State v. Garrison , 2012 Ohio 3846 ( 2012 )

[Cite as State v. Garrison, 2012-Ohio-3846.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY, OHIO
STATE OF OHIO :
Plaintiff-Appellee : C.A. CASE NO. 24857
v. : T.C. NO. 10CR3387/4
CHRISTOPHER J. GARRISON : (Criminal appeal from
Common Pleas Court)
Defendant-Appellant :
:
..........
OPINION
Rendered on the 24th day of August , 2012.
..........
ANDREW T. FRENCH, Atty. Reg. No. 0069384, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, 301 W. Third
Street, 5th Floor, Dayton, Ohio 45422
Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee
JOHN S. PINARD, Atty. Reg. No. 0085567, 120 W. Second Street, Suite 703, Dayton, Ohio
45402
Attorney for Defendant-Appellant
..........
DONOVAN, J.
{¶ 1} This matter is before the Court on the Notice of Appeal of Christopher Garrison,
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filed October 20, 2011. Garrison appeals from his October 18, 2011 Judgment Entry of
Conviction, following pleas of no contest, to one count of aggravated burglary (deadly weapon),
in violation of R.C. 2911.11(A)(2), and one count of aggravated robbery (deadly weapon), in
violation of R.C. 2911.01(A)(1), both felonies of the first degree. An additional charge of
kidnapping was dismissed. The court merged the aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary
offenses, and the State elected to proceed to sentencing on the aggravated robbery (deadly
weapon) offense. Garrison received an agreed five year sentence. Garrison’s arguments on
appeal relate to his motion to suppress, filed on December 2, 2010, which the trial court
overruled after a hearing. We hereby affirm the judgment of the trial court.
{¶ 2} By way of background, Garrison’s co-defendants, namely Antwon Cosby, David
Blane, and Javian Blake Harris, also moved the court to suppress evidence, and the court heard
all the suppression motions at a hearing that began on February 16, 2011. At the hearing, T.J.,
age 12, testified that on October 20, 2010, just before noon, he was sleeping in his bed, on
Bercham Drive, Huber Heights, having stayed home from school due to illness. T.J. stated he
was alone in his home when one of the family dogs began barking and awakened him. He
testified that he told the dog to be quiet and went back to sleep, but the dog began to bark again.
When T.J. awoke for the second time, he observed a tall man with a bushy ponytail and a
mustache in his bedroom, wearing a black hoodie, black pants, and black shoes. T.J. stated that
the man carried a gun, and he asked T.J. where his step-father was. T.J. testified that after he
told the man that he did not know his step-father’s whereabouts, the man pointed the gun at him
and told him to get under the covers. The man then removed T.J.’s laptop computer from his
bedside table and left the room. T.J. further testified that he observed a second man, who was
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wearing gloves, standing near his bedroom door. T.J. stated that he also heard someone else in
the house whom he could not see.
{¶ 3} T.J. testified that he remained in his room under the covers until the police
arrived. He stated that his parents also arrived, and an officer then drove him, his mother and his
step-father to view suspects who had been detained. At the first location, T.J. testified that he
was shown three men, one at a time. T.J. stated that he identified the man wearing the gloves,
suspect Javian Blake Harris. T.J. stated that he was taken to another location where he was
shown two more men, one at a time. T.J. testified that he identified the second man as the man
with the ponytail who pointed the gun at him, suspect David Blane.
{¶ 4} Stephen Hurst testified that at the time of the robbery, he was sitting in his car in
front of Rushmore Elementary school, on Bercham Drive, between 11:30 and 11:45, waiting for
his daughter. While he was “fidgeting in the seat,” Hurst stated that a vehicle pulled up about a
car’s length ahead of his. He testified that he looked up and observed a man get into the right
rear passenger side of the vehicle and crawl across the back seat to the driver’s side. Hurst
stated that he also observed another man waiting to get into the vehicle, who was wearing latex
gloves and carrying a laptop computer. Hurst stated that he observed a third man carrying a
“big T.V.” exit a nearby house and also get into the backseat of the vehicle. Hurst stated that he
did not see the driver of the vehicle. Hurst testified that he believed a robbery was in progress,
and he phoned the Huber Heights Police Department. When the officers arrived, Hurst testified
that he advised them of the direction in which the vehicle departed. Hurst stated that he was
subsequently contacted by the officers, and he met them an hour after the robbery at a separate
location, where he was shown three suspects, one at a time. Hurst stated that he recognized the
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second suspect as the man wearing the latex gloves and carrying the lap top. Hurst testified that
he was then taken to another location and shown two more suspects, and that he recognized the
second man there as the man carrying the television. Hurst identified Blane and Harris in the
courtroom as the two suspects he identified during the show up.
