State v. Crites , 2019 Ohio 4729 ( 2019 )

[Cite as State v. Crites, 2019-Ohio-4729.]
COURT OF APPEALS
TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
STATE OF OHIO JUDGES:
Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J
Plaintiff-Appellee Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
Hon. Earle E. Wise, Jr., J.
-vs-
Case No. 2019 AP 03 0010
WILLIAM E. CRITES
Defendant-Appellant O P I N IO N
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDINGS: Appeal from the New Philadelphia
Municipal Court, Case No. 1801520 A-C
JUDGMENT: Affirmed
DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: November 14, 2019
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant
DOUGLAS V. JACKSON JAMES J. ONG
Dover City Prosecutor 201 North Main Street
339 Oxford Street Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683
Dover, Ohio 44622
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Hoffman, P.J.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant William E. Crites appeals his convictions and sentence
entered by the New Philadelphia Municipal Court, which found him guilty following
acceptance of his no contest pleas. Plaintiff-appellee is the State of Ohio.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE AND FACTS
{¶2} On March 18, 2018, Appellant was cited for operating a motor vehicle under
the influence of alcohol, in violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a) and (A)(2)(b), as well as a
violation of Dover Codified Ord. 337.03(A). Appellant appeared for arraignment on March
22, 2018, and entered a plea of not guilty.
{¶3} Appellant filed a motion to suppress on May 10, 2018, arguing the law
enforcement officer lacked probable cause to stop Appellant’s vehicle as said vehicle had
two headlights and the officer lacked a sufficient basis to request Appellant submit to field
sobriety tests. The magistrate conducted a hearing on the motion on July 19, 2018.
{¶4} City of Dover Police Officer Ryan Porter testified he was on routine patrol
during the early morning hours of March 18, 2018. At approximately 1:42 a.m., Officer
Porter was driving on Tuscarawas Avenue, Dover, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, when he
observed a Jeep with what he perceived to be only one functioning headlight traveling
northbound. The officer pulled into a parking lot and waited for the vehicle to drive past
him. When the Jeep travelled past him, Officer Porter confirmed the vehicle had only one
functioning headlight. Officer Porter indicated he could not recall whether the vehicle had
fog or running lights illuminated. Officer Porter pulled out behind the Jeep and initiated a
traffic stop. At no point from his initial observation of the Jeep to his initiation of the stop
did Officer Porter lose sight of the vehicle.
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{¶5} Officer Porter approached the vehicle and made contact with the driver, who
was identified as Appellant. There were two other occupants in the vehicle, a female in
the front passenger’s seat and a male in the rear of the vehicle. The officer’s vehicle was
equipped with an operational recording system on the night in question. A copy of the
video was offered and admitted as State’s Exhibit A.
{¶6} On cross-examination, Officer Porter acknowledged, as he watched the
video, he could observe a white illuminating light on the right side of the vehicle as well
as a white illuminating light on the left side of the vehicle. Officer Porter conceded he did
not measure the distance of the lights from the ground. On redirect, the officer noted,
“From what I’m looking at now it appears that I would say there’s a fog light on the right
side of the vehicle. They don’t seem to be – the light on the right is not as high as the
one on the left so I would assume that that would be a fog light underneath the headlight.”
Tr. of Suppression Hearing at 10.
{¶7} Via Decision filed August 9, 2018, the magistrate recommended a finding
Officer Porter had probable cause to initiate a stop of Appellant’s vehicle to investigate
the traffic violation. The magistrate found a trained police officer has the ability to visually
observe a vehicle to determine whether said vehicle has properly functioning headlights
as required by law, and based upon such visual observation, the officer has probable
cause to initiate a stop to investigate. Appellant filed a timely objection to the magistrate’s
decision.
{¶8} Via Judgment Entry filed November 5, 2018, the trial court approved and
adopted the magistrate’s decision in its entirety. The trial court found Appellant was
stopped after he was observed by Officer Porter operating his vehicle after dark without
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two working headlights, in violation of Dover Cod. Ord. 337.03(A). The trial court further
found Appellant’s vehicle had two fog lights, but only one functioning headlight. The trial
court concluded Officer Porter had a reasonable suspicion and probable cause to
determine a traffic violation occurred.
{¶9} Appellant appeared before the trial court on February 14, 2019, to enter a
change of plea. Per the parties’ negotiations, the State moved to amend the original
citation from a violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(2)(b) to a violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(2)(a),
and to merge the R.C. 4511.19(A)(2)(a) violation with the R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a) violation.
The trial court granted the motion. Thereafter, Appellant entered a pleas of no contest.
