Curtis O’Neal Gray appeals his convictions for burglary and aggravated assault with intent to rape. Gray contends the trial court erred by denying his motion for a directed verdict of acquittal and by denying his motion to suppress evidence resulting from his alleged illegal arrest. Held:
1.
Gray’s contention that the trial court erred by denying his motion for a directed verdict of acquittal is without merit. Granting such a motion is authorized only when there is no conflict in the evidence and the evidence with all reasonable deductions and inferences therefrom demands a verdict of acquittal as a matter of law. OCGA § 17-9-1 (a);
Taylor v. State, 252
Ga. 125 (
2. Gray also contends the trial court erred by denying his motion to suppress evidence resulting from what he terms an arrest without probable cause. He asserts that he was arrested when the police officer handcuffed him and placed him in the rear of the police car when the information the officer possessed was insufficient to give probable cause for arrest. He contends the description of the attacker provided to the officer on the scene did not match Gray’s actual appearance, and also contends the officer’s testimony that he did not arrest Gray when he handcuffed and placed Gray in the car is an admission the officer did not have probable cause. Following presentation of evidence on the motion and hearing argument, the trial court denied the motion without explaining its reasons.
Under the evidence in this case, we need not resolve whether Gray was arrested or merely detained under an extended
Terry
investigative stop (see
Williams v. State,
At the crucial time when Gray was handcuffed and placed in the police car (see
Hall v. State,
In reviewing a trial court’s decision on a motion to suppress, our responsibility is to ensure that there was a substantial basis for the decision.
Brown v. State,
Although the description provided did not exactly match Gray’s appearance, it need not do so for the officer to consider the information.
Cobb v. State,
When the information received by radio is added to the officer’s own observations of Gray’s appearance and Gray’s actions, it is apparent that abundant facts and circumstances existed to cause a reasonably prudent man to conclude that Gray had committed the offense of burglary.
Sanders v. State,
As the officer had probable cause to arrest Gray, any arrest was