{¶ 5} The suppression hearing resumed on March 2, 2011. Deputy Jonathan Miller of
the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office testified that he was working alone in a marked cruiser
when he detained Garrison, and he testified as follows regarding the relevant sequence of events:
Q. * * * At some point in time, did you have occasion to go to the area of
Klepinger Road?
A. Yes, I did.
Q. Can you tell us what it was that brought you to that location?
A. We had received information through our computer system of an
aggravated burglary that occurred in the city of Huber Heights. They put out a
vehicle description and plate number and saying that when you ran the plate it
came back to Harrison Township just off Klepinger Road.
Q. * * * And so as a result of that, is that the reason you went to that area?
A. Correct.
Q. * * * And when you got to that area, did you learn anything else?
A. Yes, I’d heard that - - we have volunteers that had said they saw a car
that kind of - - they described - - that matched that description. They lost it.
But a little short time later, Deputy Chaney had advised that he had the car in a * *
* driveway and all the individuals inside had bailed.
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Q. * * * And was the area where the vehicle was, was it close in location
to this Klepinger Road?
A. Yes.
Q. * * * Same neighborhood?
A. Correct.
Q. * * * Now, did you have specific descriptions of individuals that had
bailed from the car?
A. Yeah, the one - - one in particular was a black male, blue jeans,
wearing a white T-shirt, was walking down Klepinger Road.
Q. And do you recall, if you recall, who you got that information from?
A. I believes (sic) it was deputy Barnes.
Q. * * * And as a result of hearing that information, what did you do?
A. Went down - - south on Klepinger and about that time I was just south
of Haney Road, observed a black male wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans,
walking.
Q. * * * And what did you do?
A. Exited my cruiser, pulled my service weapon out, ordered him to the
ground. He complied.
Q. * * * And were you able to ascertain the identification of this person?
A. Yes.
Q. And how did you get the identification of the person?
A. I asked him what his name was, if he had an ID on him. He told me,
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“Yes, I do, my jail ID.” Prison ID was in his back pocket.
Q. * * * And what name did he give you?
A. Christopher Garrison.
Q. * * * And - - so, at this point is he on the ground?
A. Yes.
Q. Is he at gunpoint?
A. He’s handcuffed now.
Q. * * * And what happens next?
A. Secured him in the rear seat - - rear seat of my cruiser, relocated to
Ar[k] and Klepinger which is a couple hundred feet down the road. And asked
him, you know, what was he doing in this area.
He proceeded to say he was there visiting a friend on Ar[k]. Asked him to
point out how far down the road this house was at. He changes his story to he
was - - he walked over to that area from Northland Village Apartments, which is
on the east side of Harrison, to meet a friend.
Q. * * * - - at this time you indicated he was handcuffed.
A. Correct.
Q. Why was he handcuffed?
A. For my safety.
Q. * * * Was he under arrest at that point?
A. No.
Q. * * * - - but did you have control of him?
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A. Yes.
Q. * * * When he made these statements to you, was he in your police
cruiser or was he outside of your police cruiser?
A. Inside my cruiser.
Q. * * * Did you know for certain whether or not this individual was
involved in the incident you were responding to the area for?
A. No, I did not.
Q. * * * Did you read this person their rights before these statements were
made?
A. No, I did not.
Q. * * * And why did you not do that?
A. At this time I didn’t know that he was even a - - a considered suspect.
I was just ascertaining why he was even in the neighborhood.
Q. * * * At the time you indicated that he made some statements and then
changed his statements; correct?
A. Correct.
Q. And what were your thoughts on that?
A.. At that time I started believing that, you know, his story certainly did
change. He’s - - might be involved. He’s trying to think of different things.
Q. * * * Do you continue asking him questions at that time?
A. I made a statement to why would your friend want you to meet him on
Ar[k], walk from Northland to meet you on Ar[k] when you’re - - it’s like a two -
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or three-mile walk, when he could have picked you up at Northland.
