State v. Blatchford

[Cite as State v. Blatchford, 2016-Ohio-8456.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
PREBLE COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, :
Plaintiff-Appellee, : CASE NO. CA2015-12-023
: OPINION
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:
JACOB A. BLATCHFORD, :
Defendant-Appellant. :
CRIMINAL APPEAL FROM PREBLE COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
Case No. 15CR11735
Martin P. Votel, Preble County Prosecuting Attorney, Kathryn M. West, Preble County
Courthouse, 101 East Main Street, Eaton, Ohio 45320, for plaintiff-appellee
Dennis C. Belli, 536 South High Street, 2nd Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215-5785, for
defendant-appellant
HENDRICKSON, J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Jacob A. Blatchford, appeals his conviction in the Preble
County Court of Common Pleas for possession of marijuana and possessing criminal tools.
For the reasons set forth below, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand the cause for
further proceedings.
{¶ 2} On March 16, 2015, appellant was driving his 2012 Ford F350 pickup truck on
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the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 (I-70). Appellant was towing a Featherlite 28-foot
enclosed box trailer behind his truck. Appellant was pulled over by Ohio State Highway
Patrol Sergeant Shaun Smart after Smart observed appellant follow another vehicle too
closely and commit a marked lane violation.
{¶ 3} During the course of the traffic stop, a canine unit was called to the scene. The
canine alerted to the trailer. Smart and another officer conducted a search of the trailer and
found a freshly painted excavator track arm ("track arm"). A search of the track arm resulted
in the discovery of multiple bundles of marijuana, totaling 156 pounds. Appellant was also
found in possession of $5,699 in cash.
{¶ 4} Appellant was arrested and subsequently indicted on one count of possession
of marijuana in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A) and (C)(3)(g), a felony of the second degree as
the amount of the drug involved exceeded 40,000 grams, and one count of possessing
criminal tools in violation of R.C. 2923.24(A), a felony of the fifth degree. Each count was
accompanied by a forfeiture specification, seeking forfeiture of the 2012 Ford F350 pickup
truck, the Featherlite box trailer, and the $5,699 in cash found on appellant at the time he
was arrested in accordance with R.C. 2941.1417(A) and 2981.04(A)(1).
{¶ 5} On June 4, 2015, appellant filed a motion to suppress evidence obtained from
the traffic stop and subsequent search of the trailer and track arm on the grounds that (1)
appellant's detention was unlawful as Sergeant Smart lacked reasonable suspicion to
execute a traffic stop and (2) appellant's detention was "unreasonably prolonged." Appellant
also sought to suppress from evidence "any statements, which may have been made * * *
after his illegal arrest, along with any statements made without [appellant] properly being
provided his Miranda warnings."
{¶ 6} A hearing on appellant's motion to suppress was held on September 2, 2015.
At this time, the state presented a video recording of the March 16, 2015 traffic stop,
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photographs of the track arm, and testimony from Smart. The video recording was just over
two and one-half hours long, and captured Smart's interaction with appellant from the time of
the initial stop to appellant's arrest at Fudge's Wrecker Services ("Fudge's"). The video did
not include any statements that appellant may have made to Smart or other law enforcement
officers after leaving Fudge's.
{¶ 7} The recording and Smart's testimony revealed that appellant was pulled over on
I-70 at approximately 9:49 a.m. on March 16, 2015, after Smart observed appellant follow
another vehicle too closely and cross over the solid white line on the right side of the road.
Upon approaching appellant's vehicle, Smart discovered appellant was traveling with a "very
aggressive" dog. Smart requested appellant step out of the truck and accompany him to the
police cruiser. Appellant consented to a frisk of his person, and was placed in the back of the
cruiser at approximately 9:52 a.m.
{¶ 8} Smart testified that appellant was "disheveled" and "dirty" when he stepped out
of his truck. Appellant had "bloodshot" eyes, appeared "very nervous," and was breathing
heavily. Appellant informed Smart that he was a welder who was traveling from Arizona to
Michigan to bring a track arm to his brother. The track arm was going to be used to make a
sled for use in a tractor pull. Smart found appellant's story suspicious, noting that track arms
are "heavy * * * industrial equipment" and that he has never before seen one associated with
a tractor pull. Smart also noted that a "great deal of money" was spent on appellant's trip,
due to the weight of the item, the price of diesel, and being off work for the time it takes to
travel to Michigan and back to Arizona.
