State v. Bennefield

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
IN AND FOR SUSSEX COUNTY
STATE OF DELAWARE
I.D. NO. 1605014763
v.
ZOLANDO V. BENNEFIELD
Defendant
M
Upon Defendant ’s Motion to Suppress. Dem'ea'.
AND NOW TO WIT, this 30th day of September, 2016, upon consideration of
Defendant’s Motion to Suppress, IT APPEARS THAT:
l. On September 8, 2016, Defendant filed a Motion to Suppress, claiming that there
was insufficient probable cause to issue a search warrant to obtain a blood sample used to
determine his blood alcohol concentration The Court finds that there was probable cause for the
search warrant. Defendant’s Motion to Suppress is DENIED.
2. On May 20, 2016, Defendant was involved in a one car collision in Blades,
Delaware. Three people were in the car at the time of the accident; however, no mention was
made of the other occupants in the affidavit for the search warrant. There were no witnesses to
the accident. Trooper Bonniwell arrived at the scene shortly after the accident occurred. He
found Defendant “standing outside of the vehicle walking around.” When asked about the
circumstances of the accident, Defendant “stated that there was something in the road and they
swerved to miss it and tlipped the vehicle.” According to Trooper Bonniwell, there was no
evidence of an animal in the area and the damage to the vehicle was not consistent with hitting
an animal. Trooper Bonniwell also noted that that Defendant smelled of alcohol, his eyes were
l
bloodshot, and he was overly aggressive toward the police. Further, Defendant failed the
horizontal gaze nystaginus (“HGN”) test and refused to take a portable breath test (“PBT”).
Several alcoholic drinks were also found in the vehicle.
3. Trooper Bonniwell obtained a search warrant authorizing a blood draw from
Defendant to test his blood alcohol content. In his Motion to Suppress, Defendant concedes that
there was probable cause to believe he was intoxicated, but argues that there was not probable
cause to believe he was the person operating the vehicle. In order to violate 21 Del. C. § 4177,
the person must have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol while in actual physical
control of the vehicle.l This Court finds that there was sufficient probable cause for both
findings
4. The standard the magistrate must follow when issuing a search warrant is outlined
in Rybicki v. State:
A court reviewing the magistrate’s determination has the duty of ensuring that the
magistrate had a substantial basis for concluding that probable cause existed. A
magistrate’s determination of probable cause should be paid great deference by
reviewing courts’ and should not, therefore, take the form of de novo review.
Notwithstanding this deference, the reviewing court must determine whether the
1 In 21 Del. C. §4177, it is provided in pertinent part as follows:
(a) No person shall drive a vehicle:
(l) When the person is under the influence of alcohol;
(2) When the person is under the influence of any drug;
(3) When the person is under the influence of a combination of alcohol and any drug;
(4) When the person's alcohol concentration is .08 or more; or
(5) When the person's alcohol concentration is, within 4 hours after the time of driving .08 or more. Notwithstanding
any other provision of the law to the contrary, a person is guilty under this subsection, without regard to the person's
alcohol concentration at the time of driving, if the person's alcohol concentration is, without 4 hours after the time of
driving .08 or more and that alcohol concentration is the result of an amount of alcohol present in, or consumed by
the person when that person was driving,
* * >l<
(c) For purposes of subchapter III of Chapter 27 of this title, this section and § 4177B of this title, the following
definitions shall apply:
* * *
(5) “Drive” shall include driving, operating, or having actual physical control of a vehicle.
* * *
(l l) “While under the influence” shall mean that the person is, because of alcohol or drugs or a combination of both,
less able than the person would ordinarily have been, either mentally or physically, to exercise clear judgment,
sufficient, physical control, or due care in the driving of a vehicle.
2
magistrate’s decision reflects a proper analysis of the totality of the
circumstances
Before issuing a warrant, a magistrate must find that probable cause exists that
evidence of a crime will be found in the place to be searched. The magistrate may
only consider the information contained within the four corners of the affidavit.