Q. Did he respond to that?
A. He did respond. He stated he didn’t know, it’s just what his friend
had asked him to do.
Q. * * * At that point did you ask him any further questions?
A. No, I did not.
Q. * * * Was a suspect (sic) in your mind at that point?
A. Yes, he was.
Q. * * * Did you ask him any further questions after that at all?
A. No.
Q. * * * What did you do with him after that?
A. He remained in my cruiser. A short time later the City of Huber
Heights had - - I’m assuming witnesses or something came around and asked for a
live ID. The citizens standing by while he stepped out of the cruiser. And then
turned him over to Huber Heights Police Department.
Q. * * * And so he was in your cruiser at the time of, what we call the
show-up?
A. Right.
Q. * * * And did you actually take him out of your cruiser for the
show-up?
A. Yes.
Q. Did you have any conversation with either of the witnesses that were
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on the opposite end of the show-up, the ones that were there to ID?
A. No, I never saw them.
***
Q. Did you participate any further in the investigation after you assisted
with taking the individual out of the car for the show-up?
A. No.
Miller stated that Garrison’s tone was initially calm but that he then became “a little nervous.”
Miller testified that he did not threaten Garrison or make any promises to him in exchange for his
answers, and that Garrison did not indicate that he did not want to talk to him, or ask for an
attorney. Miller stated that Garrison did not appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs,
and that other than changing his story, he responded appropriately to his questions.
{¶ 6} On cross-examination, Miller testified that the suspect vehicle was registered to
an address on Maple Leaf Drive, which intersects Ark Avenue, and that Ark Avenue dead ends
into Klepinger, where Garrison was apprehended. Miller testified that he was 15-20 feet away
from Garrison when he got out of his cruiser to approach him. Miller stated that he did not
activate his lights or siren. Miller testified that when Garrison got on the ground, he
“immediatley told him to put his hands out to the sides and went up and placed my service
weapon in my holster, and placed handcuffs on him.” Miller stated that he detained Garrison for
purposes of investigation, and that he advised dispatch that he had “the male walking down
Klepinger detained.” Miller stated that he proceeded to the intersection of Ark Avenue and
Klepinger Road with Garrison to establish a perimeter, since all of the robbery suspects had not
been apprehended. Miller stated that they remained in the cruiser for about a half an hour, until
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the show-up ID occurred.
{¶ 7} Robert Schommer, Chief of Police for the City of Huber Heights, testified that
he transported Garrison to the Huber Heights Police Department after he had been apprehended.
Schommer stated that he did not advise Garrison of his rights or ask him any questions, but that
Garrison provided unsolicited statements. Schommer testified that Garrison told him that he did
not know what was going on, and that he “was walking back from * * * a girlfriend’s house at
Northland Village, heading back to Third Street * * *,” when he was approached by a deputy.
Schommer stated that he did not ask any questions of Garrison following these statements.
Schommer testified that Garrison was coherent and did not appear to be under the influence of
drugs or alcohol. According to Schommer, he did not raise his voice to Garrison, threaten him,
or make any promises, and he stated that Garrison did not ask for an attorney. On
cross-examination, Schommer stated that when he took custody of Garrison he was already under
arrest and not free to leave. Schommer stated that Garrison was in handcuffs at that time.
{¶ 8} Jeffrey Colvin, a detective with the Huber Heights Police Department with 18
years experience, testified that he learned of the robbery from a radio broadcast, while he was in
Bellbrook with Detective Mike Noll, following up on a separate case. Colvin testified that he
contacted dispatch and learned that an eyewitness had provided the license plate number of the
vehicle used in the robbery, which was registered to an address on Maple Leaf Drive in
Harrison Township. Colvin and Noll proceeded to the area of the Maple Leaf Drive address,
according to Colvin. Upon arrival in the area, he stated that he observed that responding officers
had already detained three men on nearby Fleetwood Drive. After speaking with detainees
Kuron Evans and Antwon Cosby, Colvin stated that he and Noll proceeded to 4142 Maple Leaf,
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where Sharon Cosby provided written consent to search her vehicle, whose license plate matched
that provided by a witness. Colvin testified that the victims were then brought to the scene,
where they identified their property in Sharon Cosby’s car that had been taken from their home.
