Larry Berring v. State ( 2014 )


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  • AFFIRM; and Opinion Filed June 18, 2014.
    S    In The
    Court of Appeals
    Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
    No. 05-13-00326-CR
    LARRY BERRING, Appellant
    V.
    THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
    On Appeal from the Criminal District Court No. 2
    Dallas County, Texas
    Trial Court Cause No. F-1255634-I
    OPINION
    Before Justices FitzGerald, Fillmore, and Evans
    Opinion by Justice Fillmore
    A jury convicted Larry Berring of possession, with intent to deliver, of four grams or
    more, but less than 200 grams, of cocaine. The trial court found two enhancement paragraphs
    alleged in the indictment to be true and assessed punishment of thirty years’ imprisonment. In
    three issues, Berring asserts the trial court erred by denying his motion to suppress, excluding
    from evidence medical records that were relevant to his defense, and failing to afford him the
    right of allocution. We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
    Background
    Senior Corporal Jeffrey Grandy, who was a member of the Dallas Police Department’s
    Southeast Division Crime Response Team (CRT) in May of 2012, testified the Grand Shopping
    Center is in a high crime area and is known for “open air drug sales.” Further, in 2012, the area
    surrounding the shopping center had experienced a spike in robberies and burglaries. On May
    11, 2012, Grandy drove by the shopping center and noticed a number of people “hanging out and
    loitering” in the parking lot.
    At approximately 10:00 p.m., the CRT, which consisted of eight officers, went to the
    shopping center to investigate possible criminal trespass violations. The CRT approached the
    shopping center from more than one direction in multiple marked police cars. When Grandy and
    his partner arrived at the shopping center, he saw a small crowd of people in the parking lot in
    front of the Grand Liquor Store, one of the stores in the shopping center. 1 The Grand Liquor
    Store was closed when the CRT arrived at the shopping center. Grandy, however, agreed the
    Grand City Grocery, another store in the shopping center, was open.
    According to Grandy, a representative of the Grand Liquor Store had completed a
    criminal trespass affidavit (CTA) and provided the CTA to the police department. The CTA
    admitted into evidence stated the Dallas Police Department was authorized, in the absence of the
    owner or manager of the property, “to enforce the criminal trespass statute, Section 30.05 of the
    Texas Penal Code.” A police officer was authorized by the CTA to notify a person who was not
    authorized to be on the property “that his entry is forbidden and to leave the property
    immediately or face possible arrest pursuant to the criminal trespass statute.” Grandy testified
    there was not a “no trespassing” signed posted at the liquor store, but a sign posted over the door
    of the liquor store stated, “No drinking. No loitering. No standing on premises” and warned that
    police were watching.
    According to Grandy, a CTA allows a police officer to act for the business owner if an
    individual is not a customer of the business and is “loitering or hanging out” on the premises.
    When a location has a CTA on file with the police department, the CRT will briefly detain
    people at the location to identify each person. A member of the CRT will then check a database
    1
    Other members of the CRT were investigating groups of people in other areas of the shopping center.
    –2–
    to see if a person has previously been given a criminal trespass warning for the location. If a
    person has been previously warned, that person will be arrested for criminal trespass. If a person
    has not previously received a criminal trespass warning for the location, the police officer will
    give the person a criminal trespass warning, but not make an arrest, and add the person to the
    database for that location. Grandy did not recall who was listed in the database as having already
    been warned based on the CTA for the Grand Liquor Store, but did not believe that Berring had
    previously received a criminal trespass warning for the location.
    Grandy testified that, as he approached the crowd in the parking lot in front of the liquor
    store to “investigate possible criminal trespassing,” people began “scattering a little bit.”
    Berring, who was in the crowd, started walking around the east side of the shopping center. As
    Berring walked away, he continually looked over his shoulder at Grandy. Grandy gave a “loud
    verbal command” for Berring to stop. Instead of stopping, Berring began running away from
    Grandy. Berring choosing to run raised Grandy’s suspicion because “innocent people usually
    don’t run from the police.”
