Com. v. Heath, D. ( 2019 )

J-S63006-18
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
DAVID S. HEATH :
:
Appellant : No. 1461 WDA 2017
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence September 13, 2017
In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-02-CR-0002278-2016
BEFORE: OTT, J., MURRAY, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E.
MEMORANDUM BY OTT, J.: FILED FEBRUARY 06, 2019
David S. Heath appeals from the judgment of sentence imposed on
September 13, 2017, in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County
following his conviction1 on charges of Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
General Impairment, Possession of a Small Amount of Marijuana, and
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.2 Heath received an aggregate sentence of
three to six days’ incarceration with a concurrent period of six months’
probation. In this timely appeal, Heath claims: 1) the trial court erred in
failing to grant his motion to suppress evidence, and 2) there was insufficient
evidence to prove he was under the influence at the time he was driving. After
____________________________________________
 Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
1 Heath received a bench trial.
2 75 Pa.C.S. § 3802(a)(1) and 35 P.S. §§ 780-113(a)(31), (32), respectively.
J-S63006-18
a thorough review of the submissions by the parties, relevant law, and the
certified record, we affirm.
We quote the suppression court’s findings of fact for the factual history.
Officer [Jason] Di[i]anni has been employed as a police officer for
fifteen (15) years. Officer Di[i]anni was on duty patrolling as a
uniformed officer in a marked car on the night of February 2,
2016. Officer Di[i]anni was sitting at a traffic light when he
observed a F-150 come off the ramp from Interstate 376 onto
Campbells Run Road and “undercompensate” the turn such that
both of the right tires of the vehicle left the roadway for about fifty
(50) feet. It is undisputed in this matter that [Heath] was the
driver of said F-150. Officer Di[i]anni then observed [Heath]
make a right-hand turn onto McMichael Road. As [Heath] turned
onto McMichael Road, the Officer observed [Heath’s] vehicle
bump[] the concrete median with his left tire. After bumping the
concrete median, the Officer observed [Heath] “cut” the turn “a
little wide and enter the oncoming left turn lane” for approximately
75 to 80 feet. The Officer continued to follow [Heath’s] vehicle as
he made a left-hand turn onto Tidball Road followed by another
left-hand turn onto Steubenville Pike. Officer Di[i]anni observed
[Heath] “cut off the edge of the left-turn on Steubenville Pike”
with his two left wheels for about twenty (20) feet before
correcting the vehicle. Officer Di[i]anni then effectuated a traffic
stop of [Heath].
Findings of Fact, 11/30/2016, at 2-3.3
Additionally, after the traffic stop, the trial court stated, in its Pa.R.A.P.
1925(a) opinion:
Upon approaching [Heath] in his vehicle, Officer Diianni
immediately smelled an odor of alcohol and burnt marijuana
emanating from [Heath’s] vehicle. Additionally, [Heath’s] eyes
____________________________________________
3 The recitation of facts in the trial court opinion is substantially similar to the
findings of fact quoted herein. The trial court opinion begins the recitation of
facts with a statement that Officer Diianni testified both “credibly and
sufficiently.” See Trial Court Opinion, 3/15/2018, at 4.
-2-
J-S63006-18
were bloodshot and glassy and his speech was slurred. Officer
Diianni requested that [Heath] perform field sobriety tests.
[Heath] was only able to complete three of the four tests Officer
Diianni requested due to an alleged medical condition. Upon
completion of the tests Officer Diianni determined [Heath] showed
signs of impairment and requested [Heath’s] consent to a blood
draw.[4]
Trial Court Opinion, 3/15/2018, at 2.
Initially, Heath argues the suppression court erred in denying his motion
to suppress because Officer Diianni’s testimony was inconsistent to the point
of incredibility and therefore he possessed no reasonable suspicion to effect a
traffic stop.
A challenge to the credibility of the evidence is a claim against the
weight of the evidence. See Commonwealth v. Griffin, 65 A.3d 932, 939
(Pa. Super. 2013). This issue was properly preserved by challenging Officer
Diianni’s credibility before the suppression court. See N.T. Suppression
Hearing, 8/11/2016, at 48. Regarding a motion to suppress, “[Q]uestions of
credibility and the weight to be accorded to witness testimony are issues
within the sound discretion of the trial court.” In re R.P., 918 A.2d 115, 117
(Pa. Super. 2007). Additionally, “[T]he weight of the evidence is exclusively
for the finder of fact who is free to believe all, part, or none of the evidence
and to determine the credibility of the witnesses. An appellate court cannot
substitute its judgment for that of the finder of fact.” Commonwealth v.
Taylor, 63 A.3d 327, 330 (Pa. Super. 2013). “[I]t is the duty of the finder of
____________________________________________
4Pursuant to Birchfield v. North Dakota, ___ U.S. ___, 136 S. Ct. 2160,
195 L. Ed. 2d 560 (2016), Heath’s failure to give consent to a blood draw was
not considered.
-3-
J-S63006-18
fact to reconcile inconsistent testimony and resolve any inconsistencies.”