{¶ 9} Colvin identified a photocopy of the original rights form he later read to Garrison
when he interviewed him at the police department in an interview room. Colvin stated that he
read each individual right to Garrison and had him place his initials by each right to indicate his
understanding thereof. Colvin testified that Garrison indicated that he had nine years of
schooling and that he is able to read and write. Colvin stated that Garrison signed the form at
the bottom and agreed to speak to him. Colvin stated that Garrison did not ask any questions.
According to Colvin, he did not make any threats or promises to Garrison. Colvin testified that
Garrison never asked to stop the interview, for anything to eat or drink, or for an attorney.
Colvin stated that Garrison did not appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol and
answered his questions coherently. Colvin stated that the interview lasted 25 minutes. The
record does not reveal whether Garrison made incriminating statements during this interview
either verbally or in writing.
{¶ 10} In overruling the defendants’ motions to suppress, the trial court determined in
relevant part, after summarizing Miller’s testimony regarding his contact with Garrison as recited
above, as follows:
As to the statements made by Defendant Garrison to Deputy Miller, the
distinction to be drawn is whether the nature and amount of force exerted upon
Defendant Garrison transcended that necessary for an investigative detention
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under Terry and converted the detention into a custodial arrest during which an
interrogation occurred without a preceding Miranda advisement. Defendant
Garrison had been taken to the ground, handcuffed, and placed in the rear of a
marked cruiser. This level of force is generally more consistent with a custodial
arrest than a brief, non-custodial investigative detention. However, Defendant
Garrison matched the general description of one of the men that had fled the
automobile suspected to be associated with an armed home invasion. The force
used, given the nature of the suspected offense and the possible presence of a
firearm, was commensurate with the reasonable risk perceived by the investigating
officer. * * *
The totality of the circumstances show a detention for further investigative
inquiry, not an arrest at the time of Deputy Miller’s question. That detention then
evolved into a probable cause basis for Defendant Garrison’s arrest and transport
to the Huber Heights police department for additional questioning. The further
investigative inquiry consisted of asking Defendant Garrison to explain why he
was in the vicinity. Defendant Garrison’s explanation was implausible from the
perspective of the investigating officer, increasing the likelihood that Defendant
Garrison had been one of the individuals that had fled from the vehicle. Flight,
present here, colors otherwise innocent behavior and is accorded substantial
weight in a probable cause determination. * * * Given that Defendant Garrison
matched the description of one of the individuals that had fled from the vehicle
and he offered a fluid, if not implausible explanation for his presence in the
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vicinity, probable cause then arose for Defendant Garrison’s arrest. Probable
cause is information sufficient to justify a reasonably prudent person in believing
that an offense was committed and the arrestee committed it. Probable cause is
more than mere suspicion, but less than proof beyond a reasonable doubt. This is
consistent with Chief Schommer’s assessment that when he took possession of
Defendant Garrison for transport to the Huber Heights police department,
Defendant Garrison was under arrest at that time. Consequently, the statements by
Defendant Garrison to Deputy Miller will not be excluded. His spontaneous,
unsolicited statements to Chief Schommer and post Miranda advisement
statements to Det. Colvin are not subject to exclusion. Given that probable cause
existed for Defendant Garrison’s arrest, his motion to suppress based upon an
arrest lacking in probable cause is overruled, as well as Defendant Garrison’s fruit
of the poisonous tree arguments.
{¶ 11} Garrison asserts one assignment of error with several subparts as follows:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING APPELLANT’S MOTION TO SUPPRESS
THE EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE AS IT WAS OBTAINED IN VIOLATION OF HIS STATE
AND FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO BE FREE OF UNREASONABLE
SEARCHES AND SEIZURES.
1. The Officer Did Not Have Reasonable, Articulable Suspicion to Detain Mr. Garrison.
2. The Officer Erred in Arresting Mr. Garrison without Probable Cause.
3. Statements Made by Mr. Garrison Were Taken in Violation of His Miranda Rights.
4. The Evidence Obtained from Mr. Garrison is Subject to the Exclusionary Rule.
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{¶ 12} The State responds that Garrison “is really making three separate arguments for
why his conviction should be reversed,” and further that “[b]ecause the police acted reasonably in
stopping Garrison as part of an investigative detention, questioning him as part of that
investigation, and arresting him after the investigation led to probable cause to believe he was
involved in the burglary, the trial court properly overruled Garrison’s motion to suppress.”