A neutral and detached magistrate may draw reasonable inferences from the
factual allegations in the affidavit For an affidavit to be sufficient, it must set
forth facts permitting an impartial judicial officer to reasonably conclude that the
items sought would be found at the location. The officer is only required to
present facts which suggest, when those facts are viewed under the totality of the
circumstances, that there is a fair probability that the defendant has committed a
crime. The affidavit need not rule out potentially innocent explanations for a fact.
Probable cause may be found so long as the facts presented in the affidavit are
sufficient in themselves to warrant a person of reasonable caution in the belief
that an offense has been or is being committed.2
5. Within the four corners of the affidavit, there are ample facts to show that
Defendant was intoxicated. Defendant smelled of alcohol, his eyes were bloodshot, and he was
acting aggressively. He also failed the HGN test and refused to take the PBT.3 Moreover,
several alcoholic drinks were found in the vehicle. Lastly, Trooper Bonniwell did not notice any
animals near the scene of the accident and the damage to the vehicle was not consistent with
striking an animal. Taking these facts together, a person of reasonable caution could certainly
conclude that Defendant was too intoxicated to be lawfully operating a vehicle,4
2Rybicki v. State, 119 A.3d 663, 668-69 (Del. 2015) (citation omitted)(internal quotations omitted).
3 See id. (stating that a refusal to take a field sobriety test is indicative of intoxication).
4 Many courts have held that a driving violation combined with only the scent of alcohol on the person is insufficient
for a probable cause finding, but that the addition of other factors, such as bloodsliot eyes or slurred speech, can
elevate the circumstances to justify probable cause. Id. (“We have previously stated that “a traffic violation
combined with the odor of alcohol, standing alone, does not constitute probable cause to arrest a driver for a DUI
offense. Yet, when ‘rapid speech, admission to drinking, bloodshot and glassy eyes, and a failed alphabet test’ are
added to a traffic violation and odor of alcohol, the probable cause standard has been satisfied.”). See also Bease v.
State, 884 A.2d 495, 498-99 (Del. 2005) (holding that a traffic violation, the smell of alcohol on the defendant’s
breath, his rapid speech, his bloodshot and glassy eyes, and his admission to drinking alcohol the night before were
sufficient to find probable cause); State v. Maxwell, 624 A.2d 926, 930 (Del. 1993) (holding that the occurrence of a
one car collision, witness statements that the defendant told them he had been drinking and that he seems dazed, the
presence of empty and full beer cans in the vehicle, and the strong smell of alcohol in the vehicle were sufficient to
establish probable cause); Price v. Voshell, 1991 WL 89866, at *3 (Del. Super. Ct. May 10, 1991) (holding that
there was probable cause for a search warrant when there was a strong odor of alcohol on the defendant’s breath,
watery and bloodshot eyes, mumbled speech, an admission of alcohol consumption, and PBT rcsults); Glass v. State,
1988 WL 61582, at *l (Del. Super. Ct. June 13, 1988) (holding that a single vehicle accident, the odor of alcohol on
the defendant’s breath, and the defendant’s confused and disoriented state justified a finding of probable cause).
3
6. The question then becomes whether Trooper Bonniwell had probable cause to
suspect that Defendant had been driving the vehicle. Upon arriving to the scene, Trooper
Bonniwell found Defendant walking around the vicinity of the vehicle. Defendant also made the
statement that there had been an animal in the road, causing the car to swerve and flip over. His
close proximity to the vehicle as well as his explanation for the cause of the accident can lead to
the reasonable conclusion that Defendant was driving at the time of the accident. The affidavit
does not need to rule out possible innocent explanations for the suspected behavior.5 Therefore,
it is of no consequence that the affidavit at issue here did not mention the other two occupants of
the vehicle or address whether one of them may have been driving. When examining the totality
of the circumstances, and the rational inferences that can be drawn therefrom, it is clear that the
facts establish an adequate basis for a person of reasonable caution to conclude that Defendant
was driving under the influence.
NOW, THEREFORE, this 30th day of September, 2016, Defendant’s Motion to
Suppress is DENIED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Mard F. Stokes, Judge
Cc: Prothonotary
John F. Kirk, IV, Esq.
Jerome M. Capone, Esq.
5 Maxwell, 624 A.2d at 930 (citing Jarvis v. State, 600 A.2d 38, 41 (Del. 1991).
4