    Berring slipped in a mud puddle in the parking lot of the Manhattan Club, a nightclub
    located behind the shopping center. While Berring was on the ground, Officer Jesse Rodriguez
    got on Berring’s back. Grandy, Rodriguez, and Officer David Roach testified that Berring
    resisted arrest and it ultimately required four officers to restrain him. Grandy testified that,
    during the altercation, Berring removed a bag from his pocket. The bag contained eighty-two
    individually wrapped “rocks” of crack cocaine.
    Berring was charged with possession, with intent to deliver, of four grams or more, but
    less than 200 grams, of cocaine. Berring filed a motion to suppress “all evidence obtained in this
    case as a result of an illegal stop and arrest.” The trial court denied the motion to suppress.
    –3–
    The jury found Berring guilty of possession, with intent to deliver, of four grams or more,
    but less than 200 grams, of cocaine. Berring submitted the issue of punishment to the trial court.
    The trial court found two enhancement paragraphs alleged in the indictment to be true and
    assessed punishment of thirty years’ imprisonment.
    Motion to Suppress
    In his first issue, Berring argues the trial court erred by denying his motion to suppress
    because Grandy did not have reasonable suspicion to detain him and, therefore, the ensuing
    arrest was illegal.
    Standard of Review
    We review a trial court’s ruling on a motion to suppress evidence under a bifurcated
    standard of review. Turrubiate v. State, 
    399 S.W.3d 147
    , 150 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). We
    review the trial court’s factual findings for an abuse of discretion, but review the trial court’s
    application of the law to the facts de novo. 
    Id. We give
    almost total deference to the trial court’s
    determination of historical facts, particularly when the trial court’s fact findings are based on an
    evaluation of credibility and demeanor. Id.; Valtierra v. State, 
    310 S.W.3d 442
    , 447 (Tex. Crim.
    App. 2010). We give the same deference to the trial court’s conclusions with respect to mixed
    questions of law and fact that turn on credibility or demeanor. State v. Ortiz, 
    382 S.W.3d 367
    ,
    372 (Tex. Crim. App. 2012) (citing Guzman v. State, 
    955 S.W.2d 85
    , 87–89 (Tex. Crim. App.
    1997)). We review mixed questions of law and fact that do not turn on credibility and demeanor
    as well as purely legal questions de novo. State v. Woodward, 
    341 S.W.3d 404
    , 410 (Tex. Crim.
    App. 2011); 
    Guzman, 955 S.W.2d at 89
    .
    In conducting our review, we generally consider only evidence adduced at the
    suppression hearing. 
    Turrubiate, 399 S.W.3d at 150
    –51; Gutierrez v. State, 
    221 S.W.3d 680
    ,
    687 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007).        However, when, as in this case, the parties relitigate the
    –4–
    suppression issue during the trial on the merits, we consider all evidence, from both the pretrial
    hearing and the trial, in our review of the trial court’s ruling. 
    Turrubiate, 399 S.W.3d at 151
    ;
    Rachal v. State, 
    917 S.W.2d 799
    , 809 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). We view the evidence in the light
    most favorable to the trial court’s ruling and afford the prevailing party the strongest legitimate
    view of the evidence and all reasonable inferences that may be drawn from that evidence. Wade
    v. State, 
    422 S.W.3d 661
    , 666–67 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013). We will uphold the trial court’s
    ruling if it is reasonably supported by the record and is correct on any theory of law applicable to
    the case. 
    Id. at 667.
    When, as in this case, the trial court does not make explicit findings of fact,
    we infer the necessary factual findings that support the trial court’s ruling if the record evidence
    (viewed in the light most favorable to the ruling) supports these implied findings. State v.
    Garica-Cantu, 
    253 S.W.3d 236
    , 241 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008).
    Applicable Law
    The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution protects citizens from
    unreasonable searches and seizures by government officials. U.S. CONST. amend. IV. An
    investigative detention is a Fourth Amendment seizure and implicates Fourth Amendment
    protections. Johnson v. State, 
    414 S.W.3d 184
    , 191 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013); 
    Woodard, 341 S.W.3d at 411
    .