I. Reasonable, Articulable Suspicion
{¶ 13} As this Court has previously noted:
“Appellate courts give great deference to the factual findings of the trier of
facts. (Internal citations omitted) . At a suppression hearing, the trial court serves
as the trier of fact, and must judge the credibility of witnesses and the weight of
the evidence. (Internal citations omitted). The trial court is in the best position to
resolve questions of fact and evaluate witness credibility. (Internal citations
omitted). In reviewing a trial court’s decision on a motion to suppress, an
appellate court accepts the trial court’s factual findings, relies on the trial court’s
ability to assess the credibility of witnesses, and independently determines
whether the trial court applied the proper legal standard to the facts as found.
(Internal citations omitted). An appellate court is bound to accept the trial court’s
factual findings as long as they are supported by competent, credible evidence.”
State v. Hurt, Montgomery App. No. 21009, 2006-Ohio-990.
{¶ 14} The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which is applicable to
the states through the Fourteenth Amendment, provides: “The right of the people to be secure in
their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be
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violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation,
and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons and things to be seized.”
Violations of the Fourth Amendment require courts to apply the exclusionary rule, suppressing
use of any evidence that was illegally obtained. Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U.S. 643, 81 S.Ct. 1684, 6
L.Ed.2d 1081 (1961). “* * * The exclusionary rule applies not only to primary evidence directly
obtained by police during an illegal search or seizure but also to ‘derivative evidence,’ that is,
evidence discovered from knowledge gained by the police as a result of the illegal search or
seizure. * * * . Derivative evidence is known as ‘fruit of the poisonous tree.’ * * *.” State v.
Anderson, 2d Dist. Clark Nos. 2009-CA-60, 2009-CA-61, 2011-Ohio-22, ¶ 23.
{¶ 15} As this Court has previously noted:
“The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects
individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures. Terry v. Ohio (1968), 392
U.S. 1, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 20 L.Ed.2d 889. Not all interactions between citizens and
the police, however, constitute a seizure. Rather, the interactions between
citizens and law enforcement officers can fall within three distinct categories: a
consensual encounter, an investigative detention, and an arrest. State v. Taylor
(1995), 106 Ohio App.3d 741, 747-749, 667 N.E.2d 60.
***
“An individual is subject to an investigatory detention when, in view of all
the circumstances surrounding the incident, by means of physical force or show of
authority, a reasonable person would have believed that he was not free to leave or
is compelled to respond to questions. * * * Under Terry, police officers may
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briefly stop and/or temporarily detain individuals in order to investigate possible
criminal activity if the officers have a reasonable, articulable suspicion that
criminal activity may be afoot. * * * . ‘Reasonable suspicion entails some
minimal level of objective justification for making a stop - that is, something more
than an inchoate and unparticularized suspicion or “hunch” but less than the level
of suspicion required for probable cause.’ State v. Jones (1990), 70 Ohio App.3d
554, 556-557, 591 N.E.2d 810. We determine the existence of reasonable
suspicion by evaluating the totality of the circumstances, considering those
circumstances “‘through the eyes of the reasonable and prudent police officer on
the scene who must react to events as they unfold.”’ State v. Heard, Montgomery
App. No. 19323, 2003-Ohio-1047, at ¶ 14, quoting State v. Andrews (1991), 57
Ohio St.3d 86, 87-88, 565 N.E.2d 1271. * * *.
“The final category is a seizure that is the equivalent of an arrest. ‘A
seizure is equivalent to an arrest when (1) there is an intent to arrest; (2) the
seizure is made under the real or pretended authority; (3) it is accompanied by an
actual or constructive seizure or detention; and (4) it is so understood by the
person arrested.’ Taylor, 106 Ohio App.3d at 749 [667 N.E.2d 60]. An arrest
must be based on probable cause.” (Citation omitted). State v. Lewis,
Montgomery App. No. 22726, 2009-Ohio-158, 2009 WL 105635,¶ 20-23.
State v. Curtis, 193 Ohio App.3d 121, 2011-Ohio-1277, 951 N.E.2d 131, ¶ 18-21 (2d Dist.).