The trial court accepted Appellant’s pleas and found him guilty of R.C. 4511.19(A)(2)(a)
and Dover Cod. Ord. 337.03(A). The trial court sentenced Appellant to 365 days in jail
and fined him $850.00. The trial court ordered Appellant serve 60 days, suspended the
remaining 305 days, and placed Appellant on community control for 36 months.
{¶10} It is from his convictions and sentence Appellant appeals, raising as his sole
assignment of error:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY RULING THAT THERE WAS
PROBABLY CAUSE TO STOP APPELLANT’S VEHICLE AND CONDUCT
A WARRANTLESS SEARCH AND SEIZURE OF APPELLANT.
I.
{¶11} 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
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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, 1 Ohio
St.3d 19, 437 N.E.2d 583 (1982); State v. Klein, 73 Ohio App. 3d 486, 597 N.E.2d
1141(1991); State v. Guysinger, 86 Ohio App. 3d 592, 621 N.E.2d 726(1993). Second, an
appellant may argue the trial court failed to apply the appropriate test or correct law to the
findings of fact. In that case, an appellate court can reverse the trial court for committing
an error of law. State v. Williams, 86 Ohio App. 3d 37, 619 N.E.2d 1141 (1993). Finally,
assuming the trial court's findings of fact are not against the manifest weight of the
evidence and it has properly identified the law to be applied, an appellant may argue the
trial court has incorrectly decided the ultimate or final issue raised in the motion to
suppress. When reviewing this type of claim, an appellate court must independently
determine, without deference to the trial court's conclusion, whether the facts meet the
appropriate legal standard in any given case. State v. Curry, 95 Ohio App. 3d 93, 641
N.E.2d 1172 (1994); State v. Claytor, 85 Ohio App. 3d 623, 620 N.E.2d 906 (1993);
Guysinger, supra. As the United States Supreme Court held in Ornelas v. U.S., 517 U.S.
690, 116 S. Ct. 1657, 1663, 134 L. Ed. 2d 911 (1996), “... as a general matter
determinations of reasonable suspicion and probable cause should be reviewed de novo
on appeal.”
{¶12} When ruling on a motion to suppress, the trial court assumes the role of trier
of fact and is in the best position to resolve questions of fact and to evaluate the credibility
of witnesses. See State v. Dunlap, 73 Ohio St. 3d 308, 314, 1995–Ohio–243, 652 N.E.2d
988; State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St. 3d 19, 20, 437 N.E.2d 583 (1982).
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2019 AP 03 0010 6
{¶13} Appellant submits the police video “clearly shows that [his] vehicle was
equipped with two (2) lights which meet the criteria of headlights as established in Ohio
Administrative Code Section 4501-15-01.” Brief of Appellant at 7. Appellant explains
Ohio Administrative Code Section 4501-15-01 “does not require that the headlights be
the same height on either side of the vehicle” rather the code section establishes “a height
requirement for the placement of a headlight”. Id. Appellant adds Officer Porter did not
take any steps to confirm whether the headlights on Appellant’s vehicle complied with
Ohio law; therefore there was no evidence the headlights on his vehicle were not in
conformity with Ohio Administrative Code Section 4501-15-01. Appellant concludes the
officer’s “mistake of law regarding what constitutes a headlight under Ohio law thereby
eliminates Officer Porter’s contention that probable cause existed for the warrantless stop
and seizure of [Appellant].” Id. at 8. We disagree.
{¶14} It is well established an officer may stop a motorist upon his or her
observation the vehicle in question violated a traffic law. Dayton v. Erickson, 76 Ohio
St.3d 3, 11-12, 665 N.E.2d 1091 (1996). “[E]ven a de minimis traffic violation provides
probable cause for a traffic stop.” Id. at 9. “Trial courts determine whether any violation
occurred, not the extent of the violation.” State v. Hodge, 147 Ohio App. 3d 550, 2002-
Ohio-3053, 771 N.E.2d 331, ¶ 27. Moreover, an officer is not required to prove the suspect
committed an offense beyond a reasonable doubt or even satisfy the lesser standard of
probable cause to believe the defendant violated the law. Westlake v. Kaplysh, 118 Ohio
App.3d 18, 20, 691 N.E.2d 1074 (1997)
{¶15} To conduct a constitutionally valid investigatory stop, a police officer must
be able to point to specific and articulable facts which, taken together with rational
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inferences derived from those facts, give rise to a reasonable suspicion that the individual
has committed, is committing, or is about to commit a crime. State v. Williams, 51 Ohio
St.3d 58, 60, 554 N.E.2d 108 (1990). The propriety of an investigative stop by a police
officer must be viewed in light of the totality of the circumstances. State v. Freeman, 64
Ohio St. 2d 291, 414 N.E.2d 1044 (1980), paragraph one of the syllabus.