    To detain an individual for investigative purposes, the officer, based on his experience,
    must have a reasonable suspicion based on specific, articulable facts that, when combined with
    rational inferences from those facts, would lead him to conclude that an individual is, has been,
    or soon will be engaged in criminal activity. Terry v. Ohio, 
    392 U.S. 1
    , 21–22 (1968); 
    Wade, 422 S.W.3d at 668
    . The officer must be able to articulate something more than an “inchoate and
    unparticularized suspicion or ‘hunch.’” Foster v. State, 
    326 S.W.3d 609
    , 613 (Tex. Crim. App.
    2010) (quoting 
    Terry, 392 U.S. at 22
    ). Rather, “the articulable facts must show ‘that some
    –5–
    activity out of the ordinary has occurred, some suggestion to connect the detainee to the unusual
    activity, and some indication that the unusual activity is related to crime.’” Derichsweiler v.
    State, 
    348 S.W.3d 906
    , 916 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011) (quoting Meeks v. State, 
    653 S.W.2d 6
    , 12
    (Tex. Crim. App. 1983)).
    Reasonable suspicion is determined by considering whether the officer had “some
    minimal level of objective justification for making the stop.” 
    Foster, 326 S.W.3d at 613
    . In
    making a reasonable suspicion determination, we disregard the subjective intent of the officer
    making the stop and consider solely, under the totality of the circumstances, whether there was
    an objective basis for the stop. 
    Wade, 422 S.W.3d at 668
    . Although some circumstances may
    seem innocent in isolation, they will support an investigatory detention if their combination leads
    to a reasonable conclusion that criminal activity is afoot. Id.; 
    Derichsweiler, 348 S.W.3d at 914
    .
    In determining what constitutes reasonable suspicion, we look only at those facts known
    to the officer and cooperating officers at the inception of the detention. State v. Duran, 
    396 S.W.3d 563
    , 568-69 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013); State v. Castleberry, 
    332 S.W.3d 460
    , 467 (Tex.
    Crim. App. 2011) (“Whether the State has met its burden must be determined by considering the
    specific facts known to the officer at the moment of detention.”); see also 
    Derichsweiler, 348 S.W.3d at 914
    (objective standard includes facts known to cooperating officers for purposes of
    making determination of reasonable suspicion; detaining officer need not be personally aware of
    all facts known to cooperating officers). If the facts that the officer knows “at the inception of
    the detention” support a finding of reasonable suspicion to support the detention, then “it is
    irrelevant” that the officer subjectively decided to detain the defendant “for a bad reason.”
    
    Duran, 396 S.W.3d at 570
    .
    –6–
    Analysis
    In determining whether the specific, articulable facts testified to by Grandy constituted
    reasonable suspicion to detain Berring, we must first determine when the detention occurred. A
    seizure does not occur until a person has been either physically forced to yield or has yielded to
    an officer’s show of authority. Florida v. Bostick, 
    501 U.S. 429
    , 434 (1991) (quoting 
    Terry, 392 U.S. at 19
    n.16); 
    Wade, 422 S.W.3d at 668
    . The crucial test is whether, taking into account all of
    the circumstances, the police conduct would have communicated to a reasonable person that he
    was not at liberty to ignore the police presence and go about his or her business. 
    Bostick, 501 U.S. at 439
    ; 
    Castleberry, 332 S.W.3d at 467
    .
    Here, as Berring walked away, Grandy gave a loud, verbal command for him to stop.
    This show of authority would have communicated to a reasonable person that he was not free to
    leave. Johnson v. State, 
    864 S.W.2d 708
    , 723 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1993) (en banc), aff’d, 
    912 S.W.2d 227
    (Tex. Crim. App. 1995). However, Berring did not yield to Grandy’s show of
    authority; rather, he began to run from Grandy. Berring was not detained until he fell in the
    adjacent parking lot and Rodriguez, followed by other officers, physically restrained him. See
    California v. Hodari D., 
    499 U.S. 621
    , 626 (1991) (There is no seizure when a police officer
    yells “Stop” at a fleeing form that continues to flee.); 
    Johnson, 864 S.W.2d at 724
    (defendant
    who ran from police officer not seized until he complied with officers’ orders to stop).