{¶ 16} “‘The Fourth Amendment does not require a
policeman who lacks the precise
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level of information necessary for
probable cause to arrest to simply
shrug his shoulders and allow a crime
to occur or a criminal to escape. On
the contrary, Terry recognizes that it
may simply be the essence of good
police work to adopt an intermediate
response. * * *.’” State v. Freeman,
64 Ohio St.2d 291, 295-96, 414
N.E.2d 1044 (1980). Further, a
“‘brief stop of a suspicious
individual, in order to determine his
identity or to maintain the status quo
momentarily while obtaining more
information may be most reasonable
in light of the facts known to the
officer at the time.’ * * * .” Id., 296.
{¶ 17} “Handcuffing a suspect in the course of an investigative detention does not
necessarily turn that investigative detention into an arrest, so long as handcuffing is reasonable
under the circumstances; for instance, to maintain the status quo and prevent flight.” State v.
Carter, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 21145, 2006-Ohio-2823, ¶ 20.
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{¶ 18} Finally, this Court has previously determined:
[P]olice officers are entitled to rely on information received from other
police officers. If an officer detains an individual suspected of criminal behavior
in reliance on information received from a fellow officer, who has a reasonable
suspicion to make a stop, he need not have independent grounds for suspecting
criminal activity but may rely on the information given via the dispatch.
However, the state must prove that the officer who provided the information had a
valid reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.
State v. Wortham, 145 Ohio App.3d 126, 130, 2001-Ohio-1506, 761 N.E.2d 1151 (2d Dist.).
{¶ 19} Garrison directs our attention to State v. Whitson, 10th Dist. Franklin No.
01AP-819, 2002-Ohio-683, which he argues is analogous to the matter herein. Whitson was
convicted of carrying a concealed weapon, and on appeal he argued that the trial court erred in
overruling his motion to suppress. At the suppression hearing, Sergeant Householder testified
that he was dispatched to the scene of a robbery at an “Easy Mart,” and that the suspects were
described as “‘three black males wearing dark clothing, some of them with hats.’” Householder
testified that he “drove around the parking lot of Northland Shopping Center which was nearby.
Because the time was near midnight, no stores in the mall were still open. A chain link fence
separated the area where the Easy Mart was located from the mall parking lot.” The officer
observed Whitson, an African America male “wearing a blue coat and dark pants,” as well as a
“head covering,” and the officer testified that he believed that Whitson “fit the description of the
robbers.”
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{¶ 20} After reviewing the standards set forth in Terry, the Tenth District reversed and
remanded the matter. The court noted that while the dispatch described three black males,
Whitson was walking alone, and the court further concluded as follows:
Police had very little in the way of a description of the robbers, other than
their number and their race. Most people in Ohio wear dark clothing and coats in
late November. Some males wear hats and some do not. The information
provided to Sergeant Householder was of little or no use in determining if an
individual African-American male was involved in the robbery. In short,
Sergeant Householder did not have “specific and articulable facts” to justify
frisking Mr. Whitson.
Sergeant Householder had the right to approach Mr. Whitson and ask him
questions. Sergeant Householder even had the right to ask permission to search
Mr. Whitson. However, Mr. Whitson had the right to refuse to answer the
questions and to refuse the permission to search.
{¶ 21} Having considered the totality of the circumstances, we conclude that Whitson is
distinguishable and that Miller possessed a reasonable and articulable suspicion to detain
Garrison. In Whitson, as the Tenth District determined, Householder knew little of the suspects
besides their number and their race, and further, Whitson was apprehended in an area separated
by a chain length fence from the scene of the robbery. In contrast, Miller had been advised of an
aggravated burglary, and he was aware that the vehicle connected thereto was registered to an
address “just off Klepinger Road.” For those reasons, he immediately proceeded to the area.
Miller learned that Deputy Chaney had located the vehicle near Klepinger Road, and that the
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occupants had fled on foot, one of whom was a black male, wearing blue jeans and a white tee
shirt, who was walking down Klepinger Road. When Miller proceeded south on Klepinger
Road, he observed Garrison, alone and on foot, wearing jeans and a white tee shirt. Miller
subsequently advised dispatch that he had “the male walking down Klepinger detained.” As the
State asserts, Miller was entitled to rely upon the information received from the officers involved
in the investigation of the robbery, and Garrison’s appearance and location were consistent with
that information. Terry does not require certainty or probability that criminal activity is afoot,
and we conclude Miller possessed the reasonable, articulable suspicion necessary to detain
Garrison for further investigation.
