what would typically be considered erratic driving, such as weaving, unusual braking, drifting across the center line or driving over a curb. The only evidence of erratic driving is that Jackson turned down a side street, increased his speed, and pulled into a private drive. Standing alone, none of these things would support an investigatory stop, and thus none of them constitute erratic driving. While Jackson‘s motives for turning down the side street and into a private drive may be questionable, they do not retroactively make his driving before the stop erratic. Therefore, the trial court‘s finding that Jackson drove erratically is not supported by competent, credible evidence.
{¶32} Next, Jackson argues that the trial court erred in finding that he had refused to perform field sobriety tests, when he merely refused to exit the vehicle. In the alternative, Jackson argues that even if he had refused to perform the field sobriety tests, the trial court improperly considered the refusal as a factor when making a probable cause determination. We disagree.
1. Jackson Refused to Perform Field Sobriety Tests
{¶33} Jackson argues that Officer Benjamin was required to request that he perform the field sobriety tests after he was removed from the car for his actions to constitute a refusal. Jackson relies on Judge Abele‘s concurring opinion in State v. Justice, 4th Dist. Pike No. 99CA631, 1999 WL 1125113 (Nov. 16, 1999) to support the proposition that he should have been asked to perform the tests again once he was removed. However, in Justice, the arresting officer “testified that he did not ask [the defendant] to perform field sobriety tests because of [his] belligerent and abusive attitude.” (Emphasis added.) Id. at *4. Indeed, the majority noted that a refusal to perform field sobriety tests is indicative of impaired driving, but it did not apply because the defendant was never asked to perform the tests. Id. We do not dispute that there can be no refusal where there is no request. However, Justice only supports the proposition that the request must be made, not when it must be made. The only restriction on using the refusal
{¶34} As the Ohio Supreme Court has noted: “[O]nce a vehicle has been lawfully detained for a traffic violation, the driver may be ordered from his car without violating the Fourth Amendment proscription of unreasonable search and seizure.” State v. Darrington, 54 Ohio St.2d 321, 323 (1978), citing Pennsylvania v. Mimms, 434 U.S. 106, 111 (1977). Therefore, Officer Benjamin lawfully ordered Jackson out of the vehicle once he was pulled over for the equipment violation. However, it is unclear from the record whether Officer Benjamin informed Jackson why he was being asked to exit the vehicle when the request was first made. Both Officer Benjamin‘s testimony and the narrative of the police report state that he asked Jackson to exit so he could explain to him his options. Jackson refused to exit the vehicle. Without further explanation of what those options were, had Jackson been removed and arrested at this point, it would be similar to the circumstances in Justice.
{¶35} However, Officer Benjamin‘s testified that he “asked [Jackson] to step out of the vehicle so I could explain to him the field sobriety test that I wanted him to perform and I needed him to step out of the vehicle so I could speak with him about that.” Hearing Tr., p. 31. He went on to testify that he asked Jackson to exit the vehicle “to explain the field sobriety test to him.” Id. at 32. The narrative
{¶36} Here, Officer Benjamin lawfully ordered Jackson out of the vehicle. He refused. Officer Benjamin explained that he wanted Jackson to exit the vehicle to explain the field sobriety tests to him. Jackson continued to refuse. Jackson‘s refusal to exit the vehicle under these circumstances constitutes a refusal to perform the field sobriety tests.
2. Use as a Factor in Probable Cause Determination
{¶37} Jackson argues that even if the court was correct in finding that he had refused the field sobriety tests, “a refusal to perform field sobriety tests alone
{¶38} Jackson further contends that the court‘s reliance on State v. Molk, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2001-L-146, 2002-Ohio-6926, is misplaced, arguing that the case stands for the proposition that a refusal to perform field sobriety tests cannot be a factor unless it is coupled with the “element of significant impairment * * * ” (Appellant‘s Br., p. 14). However, the court in Molk found, without qualifying language, that the “[a]ppellant‘s refusal to submit to field sobriety tests is another factor that may be considered in determining the existence of probable cause in an arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol.” Molk at ¶ 19. Indeed, other districts have similarly found that the refusal to perform field sobriety tests can be
{¶39} Lastly, Jackson argues:
[P]rior to his arrest, [Officer Benjamin] stated in his report that he had told [Jackson] that he had the “right to refuse the tests I‘m going to ask him to perform.” It seems unfair that the officer would tell [Jackson] that he could refuse to perform the tests only to have that same refusal be used against him.