{¶16} Upon his initial observation of Appellant’s vehicle on the night in question,
Officer Porter perceived Appellant’s vehicle had only one functioning headlight. The
officer then pulled into a parking lot and waited for the vehicle to pass. Officer Porter then
confirmed his first perception the vehicle had only one functioning headlight. Although as
he watched the dash cam video during the suppression hearing, Officer Porter
acknowledged he could observe a white illuminating light on the right side of the vehicle
as well as a white illuminating light on the left side of the vehicle, on redirect, the officer
noted, “From what I’m looking at now it appears that I would say there’s a fog light on the
right side of the vehicle. They don’t seem to be – the light on the right is not as high as
the one on the left so I would assume that that would be a fog light underneath the
headlight.” Tr. of Suppression Hearing at 10.
{¶17} The focus is whether Officer Porter had reasonable suspicion for the traffic
stop at the time of the stop. The officer's testimony, as believed by the court, sufficiently
established he observed only one headlight on Appellant’s vehicle. This testimony was
enough to establish a reasonable suspicion a violation occurred; therefore, we find Officer
Porter’s stop of Appellant’s vehicle lawful.
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{¶18} In his brief, Appellant cites State v. Chatton, 11 Ohio St. 3d 59, 463 N.E.2d
1237 (1984), in support of his position Officer Porter’s detention of him exceeded the
constitutionally permissible scope. We find Chatton to be factually distinguishable.
{¶19} In Chatton, a police officer stopped the defendant for a suspected failure to
display license plates. Id. at 59. Upon approaching the vehicle, the officer noticed a
temporary tag was visible in the rear windshield. Id. Nonetheless, the officer continued
to the driver's side of defendant's vehicle and requested the defendant to produce his
driver's license. Id. The officer subsequently learned the defendant’s license was
suspended and placed the defendant under arrest for driving while under a suspension.
Id. The defendant was ordered to step out of his vehicle, was patted down, and was
handcuffed. Id. Upon searching the passenger compartment of the vehicle, the officer
discovered a loaded Charter Arms .44 Special revolver underneath the driver's seat. Id.
{¶20} The defendant was indicted for carrying a concealed weapon. Id. He moved
to suppress evidence of the gun on the basis the search of his vehicle was unlawful. Id.at
59-60. The trial court overruled the motion to suppress. Id. at 60. The defendant then
entered a plea of no contest to the charge in the indictment and a judgment of conviction
was entered thereon. Id. The court of appeals reversed the conviction, finding the trial
court erred in not suppressing the evidence of the gun. Id. The court of appeals reasoned
any reasonable suspicion the defendant was violating the law was extinguished upon the
officer's observance of the temporary tag and the detention of the defendant beyond that
moment was unlawful. Id. The Ohio Supreme Court accepted jurisdiction.
{¶21} The Chatton Court held:
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Consequently, where a police officer stops a motor vehicle which
displays neither front nor rear license plates, but upon approaching the
stopped vehicle observes a temporary tag which is visible through the rear
windshield, the driver of the vehicle may not be detained further to
determine the validity of his driver's license absent some specific and
articulable facts that the detention was reasonable. As a result, any
evidence seized upon a subsequent search of the passenger compartment
of the vehicle is inadmissible under the Fourth Amendment to the United
States Constitution. Id. at 63.
{¶22} The Chatton Court found “because the police officer no longer maintained
a reasonable suspicion that appellee's vehicle was not properly licensed or registered, to
further detain appellee and demand that he produce his driver's license is akin to [a]
random detention[.]” Id. The Court then concluded, “[a]lthough the police officer, as a
matter of courtesy, could have explained to appellee the reason he was initially detained,
the police officer could not unite the search to this detention, and appellee should have
been free to continue on his way without having to produce his driver's license.” Id.
{¶23} Unlike the officer in Chatton, Officer Porter maintained a reasonable
suspicion Appellant’s vehicle did not have two functioning headlights and, as such, could
detain Appellant further. We find Officer Porter did not exceed the constitutionally
permissible scope of the detention. The officer was not required to take measurements
of the light to confirm his suspicion, his visual observation was enough.
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{¶24} Based upon the foregoing, we find the trial court did not err in denying
Appellant’s motion to suppress.
{¶25} Appellant’s sole assignment of error is overruled.
{¶26} The judgment of the New Philadelphia Municipal Court is affirmed.
By: Hoffman, P.J.
Baldwin, J. and
Wise, Earle, J. concur