    Accordingly, in determining whether Grandy had reasonable suspicion to detain Berring, we
    consider all facts known to Grandy prior to Berring being detained in the adjacent parking lot.
    See 
    Duran, 396 S.W.3d at 569
    ; 
    Castleberry, 332 S.W.3d at 467
    ; see also United States v.
    Franklin, 
    323 F.3d 1298
    , 1301 (11th Cir. 2003) (“Because Franklin was seized when he was
    tackled, the officers can consider everything that happened up to that point to establish
    reasonable suspicion.”).
    –7–
    Grandy observed a crowd of people standing, after dark, in front of the closed liquor
    store. See 
    Foster, 326 S.W.3d at 613
    (time of day is relevant factor in determining whether
    officer had reasonable suspicion to detain defendant). The store was located in a high crime area
    and was known as a location for “open air drug sales.” See Crain v. State, 
    315 S.W.3d 43
    , 53
    (Tex. Crim. App. 2010) (although not suspicious standing alone, criminal activity in area is
    factor to be considered in determining whether officer had reasonable suspicion to detain
    defendant). Further, the CRT had been charged with investigating a spike of burglaries and
    robberies in the area. See 
    id. The liquor
    store had posted a “no loitering” sign and had
    completed a CTA authorizing the CRT to investigate possible criminal trespassing on the
    property. 2 Grandy intended to investigate whether any person in the crowd was engaged in
    criminal trespass by identifying each person in the crowd and determining whether that person
    had received a prior criminal trespass warning. Grandy’s intention was reasonable in order to
    “maintain the status quo momentarily to obtain more information” concerning possible criminal
    activity. See State v. Kerwick, 
    393 S.W.3d 270
    , 276 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013) (quoting Adams v.
    Williams, 
    407 U.S. 143
    , 146 (1972)). As Grandy approached the crowd, Berring began walking
    away, looking constantly over his shoulder at Grandy. See Balentine v. State, 
    71 S.W.3d 763
    ,
    769 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002) (defendant appearing nervous and “walking briskly away” from
    direction of reported criminal activity “while constantly looking back over his shoulder” in
    police officer’s direction was factor to be considered in reasonable suspicion analysis). When
    Grandy ordered Berring to stop, Berring began to run away. See Illinois v. Wardlow, 
    528 U.S. 2
           The record does not provide us a sufficient basis for determining how, or if, the CTA affects the reasonable suspicion analysis. Grandy
    did not testify about the specific warning that was given to any person found loitering on the premises of the Grand Liquor Store. Accordingly,
    we are unable to determine whether that warning constituted sufficient notice under the criminal trespass statute to support a reasonable suspicion
    that any person loitering at the Grand Liquor Store could be guilty of criminal trespass. See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 30.05(a) (West Supp.
    2013). We also need not address whether the sign posted at the Grand Liquor Store constituted a sufficient warning for purposes of the criminal
    trespass statute, see TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 30.05(a), but note that Berring admitted during oral argument that had the sign stated “No
    Trespassing,” Grandy would have reasonable suspicion based on the totality of the circumstances to detain Berring at the point in time when
    Grandy exited his vehicle and approached the group of men standing in front of the liquor store.
    –8–
    119, 124 (2000) (defendant’s unprovoked flight from officers in an area of heavy narcotics
    trafficking supported reasonable suspicion that defendant was involved in criminal activity and
    justified stop); Matthews v. State, No. PD-1341-13, 
    2014 WL 2589830
    , at *5 (Tex. Crim. App.
