State v. Godfrey , 2019 Ohio 3426 ( 2019 )

[Cite as State v. Godfrey, 2019-Ohio-3426.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
ALLEN COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO,
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 1-19-26
v.
MASON R. GODFREY, OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
Appeal from Lima Municipal Court
Trial Court No. 18TRC1835-B4
Judgment Affirmed
Date of Decision: Augusts 26, 2019
APPEARANCES:
Kenneth J. Rexford for Appellant
Lisa R. Bradley for Appellee
Case No. 1-19-26
SHAW, J.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Mason Godfrey (“Godfrey”), brings this appeal
from the May 3, 2019, judgment of the Lima Municipal Court sentencing him to 60
days in jail, with 50 suspended on various conditions, after Godfrey pled no contest
to, and was convicted of, OVI in violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(h). On appeal,
Godfrey argues that the trial court erred by overruling his suppression motion.
Background
{¶2} On October 27, 2018, shortly after 2 a.m., multiple Lima Police Officers
were dispatched to a bar called Harry’s Hideaway on Cable Road in Lima for reports
of a fight. Officer Kaitlyn Weidman and Officer Ben Thompson went into the bar
where there were over 100 people and completed a walkthrough looking for the
problem. While in the bar, both officers observed Godfrey. Officer Thompson
indicated that Godfrey had slurred speech, that he was “falling all over the place,”
that he had bloodshot, glassy eyes, and that he was “arguing with a female over car
keys.” (Tr. at 7). Officer Weidman also observed Godfrey arguing with a female
over the keys to a vehicle. Officer Weidman described him as “highly intoxicated
at that time.” (Id. at 12). More specifically, Officer Weidman stated that Godfrey
smelled like alcohol and that his speech was very slurred.
{¶3} Minutes later, Officer Thompson was outside speaking with the bar’s
bouncer when he observed Godfrey get into the driver’s side of a vehicle. Officer
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Thompson radioed Officer Weidman and told her to pull Godfrey over if he failed
to stop at the “sidewalk.” Officer Weidman observed Godfrey leaving and pull onto
the road. She stated that she felt Godfrey failed to yield when he entered Cable
Road, then she pulled him over both for that failure to yield and for the observations
of his intoxication inside the bar.
{¶4} As a result of the traffic stop, Godfrey’s BAC was taken by a breath test
and his BAC was .171. Subsequently Godfrey was charged with OVI in violation
of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(a), and alternatively OVI in violation of R.C.
4511.19(A)(1)(h). He was also charged with Driving Under Suspension in violation
of Lima City Ordinance 436.11(a), and Failure to Yield in violation of Lima City
Ordinance 432.22(a)(1). Godfrey initially pled not guilty to the charges.
{¶5} On December 10, 2018, Godfrey filed a suppression motion. That
motion was supplemented on January 7, 2019, once Godfrey received dash camera
video from the incident. In his motion, Godfrey argued that there was no legal basis
to stop him for a “Failure to Yield” violation based on Lima City Ordinance
432.22(a)(1). More specifically, he argued,
Mr. Godfrey is seen clearly pulling up to one of the exits between
Bob Evans and Harry’s Hideaway on Cable Road just north of
the intersection at that location. At the time, he turned right onto
Cable. To his immediate left were several cruisers stopped to
attend to another driver, with a red light for north-bound traffic.
Therefore, not only was there no impacted traffic at all, no impact
on traffic was even possible because all traffic northbound was
blocked and stopped by both LPD cruisers and a red light.
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One of the officers can be heard on Kaitlyn Weidman’s radio
telling her that she could stop Mr. Godfrey if he did not stop at
the sidewalk. If there was a sidewalk, then a stop would be
required. However, there clearly is no sidewalk at this location.
Thus, the purported basis for the stop, namely a violation of
L.C.O. 432.22(A)(1), was nonsensical.
(Doc. No. 10).
{¶6} The matter proceeded to a suppression hearing on March 22, 2019. At
the hearing, the State presented the testimony of Officers Ben Thompson and
Kaitlyn Weidman of the Lima City Police Department. They testified to their
actions and observations that night. Officer Weidman testified that she ultimately
stopped Godfrey’s vehicle at approximately 2:14 a.m. When asked why she stopped
him, she testified, “The defendant entered the roadway quickly, failing to yield to
traffic. I also knew he was intoxicated from the observations I made in close range
at the bar.” (Tr. at 16).
{¶7} On cross-examination, Officer Weidman admitted that there was no
sidewalk in the area, that there was no vehicle or pedestrian traffic, and that there
was a red light to Godfrey’s left when he was entering the street. Dash camera
footage was entered into evidence.
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{¶8} The trial court then asked Officer Weidman again why she stopped
Godfrey’s vehicle and she testified, “Because I observed him to be impaired, and he
failed to stop prior to entering the roadway.” (Tr. at 18).
{¶9} Godfrey testified at the suppression hearing on his own behalf,
indicating that he did not see any fighting inside the bar, that the bar was crowded,
and that he was never that close to an officer for them to observe him.