{¶ 9} At approximately 9:54 a.m., Smart contacted his dispatch to request a "license,
wants, warrants or criminal history check" on appellant. Smart also requested a canine unit
be dispatched. Smart asked for the canine unit "fairly quick" into the stop, or within "three to
five minutes" of the stop. The canine unit arrived within nine-to-ten minutes of the stop, or by
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9:59 a.m. Trooper Michael Mahaffey walked the canine unit around appellant's truck and
trailer, and the dog alerted to the trailer.
{¶ 10} Following the canine's alert, Smart allowed appellant to remove his dog from
the truck. Both appellant and his dog were placed in the back of Smart's cruiser while Smart
and other officers searched the truck and trailer. Smart testified that upon entering the trailer,
he noticed the odor of paint and observed that the track arm looked freshly painted. Smart
saw four cans of CAT spray paint in the trailer. He also noticed that the track arm had "poor"
weld marks on it and that there had been four, large round holes on the track arm. The floor
of the trailer was covered in dog urine and dog feces, which Smart stated was a common
tactic used by narcotic traffickers to "throw-off" police canine units. Smart testified the canine
unit alerted "all over the floor of the trailer" but did not specifically alert to the track arm.
However, based on his observations, Smart believed the track arm might contain a false
compartment containing contraband. Smart returned to the cruiser, Mirandized appellant,
and called for a tow-truck.1
{¶ 11} At 10:47 a.m., a tow truck removed appellant's truck and trailer from the side of
I-70. Ten minutes later, the truck and trailer arrived at Fudge's in Preble County, Ohio.
Fudge's is located next to a construction company. Smart was able to view track arms that
were similar in size at the neighboring construction company. He also pulled up pictures of
1. {¶ a} The video recording of the traffic stop demonstrates that Smart advised appellant of his Miranda rights
at 10:16 a.m., while at the scene of the initial traffic stop. At this time, appellant indicated he understood his
rights. At the motion to suppress hearing, Smart testified that appellant was not Mirandized until he was taken to
Fudge's Wrecker Service. Smart testified that while at Fudge's appellant was advised of his rights, stated he
understood his rights, and invoked his right "to speak with an attorney" when questioned about his brother in
Michigan. According to Smart, after invoking his right to an attorney, appellant did not make any other
incriminating statements.
{¶ b} The video recording submitted into evidence clearly demonstrates that appellant was advised of his
rights at 10:16 a.m., while appellant was at the scene of the initial traffic stop. The recording does not show
appellant being re-read his Miranda rights while at Fudge's or invoking his right to counsel at Fudge's. The
recording does show, however, that at approximately 11:35 a.m., while at Fudge's, appellant informed Smart that
he's "done talking." Appellant' continued talking, however, when he informed Smart he had been "through this
stuff" before and that "every time I don't have nothing."
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different track arms on his cell phone. No other track arm had circular holes on their sides.
The neighboring construction employees informed Smart that the holes in appellant's track
arm destroyed the integrity of the equipment. According to Smart, "Looking at the weld
marks in different areas and the holes themselves, the unprofessional nature of them, based
on experience, it looked like they were deliberately placed where they were to be access into
the interior possibly for multiple false compartments inside[.]"
{¶ 12} At approximately 11:27 a.m., Smart discussed his observation and findings
with appellant, who denied that the track arm had anything in it. Appellant told Smart he had
not welded the holes on the side of the track arm, but that the track arm "came like that"
when he "got it" from a junkyard in Idaho. Appellant claimed he was innocent of any wrong
doing. When Smart asked for contact information for appellant's brother, appellant told
Smart, "Let's just wait till you get all this done first." Then, at 11:35 a.m., appellant told
Smart, "I'm done talking." However, appellant kept talking to Smart, stating that he had
"been through this stuff before" and "every time I don't have nothing."