    June 11, 2014) (noting that defendant’s flight increased officer’s suspicion that defendant was
    engaged in illegal activity); 
    Kerwick, 393 S.W.3d at 276
    (“‘[Flight] is not necessarily indicative
    of wrongdoing, but it is certainly suggestive of such’ and may be considered among the totality
    of the circumstances in a reasonable-suspicion analysis.” (quoting 
    Wardlow, 528 U.S. at 125
    )).
    Viewing the entire record in the light most favorable to the trial court’s ruling, we
    conclude Grandy testified to specific, articulable facts that, when combined with reasonable
    inferences from those facts, would lead him to conclude that Berring was, had been, or soon
    would be engaged in criminal activity. Accordingly, the trial court did not err by denying
    Berring’s motion to suppress. We resolve Berring’s first issue against him.
    Admission of Medical Records
    In his second issue, Berring contends the trial court erred by excluding medical records
    that were relevant to his defense. We review the trial court’s admission of evidence under an
    abuse of discretion standard. Tillman v. State, 
    354 S.W.3d 425
    , 435 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). As
    long as the trial court’s ruling is within the “zone of reasonable disagreement,” there is no abuse
    of discretion. 
    Id. Prior to
    trial, the prosecutor made an oral motion in limine, seeking to exclude any
    reference to injuries suffered by Berring during the altercation leading to his arrest or to
    Berring’s medical records relating to the treatment of the injuries because the evidence was not
    relevant to any issue in the case. Berring argued the medical records were relevant to prove his
    identity and to support the defensive theory that the extent of his injuries made it impossible or
    impractical for him to have reached into his pocket and removed the bag containing crack
    –9–
    cocaine.   The trial court granted the motion in limine and instructed Berring’s counsel to
    approach the bench prior to asking questions about the medical records.
    During the State’s case-in-chief, Grandy testified Rodriguez was the first officer to
    overtake Berring. Grandy saw Berring trying to “buck” Rodriguez “off him.” At that time,
    Grandy did not see any blood on Berring or that Berring had any missing teeth. However,
    Grandy was focused on officer safety and was not looking for blood or abrasions “in that split
    second.” Grandy testified that he grabbed Berring’s right arm and tried to take him to the ground
    with an “arm bar,” but Berring continued to struggle. Roach and another officer arrived and
    helped Grandy and Rodriguez take Berring to the ground. Although Grandy denied that he
    punched Berring, he admitted that Berring was punched and kicked in the course of the struggle
    and that he kicked Berring in his right side. According to Grandy, Berring kept trying to reach
    into his right pocket. Grandy thought Berring might have a weapon and yelled that Berring was
    “reaching.” Berring eventually pulled the bag that contained the crack cocaine out of his pocket.
    When the officers picked up Berring from the mud puddle, Grandy saw that Berring was
    bleeding from his mouth, and Berring said that he had lost some teeth. After Berring was
    booked into jail, he was seen by a nurse. The nurse instructed that Berring be taken to the
    hospital because his injuries were severe.
    After Grandy testified, Berring’s counsel requested a hearing on the issue of whether she
    could “go into” the injuries Berring sustained. The trial court first noted that Grandy had already
    testified, without an objection from the State, about Berring’s “physical appearance or physical
    condition” at the time of the arrest. Berring’s counsel argued the “injuries are the crux of our
    defense” and that it was their “theory that because Mr. Berring was injured, he could not have
    been able to reach into his pocket and pull out the drugs from his front pants pocket.” Berring’s
    counsel further argued that if she could not “cross examine the other officers on the injury, then
    –10–
    [the jury is] going to think I’m hiding something.” After a recess, the trial court “sustain[ed] the
    State’s objection in the motion in limine about going into the extent of the defendant’s injuries as
    a result of the altercation with the police, takedown, arrest” because it was not relevant to
    Berring’s guilt or innocence.
    As pertinent to this issue, Rodriguez testified that, after Berring fell “face first” into the
    puddle, he got on Berring’s back. Berring tried to throw Rodriguez off. Rodriguez then “came
    down with a closed fist” and struck Berring with both his right and left hands. Rodriguez was
    attempting a “brachial stun,” but due to Berring’s movements, “it was ineffective.” Other
    officers arrived to help, and they eventually subdued Berring. Grandy alerted the other officers
    that Berring was reaching for his pocket. Rodriguez did not know whether Berring was armed.