Commonwealth v. Manchas, 633 A.2d 618, 624 (Pa. Super. 1993). Finally,
the Commonwealth’s burden of persuasion in a motion to suppress is by a fair
preponderance of the evidence, not beyond a reasonable doubt, which is
needed for conviction. See Commonwealth ex rel Butler v. Rundle, 239
A.2d 426 (Pa. 1968); Commonwealth v. Smith, 784 A.2d 182 (Pa. Super.
2011).
Heath claims Officer Diianni’s testimony was incredible because he
testified inconsistently with his written reports. Specifically, his testimony
provided more incriminating detail than the report, which was written shortly
after the incident. Examples of this include testimony that Heath’s vehicle
struck the concrete median prior to making the right hand turn onto McMichael
Road as well as observing Heath drive in an incorrect lane of traffic on
McMichael Road. Neither of these occurrences were included in Officer
Diianni’s police report.
Despite the fact that certain details were omitted from the official police
report, the suppression court heard Officer Diianni’s testimony at the
suppression hearing and found it to be credible. As noted above, such
determinations are solely for the finder of fact, and our Court may not
substitute our judgment for that of the suppression court. Accordingly, Heath
is not entitled to relief on this aspect of his claim.
Heath raises a second aspect of his challenge to the weight of the
evidence; he argues Officer Diianni could not have seen Heath travel in an
-4-
J-S63006-18
incorrect lane on McMichael Road because a fence obstructs the view of that
road from Campbells Run Road, where Officer Diianni was travelling. While
impossibility can be a strong argument against the weight of the evidence, in
this matter Heath has mischaracterized Officer Diianni’s testimony. Officer
Diianni testified “As I was passing the gap in the fence I could completely see
[Heath] on McMichael Road” at which time “all four” of the tires on Heath’s
vehicle were in the incorrect lane. See N.T. Suppression Hearing, 8/11/2016
at 43. Officer Diianni then testified that after he turned onto McMichael Road,
he witnessed Heath still in the incorrect lane of travel for another 15 to 20
feet. Id. at 45-46. Therefore, Officer Diianni was in a position to have
witnessed the infractions to which he testified.
Having demonstrated that the suppression court did not err in its
assessment of Officer Diianni’s credibility, it is clear that he possessed
probable cause to stop Heath for careless driving. The definition of careless
driving is:
Any person who drives a vehicle in careless disregard for the
safety of persons or property is guilty of careless driving, a
summary offense.
75 Pa.C.S. § 3714.
The trial court found the numerous instances of Heath’s inability to keep
his vehicle in the proper lane of travel, cutting corners, driving on the berm,
driving in the improper lane, and striking a concrete median, provided more
than ample probable cause to stop Heath. We agree.
-5-
J-S63006-18
Finally, Heath claims there was insufficient evidence to support his
conviction for driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. We
disagree. The trial court cogently stated:
Specifically, Officer Diianni testified that upon approaching
[Heath’s] vehicle, Officer Diianni immediately smelled an odor of
alcohol and burnt marijuana coming from [Heath’s] vehicle.
Additionally, [Heath’s] eyes were bloodshot and glassy and his
speech was slurred. Upon requesting [Heath’s] license and
registration, [Heath] was able to promptly provide his license but
“stumbled” when looking for his registration before he stopped
looking altogether. Office Diianni asked [Heath] whether he had
consumed any alcohol to which [Heath] replied affirmatively that
he had two beers. Additionally, [Heath] admitted to smoking
marijuana a few hours prior to the stop. Officer Diianni then
performed a series of field sobriety tests and Officer Diianni
credibly testified that [Heath] showed signs of impairment during
the testing.
Trial Court Opinion, 3/15/2018, at 6.5
Heath was charged with DUI – general impairment, 75 Pa.C.S. §
3801(a)(1). A “police officer’s testimony is sufficient to prove the elements
of DUI - general impairment.” Commonwealth v. Giron, 155 A.3d 635, 638
(Pa. Super. 2017), citing Commonwealth v. Stanley, 629 A.2d 940, 943
(Pa. Super. 1993). In Giron, the police officer testified he saw Giron’s vehicle
sideswipe a legally parked car, smelled strong odor of alcohol coming from the
vehicle, Giron had red, glassy eyes and his speech was slurred. Additionally,
Giron was unsteady on his feet when he exited his car. This testimony
____________________________________________
5 The trial court noted as well that Heath offered to provide a breath sample
in lieu of a blood draw, but provided an invalid sample that Heath attributed
to a collapsed lung as a child. Id.
-6-
J-S63006-18
supported a conviction of DUI – general impairment. Here, Heath sideswiped
a concrete median, drove over berms and into improper lanes of traffic. Heath
had bloodshot and glassy eyes, slurred speech, failed multiple field sobriety
tests, and admitted to both drinking and smoking marijuana prior to driving.
In view of Giron, we find the evidence herein sufficient to support the
conviction for DUI – general impairment.
In light of the foregoing, Heath is not entitled to relief.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 2/6/2019
-7-