State Of Washington v. Michael J. Smith ( 2015 )

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2015 MAR ! 7
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHIN ON 8 4I
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DIVISION II
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STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 45133 -6 -II
Respondent,
v.
MICHAEL JOSEPH SMITH, UNPUBLISHED OPINION
Appellant.
SUTTON, J. — Michael Joseph Smith appeals his convictions for second degree assault and
third degree assault of a police officer. He argues that the trial court violated his Fourteenth
Amendment due process right when it denied his request for a jury instruction on self defense
-
against a police officer acting within the scope of his duties. Because Smith presented insufficient
evidence that he was in actual and imminent danger of serious injury, the trial court did not abuse
its discretion by denying Smith' s self -defense instruction. Accordingly, we affirm.
FACTS
On April 21, 2013, a Clark County deputy sheriff was patrolling Highway 99 in Vancouver
in a marked police car and wearing a standard uniform. During his patrol, the deputy saw Smith
at the intersection of Highway 99 and 107th Street, waiting for the light to turn in his favor at a
crosswalk. The deputy' s light was green, meaning that Smith' s traffic signal for crossing was red.
Smith jogged across the roadway in front of the deputy while the deputy' s light was green, and
headed to a nearby convenience store.
The deputy proceeded to the store to contact Smith about his jaywalking. As the deputy
pulled into the parking lot, Smith was nearing the door; the deputy used his air horn to get Smith' s
No. 45133 -6 -II
attention and signaled him over to the patrol car. After blowing the horn, Smith looked at the
deputy, who said " Come here" and motioned with his hands for Smith to approach the vehicle. 1
Verbatim Report of Proceedings ( VRP) at 61. Smith disregarded the command and walked into
the store.
The deputy followed Smith into the store and instructed him to step outside to talk about
his jaywalking. Smith responded, " I don' t think so." 1 VRP at 63. The deputy approached Smith,
said " Come on," and motioned for Smith to follow him outside. 1 VRP at 63. When the deputy
approached within three or four feet, Smith turned to face him and put up his balled -up fists. The
deputy responded by reaching between Smith' s hands, grabbing his jacket, and running him
towards the back of the store to " try[] to trip him down and get him off balance." 1 VRP at 65.
Once the deputy took Smith down to a seated position, he reached out to grab Smith' s left hand to
roll him over and handcuff him. Smith then punched the deputy in the mouth, which required the
deputy to get stitches to repair his split lip.
The State charged Smith with second degree assault, RCW 9A.36. 021, and third degree
assault, RCW 9A.36. 031. 1 At trial, the State' s witnesses testified consistent with the above stated
facts. Smith testified that he did not leave the store at the deputy' s request because he does not
trust cops, and did not want to be away from the security camera and the witness in the store. He
stated that he felt " threatened" only when the deputy began moving towards him. 1 VRP at 141.
He also admitted that he was already in a defensive stance when the deputy moved toward him,
1
The legislature amended RCW 9A.36. 031 in 2013. LAWS OF 2013, ch. 256, § 1. The amendments
did not alter the statute in any way relevant to this case; accordingly, we cite the current version
of the statute.
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No. 45133 -6 -II
that he punched the deputy because he felt that the deputy was " violating" his " rights," and "[ t] o
get [ the deputy] to let go of [him]." 1 VRP at 141, 143.
Smith proposed a self -defense jury instruction based on 11 Washington Criminal Pattern
Jury Instruction: Criminal 17. 02. 01 at 253 ( 3d ed. 2008), which provides that it is a defense to
the charge of assault if the defendant used lawful force when resisting arrest.2 The trial court
rejected Smith' s proposed instruction because he had not presented sufficient evidence that he was
in fear of "actual and imminent serious injury" by a police officer' s use of "excessive force." 2
VRP at 191. The jury convicted Smith of second degree and third degree assault. As to the second
degree assault conviction, the jury found by special verdict that Smith committed the crime
against a law enforcement o ffi c e r who was performing his ... official duties at the time of the
crime" and that Smith " kn[ e] w the victim was a law enforcement officer." Clerk' s Papers ( CP) at
100.
The jury' s special verdict finding permitted the trial court to enter an exceptional sentence
of 1 year and 1 day of confinement, followed by 18 months of community custody. During
2 Smith' s proposed self -defense instruction stated as follows:
It is a defense to the charges of Assault in the Second Degree and Assault
in the Third Degree that force used was lawful as defined in this instruction.
A person may use force to resist an arrest by someone known by the person
to be a police officer only if the person being arrested is in actual and imminent
danger of serious injury from an officer' s use of excessive force. The person may
employ such force and means as a reasonably prudent person would use under the
same or similar circumstances.