{¶ 13} Smart had a mechanic at Fudge's drill a hole into one of the welded-over
circular ports on the track arm. Once the hole was drilled, two canines that were on the
scene alerted to the odor of narcotics coming from the hole. Smart testified that he was also
able to smell narcotics, specifically the odor of powder cocaine and raw marijuana. Smart
arrested appellant at 11:58 a.m., and found him in possession of $5,699 in cash.
{¶ 14} Smart determined that it was necessary to cut open the track arm further, but
Fudge's did not have the right equipment to cut through the steel arm. Appellant's truck and
trailer were transported to Unger's Fabrication ("Unger's"), where a plasma torch was used to
gain access to the track arm. Once the track arm was opened, 156 pounds of marijuana was
found.
{¶ 15} At the conclusion of Smart's testimony, the trial court admitted into evidence
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the video recording of the traffic stop and photographs of the search of the track arm. The
state then proceeded to argue the merits of why appellant's motion to suppress should be
denied. In its argument, the state represented the following to the trial court: "There are no
statements to suppress in this case, Your Honor. The Defendant made no statements after
being read his rights. So the State would ask that the Motion to Suppress be denied in its
entirety." After hearing argument from defense counsel, the trial court took the matter under
advisement.
{¶ 16} On September 10, 2015, the trial court issued a decision denying appellant's
motion to suppress. The court found that Smart had sufficient grounds to initiate the traffic
stop after observing appellant driving "too close" to another vehicle and failing to drive within
the marked lanes. With respect to the canine-sniff and subsequent search of the track arm,
the court stated the following:
The canine arrived and alerted within ten to eleven minutes, which
is well within the usual time for the normal traffic stop. Given that
there was no detention beyond the time needed to complete a
normal stop, Smart did not need to have a reasonable articulable
suspicion of criminal behavior.
Once the canine alerted, Smart had probable cause to search the
trailer and its contents. The alert itself supports the continued
delay until the [track arm] was actually searched, which delay was
admittedly long (approximately one and a half to two hours from
the canine's alert to the first access to the interior of the [track
arm] by drilling through the heavy gauge steel).
The court's decision did not address that portion of appellant's motion seeking to suppress
"any statements" made after his arrest or "any statements" made without appellant being
properly advised of his Miranda rights.
{¶ 17} On November 23, 2015, a jury trial was held. At this time, the state presented
testimony from Smart and Trooper Penny Beatty, a criminal patrol investigator with the Ohio
State Highway Patrol. The state also introduced into evidence a video recording of
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appellant's traffic stop, videos and photographs of law enforcement's search of the track arm,
an audio recording of an interview between appellant and Beatty, the Highway Patrol's
Property Control form detailing the marijuana bundles found in the track arm, and a
controlled substance examination report from the Highway Patrol's crime lab.
{¶ 18} Smart's testimony at trial was very similar to his testimony at the suppression
hearing.2 Smart described his stop of appellant's vehicle on I-70, the subsequent arrival and
alert of the drug dog, the search of appellant's truck and trailer, the removal of the trailer to
Fudge's and Unger's in order to gain access to the track arm, and the discovery of the
marijuana inside the track arm. Thereafter, Beatty testified about her interview of appellant
while at Unger's. During this interview, appellant told Beatty he was traveling to Michigan to
see his brother but that his brother "doesn't have anything to do with this." Appellant
informed Beatty he had purchased the track arm seven months prior in Idaho, and that he
was planning to sell the track arm to a farmer in Michigan. When Beatty informed appellant
that he was in a lot of trouble, appellant acknowledged, "I know I am."
{¶ 19} After the state presented its case-in-chief, appellant moved for acquittal
pursuant to Crim.R. 29 and requested that the trial court, rather than the jury, decide the
forfeiture specifications. The trial court denied appellant's Crim.R. 29 motion, but granted
appellant's request to have the forfeiture specifications tried to the bench. Thereafter,
appellant rested his defense without calling any witnesses. The jury returned guilty verdicts
on both counts, finding that appellant had been in possession of more than 40,000 grams of
marijuana and had possessed criminal tools.
{¶ 20} On December 9, 2015, the trial court held a forfeiture hearing and a sentencing
2. As we will discuss in our resolution of appellant's second assignment of error, Smart's trial testimony deviated
from his testimony at the suppression hearing with respect to when and where Miranda warnings were given to
appellant.