    Berring called Clifford Hamilton to testify for the defense. As relevant to this issue,
    Hamilton testified that he was sitting in his car watching the parking lot at the Manhattan Club
    on May 11, 2012 when he saw Berring run through the lot. Hamilton saw Berring fall face down
    in the parking lot. Two officers fell on top of Berring. The two officers put their knees on
    Berring’s back.    Another officer arrived and began kicking Berring in the head and face.
    Hamilton did not see Berring fight back against the officers.
    During the State’s rebuttal, Roach testified that he was assigned to the CRT and was a
    member of the team that went to the Grand Shopping Center on May 11, 2012. As relevant to
    this issue, Roach testified he saw Grandy and Rodriguez engaged in an altercation with Berring.
    Roach took his baton and “attempted to deliver three or four strikes to [Berring’s] leg to help
    take him to the ground.”        Although the strikes were “ineffective,” Grandy and Rodriguez
    eventually took Berring to the ground. Berring continued to struggle, and Roach knelt on
    Berring’s upper left shoulder. Roach felt “movements” that could have been strikes to Berring’s
    body. Grandy began yelling that Berring was “reaching.” Concerned that Berring had a weapon,
    –11–
    Roach pulled out his gun to provide cover for the officers and pointed the gun at Berring. Roach
    did not see anyone kick Berring in the head and believed he would have known if somebody had
    kicked Berring in the head.
    After the State completed its rebuttal, Berring requested to be allowed to introduce the
    medical records to rebut Roach’s testimony that he did not see anybody kick Berring in the head.
    Berring offered the medical records “simply to confirm that he did, in fact have injuries to his
    face and nothing – nothing more, nothing less.” The trial court sustained the State’s objection to
    the request because “any value that might be flowed from those records would outweigh rebuttal
    possibility.”
    We conclude that, even if the trial court erred by refusing to admit Berring’s medical
    records, Berring suffered no harm. Generally, errors resulting from admission or exclusion of
    evidence are nonconstitutional. Walters v. State, 
    247 S.W.3d 204
    , 219 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). 3
    Accordingly, we must disregard any error that did not affect Berring’s substantial rights. TEX. R.
    APP. P. 44.2(b). Substantial rights are not affected if, based on the record as a whole, we have a
    fair assurance that the erroneous exclusion of evidence either had no influence or only a slight
    influence on the jury. Motilla v. State, 
    78 S.W.3d 352
    , 355 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). In making
    our assessment, we consider everything in the record, including any evidence admitted for the
    jury’s consideration, the nature of the evidence supporting the verdict, and the character of the
    alleged error and how it relates to evidence in the record. 
    Id. We may
    also consider the jury
    3
    If the precluded evidence forms a vital portion of the defendant’s case, the error may be of constitutional magnitude. 
    Walters, 247 S.W.3d at 219
    ; Potier v. State, 
    68 S.W.3d 657
    , 665 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002). As relevant to this appeal, the exclusion of evidence might rise to
    the level of a constitutional violation if a clearly erroneous ruling by the trial court results in the exclusion of admissible evidence that forms the
    vital core of a defendant’s theory of defense and effectively prevents him from presenting that defense. 
    Walters, 247 S.W.3d at 219
    . Although
    Berring argues on appeal that the medical records “would have provided vital support” for his defensive theory that his injuries made it
    impossible for him to reach into his pocket and that this “was a core issue for the jury in determining guilt,” he does not argue that he was
    prevented from presenting his defensive theory and does not employ a constitutional harm analysis. We conclude that the exclusion of the
    medical records did not prevent Berring from presenting his defensive theory through the testimony of other witnesses. See 
    id. at 221–22
    (any
    error in exclusion of evidence was nonconstitutional because defendant was able to present his defense through other testimony). Accordingly,
    we apply the harm analysis for nonconsitutional error.