(Appellant‘s Br., p. 12). While the record indicates that Officer Benjamin asked Jackson to exit the vehicle so that that they could discuss his options, Officer Benjamin did not say that there would be no repercussions for refusing to perform the field sobriety tests. Further, this court has specifically found that a refusal to
III. Probable Cause Determination
{¶40} Next, Jackson argues that the City failed to make its prima facie case that Officer Benjamin had probable cause to arrest him for OVI. Specifically, he argues that Officer Benjamin‘s own testimony reflects that he did not believe he had probable cause to arrest. However, “in making probable cause determinations, an officer‘s subjective beliefs hold little sway.” State v. McDonald, 4th Dist. Washington No. 04CA7, 2004-Ohio-5395, ¶ 31. Determining whether probable cause exists “is a question of law. The arresting officer‘s subjective belief or motivation in the detention of an individual is not material to the legality of the detention; the correct test is whether there was objective justification for the detention and arrest.” State v. Deters, 128 Ohio App.3d 329, 333 (1st Dist.1998).
{¶41} Instead, as the Ohio Supreme Court has noted:
In determining whether the police had probable cause to arrest an individual for [OVI], we consider whether, at the moment of arrest, the police had sufficient information, derived from a reasonably trustworthy source of facts and circumstances, sufficient to cause a prudent person to believe that the suspect was driving under the influence.
State v. Homan, 89 Ohio St.3d 421, 427 (2000), superseded by statute on other grounds as stated in State v. Boczar, 113 Ohio St.3d 148, 2007-Ohio-1251, ¶ 23. “Probable cause to arrest does not have to be based, in whole or in part, upon a suspect‘s poor performance on one or more field sobriety tests.” Columbus v. Bickis, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 09AP-898, 2010-Ohio-3208, ¶ 21. Instead, we must consider the totality of the circumstances when making a probable cause determination. Id.; State v. Bailey, 3d Dist. Logan No. 8-07-02, 2008-Ohio-2254, ¶ 25.
{¶42} Having determined that the trial court erred in considering erratic driving as a factor, we must review whether the remaining factors constituted a prima facie case that Officer Benjamin had probable cause. Turning to the facts available at the time of the arrest; Jackson was driving at 2:15 a.m. on a Thursday morning, coming back from an establishment that sold alcohol. Jackson displayed unusual behavior in that he had his hands up when Officer Benjamin approached
{¶43} Officer Benjamin‘s report stated that he detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on Jackson‘s breath and that he observed bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and slow movements; Jackson displayed a lack of coordination in that he required help in rolling down his window and then fumbled through his papers to find his driver‘s license; when asked to step out of the car, he became belligerent and used profanity; and he refused to exit the vehicle and refused to perform field sobriety tests. All of these are factors that are indicia of impairment. We find that, under the totality of the circumstances, the City made a prima facie case that Officer Benjamin had probable cause to arrest Jackson for OVI.
{¶44} Accordingly, Jackson‘s first and second assignments of error are overruled.
Assignment of Error No. III
{¶45} In Jackson‘s third assignment of error, he argues that the ALS appeal should have been granted, as his arrest was based upon a charge that was legally
{¶46} This issue was never argued before the trial court. As a result, it is waived for the purposes of appeal, save all but plain error. See App.R. 12(A)(2), 16(a)(7); Shanklin v Lowman, 3d Dist. Logan No. 8-10-07, 2011-Ohio-255, ¶ 40. Plain errors are obvious, prejudicial, and would otherwise undermine public confidence in judicial proceedings if allowed to stand. Shanklin at ¶ 41.
{¶47} As discussed, an ALS appeal is limited to challenging specific defects, which are (1) whether the officer had reasonable grounds to believe the arrested person was operating the motor vehicle in violation of an OVI statute or local ordinance; (2) whether the arrested person was asked to submit to chemical tests; (3) whether the arresting officer explained the consequences of refusing the chemical test; (4) whether the person then refused.6
{¶48} Accordingly, Jackson‘s third assignment of error is overruled.
Judgment Affirmed
WILLAMOWSKI, P.J., concurs.
SHAW, J., concurs in Judgment Only.
/jlr