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hearing. At this time, the state withdrew its request for forfeiture of appellant's 2012 Ford
F350 pickup truck. After hearing from the state and appellant, the trial court granted the
state's request for forfeiture of the Featherlite box trailer and the $5,699 in cash found on
appellant. Appellant was then sentenced to a 12-month prison term for possessing criminal
tools and to an eight-year mandatory prison term for possession of marijuana, with the prison
terms being run concurrently. The trial court imposed a $15,000 mandatory fine and
suspended appellant's driver's license for six months.
{¶ 21} Appellant timely appealed his conviction and sentence, raising five
assignments of error.
{¶ 22} Assignment of Error No. 1:
{¶ 23} THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR
WHEN IT DENIED DEFENDANT-APPELLANT'S MOTION TO SUPPRESS MARIJUANA
THAT WAS SEIZED BY THE HIGHWAY PATROL DURING A WARRANTLESS
DESTRUCTIVE SEARCH OF HIS PROPERTY IN VIOLATION OF HIS RIGHTS UNDER
THE FOURTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES
CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE I, SECTION 14 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
{¶ 24} In his first assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court erred by denying
his motion to suppress. Appellant does not dispute the lawfulness of his initial stop for
following another vehicle too closely and committing a marked lane violation. Rather,
appellant argues his motion to suppress should have been granted as (1) the state failed to
present evidence demonstrating that the "dog sniff" occurred while Smart was actively
engaged in the process of ticketing appellant for the traffic violation and (2) the search of
appellant's vehicle was not supported by probable cause. With respect to the latter
argument, appellant first asserts that the positive dog alert cannot support a finding of
probable cause as the state failed to present evidence regarding the dog's training and ability
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to distinguish between the odors of narcotics and "conflict odors." He further contends the
automobile exception to the warrant requirement was inapplicable and that Smart's opinions
regarding the suspicious nature of the track arm "amounted to little more than a hunch" that it
might contain a false compartment.
{¶ 25} Our review of a trial court's denial of a motion to suppress presents a mixed
question of law and fact. State v. Cochran, 12th Dist. Preble No. CA2006-10-023, 2007-
Ohio-3353, ¶ 12. Acting as the trier of fact, the trial court is in the best position to resolve
factual questions and evaluate witness credibility. Id. Therefore, when reviewing the denial
of a motion to suppress, a reviewing court is bound to accept the trial court's findings of fact if
they are supported by competent, credible evidence. State v. Oatis, 12th Dist. Butler No.
CA2005-03-074, 2005-Ohio-6038, ¶ 10. "An appellate court, however, independently
reviews the trial court's legal conclusions based on those facts and determines, without
deference to the trial court's decision, whether as a matter of law, the facts satisfy the
appropriate legal standard." Cochran at ¶ 12.
Canine Sniff and Duration of the Stop
{¶ 26} "The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Section 14,
Article I of the Ohio Constitution prohibit unreasonable searches and seizures, including
unreasonable automobile stops." Bowling Green v. Godwin, 110 Ohio St. 3d 58, 2006-Ohio-
3563, ¶ 11. When the police stop a vehicle based on probable cause that a traffic violation
has occurred, the stop is reasonable under the Fourth Amendment. Id.; State v. Thomas,
12th Dist. Warren No. CA2012-10-096, 2013-Ohio-3411, ¶ 19.
{¶ 27} When detaining a motorist for a traffic violation, "a police officer may detain the
motorist for a time period sufficient to allow the officer to issue a ticket or a warning, or to run
a computer check on the driver's license, registration and vehicle plates." State v. Coleman,
12th Dist. Fayette No. CA2011-09-020, 2012-Ohio-3630, ¶ 11, citing State v. Batchili, 113
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Ohio St.3d 403, 2007-Ohio-2204, ¶ 12. See also Rodriguez v. United States, __ U.S. __,
135 S. Ct. 1609, 1615 (2015) (noting that "ordinary inquiries" incident to a traffic stop typically
involve "checking the driver's license, determining whether there are outstanding warrants
against the driver, and inspecting the automobile's registration and proof of insurance"). "'In
determining if an officer completed these tasks within a reasonable length of time, the court
must evaluate the duration of the stop in light of the totality of the circumstances and
consider whether the officer diligently conducted the investigation.'" Batchili at ¶ 12, quoting
State v. Carlson, 102 Ohio App. 3d 585, 598-599 (9th Dist.1995).