    –12–
    instructions, the State’s theory and any defensive theories, closing arguments, and voir dire, if
    applicable. 
    Id. In his
    brief, Berring does not point to any specific information in the medical records that
    he claims would have impacted the jury’s decision. Our review of the records shows that
    Berring arrived at the hospital at 12:47 a.m. complaining of dental pain, rib pain, and knee
    abrasions. Berring told emergency room personnel that he “blacked out” during the altercation,
    but the police indicated they did not witness any loss of consciousness. The emergency room
    personnel noted that Berring had multiple teeth missing and a minor amount of bleeding. Both
    of Berring’s knees had abrasions, but he had no obvious facial trauma. An x-ray of Berring’s
    ribs showed no fractures. Berring was discharged at 4:46 a.m.
    The jury heard three police officers and Hamilton testify about the altercation that
    occurred while the officers were trying to arrest Berring. The officers admitted that Berring was
    held down, placed in an arm bar, punched, kicked, and hit with a baton. Hamilton testified that
    he saw two police officers holding Berring down and another officer kicking Berring in the face
    and head. Roach admitted that he held a gun on Berring. Grandy testified that, after the
    altercation, Berring’s face was bloody and Berring stated that he had lost some teeth. Grandy
    further testified that, after Berring was booked into jail, the nurse instructed that Berring should
    be taken to the hospital due to the severity of his injuries. Berring’s attorney argued during
    closing arguments that it was unbelievable that “Berring was on the ground and able to still fight
    with a gun in his head and reach into his front right pants pocket and grab out these drugs.” She
    further argued that, due to the intensity of the altercation and the trauma inflicted on Berring, it
    was “almost a physical impossibility” that he reached into his pocket and pulled out the drugs.
    Berring clearly presented the jury with his defensive theory that he could not have had the drugs
    in his pocket.
    –13–
    After reviewing the record as a whole, we are reasonably assured that the exclusion of the
    medical records did not influence, or had only a slight effect on, the jury’s verdict. Accordingly,
    Berring was not harmed by the exclusion of the medical records. We resolve Berring’s second
    issue against him.
    Right to Allocution
    In his third issue, Berring asserts the trial court erred by failing to afford him the right of
    allocution provided for by article 42.07 of the code of criminal procedure. See TEX. CODE CRIM.
    PROC. ANN. art. 42.07 (West 2006) (“Before pronouncing sentence, the defendant shall be asked
    whether he has anything to say why the sentence should not be pronounced against him.”).
    Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 33.1(a) requires a complaining party to make a timely,
    specific objection to preserve error for appellate review. TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a). Here, Berring
    failed to object in the trial court that he was denied his right to allocution. Therefore, he failed to
    preserve error for our review. See id.; Tenon v. State, 
    563 S.W.2d 622
    , 623–24 (Tex. Crim. App.
    [Panel Op.] 1978); Jarvis v. State, 
    353 S.W.3d 253
    , 254–55 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2011, pet.
    ref’d). 4 We resolve Berring’s third issue against him.
    We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
    /Robert M. Fillmore/
    ROBERT M. FILLMORE
    JUSTICE
    Do Not Publish
    TEX. R. APP. P. 47
    130326F.U05
    4
    See also Wilson v. State, No. 05-12-00831-CR, 
    2013 WL 4399193
    , at *7 (Tex. App.—Dallas Aug. 15, 2013, no pet.) (not designated for
    publication).
    –14–
    S
    Court of Appeals
    Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
    JUDGMENT
    LARRY BERRING, Appellant                               On Appeal from the Criminal District Court
    No. 2, Dallas County, Texas,
    No. 05-13-00326-CR         V.                          Trial Court Cause No. F-1255634-I.
    Opinion delivered by Justice Fillmore,
    THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee                           Justices FitzGerald and Evans participating.
    Based on the Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED.
    Judgment entered this 18th day of June, 2014.
    /Robert M. Fillmore/
    ROBERT M. FILLMORE
    JUSTICE
    –15–