{¶10} At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court overruled the
suppression motion, finding as follows.
All right. I do find that there’s reasonable suspicion for the stop
with the observation of Mr. Godfrey. It has been testified to that
he was inebriated, an observation that he got in the car to operate
it shortly thereafter, and so far, the Court deny [sic] the motion to
suppress.
(Tr. at 21). A journal entry denying the suppression motion was filed March 27,
2019.
{¶11} Subsequently, Godfrey entered into a plea agreement with the State
wherein he agreed to plead no contest to OVI in violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(h),
and in exchange the State would dismiss the remaining charges, and not oppose a
stay of the sentence pending appeal.
{¶12} On May 3, 2019, Godfrey pled no contest pursuant to the plea
agreement and he was found guilty of OVI in violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(h).
He was sentenced to serve 60 days in jail, with 50 days suspended on various
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conditions. A judgment entry memorializing Godfrey’s conviction and sentence
was filed that same day.1
{¶13} It is from this judgment that Godfrey appeals, asserting the following
assignment of error for our review.
Assignment of Error
The trial court erred by denying Mr. Godfrey’s motion to
suppress, in violation of his rights under the Ohio and United
States Constitutions.
{¶14} In his assignment of error, Godfrey argues that the trial court erred by
denying his suppression motion. Specifically, he argues that the State did not meet
its burden of proof, that the officer stopped Godfrey for a traffic violation that did
not occur, that the State should not prevail if the officers added observations of
intoxication at the motion hearing, and that the trial court did not make factual
findings that were supported by competent credible evidence.
Standard of Review
{¶15} “Appellate review of a decision on a motion to suppress presents a
mixed question of law and fact.” State v. Burnside, 100 Ohio St.3d 152, 2003–
Ohio–5372, ¶ 8. At a suppression hearing, the trial court assumes the role of trier
of fact and, as such, is in the best position to evaluate the evidence and the credibility
of witnesses. Id. citing State v. Mills, 62 Ohio St.3d 357, 366 (1992). When
1
Godfrey did request that his sentence be stayed pending appeal, and that request was granted.
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reviewing a motion to suppress, “an appellate court must accept the trial court’s
findings of fact if they are supported by competent, credible evidence.” Burnside at
¶ 8 citing State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 437 N.E.2d 583 (1982). With respect
to the trial court’s conclusions of law, however, our standard of review is de novo,
and we must independently determine whether the facts satisfy the applicable legal
standard. Id. citing State v. McNamara, 124 Ohio App.3d 706, 707 N.E.2d 539 (4th
Dist.1997).
Relevant Authority
{¶16} The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits
unreasonable searches and seizures. Accord Ohio Constitution, Article I, Section
14. “Its protections extend to brief investigative stops that fall short of traditional
arrests.” State v. Hairston, 156 Oh St.3d 363, 2019-Ohio-1622, ¶ 9, citing United
States v. Arvizu, 534 U.S. 266, 273, 122 S.Ct. 744, 151 L.Ed.2d 740 (2002). An
officer may perform such a stop when the officer has a reasonable suspicion based
on specific and articulable facts that criminal behavior has occurred or is imminent.
Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 30, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 20 L.Ed.2d 889 (1968).
{¶17} The reasonable-suspicion standard is less demanding than the
probable-cause standard used when analyzing an arrest. Hairston at ¶ 10 citing
United States v. Sokolow, 490 U.S. 1, 7, 109 S.Ct. 1581, 104 L.Ed.2d 1 (1989). “The
determination whether an officer had reasonable suspicion to conduct a Terry stop
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must be based on the totality of circumstances ‘viewed through the eyes of the
reasonable and prudent police officer on the scene who must react to events as they
unfold.’ ” Id. quoting State v. Andrews, 57 Ohio St.3d 86, 87-88, 565 N.E.2d 1271(1991).
Analysis
{¶18} In his assignment of error, Godfrey argues that the trial court erred by
denying his suppression motion. He claims that Officer Weidman had no basis
under Lima City Ordinance 432.22(a)(1) to conduct a traffic stop of his vehicle.2
He contends that the video footage entered into evidence at the suppression hearing
established that there was no traffic that Godfrey “failed to yield” to because police
had the road blocked off and there was a red light to Godfrey’s left.3 Godfrey then
argues that because Officer Weidman was not credible in her assertion that there
was a reasonable suspicion to stop Godfrey’s vehicle for failure to yield to
2
Failure to Yield in violation of Lima City Ordinance 432.22(a)(1) reads, “The operator of a vehicle about
to enter or cross a highway from any place other than another roadway shall yield the right-of-way to all
traffic approaching on the roadway to be entered or crossed.”
3
In addition, Godfrey argues that the police actually charged Godfrey under the wrong Lima City Ordinance.