The State has the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the force
used by the defendant was not lawful. If you find that the State has not proved the
absence of this defense beyond a reasonable doubt, it will be your duty to return a
verdict of not guilty.
Clerk' s Papers at 30.
No. 45133 -6 -II
sentencing, the trial court merged Smith' s third, degree assault conviction into his second degree
assault conviction. Smith appeals his judgment and sentence.
ANALYSIS
Smith argues that the trial court erred when it declined to give his self -defense instruction
because the evidence at trial supported giving it. We conclude that the trial court did not abuse its
discretion in denying Smith' s self -defense instruction.
I. Standard of Review
Our standard of review when the trial court has refused to instruct the jury on self defense
-
depends on why the court refused the instruction. State v. Read, 147 Wash. 2d 238, 243, 53 P.3d 26
2002). We review for abuse of discretion a trial court' s refusal "` to give a self -defense instruction
because it found no evidence supporting the defendant' s subjective belief of imminent danger of
great bodily harm.' State v. George, 161 Wash. App. 86, 94, 249 P.3d 202 ( quoting Read, 147
Wash. 2d at 243), review denied, 172 Wash. 2d 1007 ( 2011).
II. Self Defense
- Involving a Police Officer
When a defendant claims self -defense for using force against a law enforcement officer,
the general self -defense rule does not apply. State v. Calvin, 176 Wn. App. .1, 14, 316 P.3d 496
2013) ( setting forth the general test for self -defense that generally it " is justified if there is an
appearance of imminent danger "); see also State v. Bradley, 141 Wash. 2d 731, 737, 10 P.3d 358
2000); RCW 9A. 16. 020( 3). The use of force in self -defense against an arresting law enforcement
officer is permissible only when the arrestee actually faces an imminent danger of serious injury
or death. Calvin, 176 Wn. App. at 14; Bradley, 141 Wash. 2d at 737. As our Supreme Court
explained, "` [ o] rderly and safe law enforcement demands that an. arrestee not resist a lawful arrest
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No. 45133 -6 -II
unless the arrestee is actually about to be seriously injured or killed. ' Bradley, 141 Wash. 2d at
738 ( quoting State v. oleman, 103 Wash. 2d 426, 430, 693 P.2d 89 ( 1985)).
I& Our Supreme Court
explained the policy rationale for this rule:
T] he arrestee' s right to freedom from arrest without excessive force that falls
short of causing serious injury or death can be protected and vindicated through
legal processes, whereas loss of life or serious physical injury cannot be repaired in
the courtroom. However, in the vastmajority of cases . . . resistance and
intervention make matters worse, not better. They create
violence where none
would have otherwise existed or encourage further violence, resulting in a situation
of arrest by combat."
Holeman, 103 Wash. 2d at 430 ( alteration in original) ( quoting State v. Westlund, 13 Wash. App. 460,
467, 536 P.2d 20 ( 1975)).
The same standard for self defense
- against a police officer established in Holeman and
Westlund applies to the third degree assault of a police officer charged under RCW
9A.36. 031( 1)( g). State v. Ross, 71 Wn. App. 837, 840, 863 P.2d 102 ( 1993). In a case such as
this, a jury is properly instructed that the use of force upon or toward a law enforcement officer "is
only lawful when ... used by a person who is actually about to be seriously injured." Ross, 71
Wash. App. at 840 ( internal quotation marks omitted).
Smith asserts that the evidence was sufficient to give his self -defense instruction because
he testified at trial that " he felt threatened by the deputy and that he was afraid that the deputy
might hit him." Br. of Appellant at 5. But his testimony goes to the appearance of danger, or his
perception of the danger, not the existence of actual danger. Calvin, 176 Wn. App. at 14. Smith
testified, "[ the deputy] started moving towards me. I felt it seemed a little aggressive. [ The deputy]
grabbed me by the shirt and lifted me up and looked at my eyes[. H] e was just looking in my eyes.
I felt threatened." 1 VRP at 140. And Smith failed to testify that he " face[ d] an imminent danger
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No. 45133 -6 -II
of serious injury or death "; his vague statements about feeling threatened fall far short of this
standard. Calvin, 176 Wash. App. at 14.
Under Calvin, this evidence is insufficient. Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its
discretion in concluding that the evidence was insufficient to support Smith' s "` subjective belief
of imminent danger of great bodily harm.' George, 161 Wash. App. at 94 ( quoting Read, 147
Wash. 2d at 243). We hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Smith' s request
for the self -defense instruction.
Accordingly, we affirm Smith' s convictions and sentence.
A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW 2. 06.040,
it is so ordered.
We concur:
ihanson, C. J.
t‘4114
Maxa, J.
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