{¶ 22} Finally, Miller indicated that he handcuffed Garrison for his safety, and we
conclude that the use of handcuffs under these circumstances did not turn the investigative
detention into an arrest. While we acknowledge that being ordered to the ground at gunpoint and
handcuffed is a more extreme form of detention than used under most Terry stops, as the trial
court indicated, Miller was investigating felony offenses of violence which involved flight by the
perpetrator(s). Miller was alone at the time he approached Garrison, and we agree with the trial
court that the use of force by Miller under the circumstances was appropriate.
II. Probable Cause
{¶ 23} Garrison next asserts that probable cause did not exist for Garrison’s arrest.
“Probable cause to arrest exists when a reasonably prudent person would believe that the person
to be arrested has committed a crime. * * * .” State v. Adams, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 24184,
2011-Ohio-4008, ¶ 7. “[P]robable cause is a concept that must be based on the totality of the
circumstances, because it “‘deals with probabilities - the factual and nontechnical considerations
21
of everyday life on which reasonable and prudent men act.’” * * * .” State v. Etherington, 172
Ohio App.3d 756, 2007-Ohio-4097, 876 N.E.2d 1285, ¶ 20 (2d Dist.). “In the abstract, it means
a reasonable basis for a particularized belief of guilt constructed from the totality of the
circumstances. * * * A trial court will decide whether probable cause exists based principally on
the historical facts, and ‘whether these historical facts, viewed from the standpoint of an
objectively reasonable police officer, amount to probable cause.’ * * * .” State v. Huber, 2d
Dist. Clark No. 07-CA-88, 2009-Ohio-1636, ¶ 12.
{¶ 24} As we determined above, Miller detained Garrison based upon reasonable
suspicion that he was involved in the robbery. Probable cause to believe that Garrison was
involved in the robbery then evolved from Miller’s further investigation. Specifically, Garrison
changed his story about the reason for his whereabouts in the area, which led Miller to believe
that Garrison was “trying to think of different things” because he “might be involved” in the
robbery. We conclude that the historical facts herein support the belief of a reasonably prudent
person that Garrison committed a crime, namely that he was observed near an area from which
multiple suspects had recently fled, he matched the description of one of those suspects, and his
explanation regarding his whereabouts was “implausible” from Miller’s perspective, increasing
the likelihood that Garrison was involved in the robbery. In other words, probable cause existed
for Garrison’s arrest.
III. Miranda Rights
{¶ 25} Garrison next asserts, “[a]fter placing Mr. Garrison under arrest, the officer
proceeded to ask Mr. Garrison a series of questions regarding his presence in the neighborhood,”
in violation of his Miranda rights.
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{¶ 26} “In Miranda v. Arizona (1966), 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694,
the United States Supreme Court held that the State may not use statements from a defendant’s
custodial interrogation unless it demonstrates the use of procedural safeguards to secure the
defendant’s privilege against self-incrimination. Id. at 444.” State v. Beaty, 2d Dist.
Montgomery No. 24048, 2011-Ohio-5014, ¶ 15. A person detained pursuant to Terry is not “in
custody” for purposes of Miranda. State v. White, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 18731,
2002-Ohio-262, 2002 WL 63294, * 4.
{¶ 27} Since Garrison was initially detained pursuant to Terry, Miranda’s procedural
safeguards were not implicated, and the questions Miller asked of Garrison regarding his
presence in the neighborhood were not tantamount to interrogation. Significantly, the statements
made by Garrison to Miller were exculpatory and not incriminating in nature. Further, as the
trial court noted, Garrison’s statements to Schommer were spontaneous and unsolicited (and
likewise exculpatory), and Schommer did not ask Garrison any questions while transporting him
to the police department. Finally, as Colvin’s testimony establishes, his interview of Garrison
occurred after he was properly advised of his Miranda rights and signed an acknowledgment
thereof, and agreed to speak to Colvin.
{¶ 28} Since the officers did not obtain any evidence from Garrison illegally, the
exclusionary rule and the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine do not apply. There being no merit
to Garrison’s assigned error, it is overruled, and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
..........
FAIN, J. and FROELICH, J., concur.
Copies mailed to:
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Andrew T. French
John S. Pinard
Hon. Mary L. Wiseman