He claims that he was coming off of a private road or driveway and thus should have been charged under
Lima City Ordinance 432.22(b)(1) reads, “The driver of a vehicle emerging from an alley, building, private
road or driveway within a business or residence district shall stop the vehicle immediately prior to driving
onto a sidewalk or onto the sidewalk area extending across the alley, building entrance, road or driveway, or
in the event there is no sidewalk area, shall stop at the point nearest the street to be entered where the driver
has a view of approaching traffic thereon.” Regardless of which ordinance should have applied, Godfrey
argues that no violation of either ordinance occurred. As the appeal does not turn on this issue of the traffic
violation at all, we will not further address it.
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nonexistent traffic, she could not be found credible in her alternative reasoning for
stopping Godfrey based on his observed intoxication inside the bar.4
{¶19} At the outset of our review, we emphasize that at the suppression
hearing, Officer Weidman testified that she had two separate and distinct reasons
for stopping Godfrey’s vehicle: 1) Godfrey’s intoxication inside the bar, and 2)
Godfrey’s failure to yield when entering the roadway. The trial court heard the
testimony at the suppression hearing, reviewed the video footage, and then
determined that, “I do find that there’s reasonable suspicion for the stop with the
observation of Mr. Godfrey. It has been testified to that he was inebriated, an
observation that he got in the car to operate it shortly thereafter[.]” (Tr. at 21).
{¶20} The trial court’s verbal ruling at the hearing indicates that it based its
finding overruling the suppression motion on the officers’ observations of
Godfrey’s intoxication prior to getting into his car. It does not actually appear based
on the trial court’s stated finding that the trial court placed any emphasis or gave
any credence to the purported failure to yield. Thus while Godfrey focuses his
argument on appeal on his claim that there was no failure to yield, we must review
4
Godfrey contends in his brief that the written discovery provided only “failure to yield” as the reasoning
for the stop. He indicates that the State shifted its reasoning at the suppression hearing to add the second
reason for stopping Godfrey’s vehicle, namely that he was observed by the officers to be intoxicated inside
the bar. He implies that this reason was not included in the written discovery. As the discovery was not filed
with this Court, we can say nothing on the matter. However, the trial court was in a better position to evaluate
the credibility of the witnesses, and found the officers’ testimony regarding their observations in the bar to
be credible.
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the trial court’s determination that the observation of Godfrey’s intoxication
supported the traffic stop.
{¶21} In reviewing the trial court’s determination, both Lima Police Officers
testified that they observed Godfrey in an intoxicated state inside the bar, arguing
with a female over the keys to a vehicle. Godfrey himself admitted to being in the
bar, though he denied being close to the officers at any point. Godfrey was then
observed getting into a vehicle and driving it away from the bar.
{¶22} Although Godfrey challenges the credibility of the officers’ testimony,
the trial court was in a better position to evaluate the credibility of the officers, and
to determine if any inconsistencies between the video of the purported failure to
yield with the testimony regarding the purported failure to yield should have had
any impact on the officers’ claims regarding Godfrey’s intoxication inside the bar.
In its capacity as trier-of-fact, the trial court found that the officers were credible
regarding Godfrey’s intoxication. The testimony supports the trial courts factual
findings.
{¶23} Applying the facts to the law, the officers’ observations of Godfrey
intoxicated inside the bar only minutes before with slurred speech, “falling all over
the place,” would give an officer reasonable suspicion to stop Godfrey’s vehicle.
See State v. Robinson, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2003CA00235, 2004-Ohio-1571, ¶¶ 24-
25 (reasonable suspicion existed to stop defendant in parking lot where agent
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observed defendant seated at bar with slurred speech, drinking beer, and when
defendant stood up, he swayed and stumbled while walking around the bar);
Westlake v. Jordan, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 84289, 2004-Ohio-6022, ¶¶ 18-21
(officer justified in investigative stop when receiving a reliable tip that driver was
intoxicated); State v. Greene, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 19163, 2002-Ohio-1886 (A
Terry stop may be made where an officer observed a defendant beginning 50 feet
from his car having trouble walking, staggering, and with balance problems, and the
officer saw the defendant heading towards the driver’s side of the car.); State v.
Campbell, 68 Ohio App.3d 688, 690-91, 589 N.E.2d 452, 454 (1st Dist.1990) (“Had
Officer McQuade personally observed the defendant consuming the wine, the
information, when communicated to Deputy Nickoson, would
carry sufficient indicia of reliability to justify an investigative stop by Deputy
Nickoson under the totality of the circumstances, as part of a common
investigation.”). Moreover, case authority establishes that officers can stop an
individual’s vehicle when they have a reliable tip that a defendant is intoxicated.
See Westlake, supra. If officers can stop based on a reliable tip, they certainly can
stop an individual based on their own observations of intoxication, particularly
where the signs of intoxication were as defined as they were in this case. See Id.
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{¶24} On the facts before us we cannot find that the trial court erred by
finding that there was reasonable suspicion to stop Godfrey’s vehicle based on his
observed intoxication. Therefore, his assignment of error is overruled.
Conclusion
{¶25} For the foregoing reasons, Godfrey’s assignment of error is overruled
and the judgment of the Lima Municipal Court is affirmed.
Judgment Affirmed
ZIMMERMAN, P.J. and PRESTON, J., concur.
/jlr
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