{¶ 28} Both Ohio courts and the United States Supreme Court have determined that
"the exterior sniff by a trained narcotics dog to detect the odor of drugs is not a search within
the meaning of the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution." State v. Grenoble, 12th Dist.
Preble No. CA2010-09-011, 2011-Ohio-2343, ¶ 30; United States v. Place, 462 U.S. 696,
707, 103 S. Ct. 2637 (1983). See also Illinois v. Caballes, 543 U.S. 405, 125 S. Ct. 834
(2005). "'Police are not required to have reasonable suspicion that a vehicle contains drugs
prior to conducting a canine sniff of the vehicle during a traffic stop, so long as the duration of
the traffic stop is not extended beyond what is reasonably necessary to resolve the issue that
led to the stop and issue a traffic citation.'" (Emphasis added.) State v. Neal, 10th Dist.
Franklin No. 15AP-771, 2016-Ohio-1406, ¶ 13, quoting State v. Phillips, 10th Dist. Franklin
No. 14AP-79, 2014-Ohio-5162, ¶ 20. However, if the traffic stop is extended in order to allow
a drug-sniffing dog to be brought to the scene, "police must have a reasonable suspicion that
the vehicle contains drugs in order to justify the continued detention." Id.
{¶ 29} The United States Supreme Court recently noted that
a police stop exceeding the time needed to handle the matter for
which the stop was made violates the Constitution's shield
against unreasonable seizures. A seizure justified only by a
police-observed traffic violation, therefore, "become[s] unlawful if
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it is prolonged beyond the time reasonably required to complete
th[e] mission" of issuing a ticket for the violation.
Rodriguez, 135 S. Ct. at 1612, quoting Caballes, 543 U.S. at 407. "The reasonableness of a
seizure * * * depends on what the police in fact do." Id. at 1616. "The critical question, then,
is not whether the dog sniff occurs before or after the officer issues a ticket * * * but whether
conducting the sniff 'prolongs' – i.e., adds time to – 'the stop.'" Id.
{¶ 30} In the present case, the trial court found the canine sniff lawful, noting that the
canine "arrived and alerted within ten to eleven minutes, which is well within the usual time
for the normal traffic stop. Given that there was no detention beyond the time needed to
complete a normal stop, Smart did not need to have a reasonable articulable suspicion of
criminal behavior." (Emphasis added.) The trial court, therefore, framed its decision in terms
of a "normal traffic stop" rather than the particulars of appellant's traffic stop. This was an
error, as the relevant inquiry is whether the canine sniff prolonged Smart's mission of issuing
a ticket for appellant's violations of following too closely and committing a marked lane
violation. However, the trial court's error was harmless, as Smart's testimony and the video
recording of the stop demonstrates that Smart did not extend the duration of the traffic stop
beyond what was reasonably necessary to resolve the issue that led to the traffic stop and
issue a traffic citation.3
{¶ 31} At the motion to suppress hearing, Smart testified that as a "general rule of
thumb, a normal traffic stop is between 15 and 20 minutes." Smart's description of the traffic
stop, as well as the video recording of the stop, demonstrated that a canine unit was
requested within "three to five minutes" of the stop, the canine unit arrived on the scene
within ten minutes of the stop, and the canine alerted to the trailer within 12.5 minutes of the
stop. Smart's activities during the interval between the initial stop and the time the canine
3. At the suppression hearing, Smart testified that appellant was issued a traffic citation for following too closely.
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arrived and alerted on appellant's trailer were captured on the video recording. The recording
shows that Smart was in contact with his dispatch and had requested a "license, wants,
warrants, [and] criminal history check" during this time. While waiting for this information to
come back from dispatch, the canine unit arrived on the scene. The video recording shows
that at the time the canine alerted on appellant's trailer, Smart was actively engaged in a
discussion with appellant about the lane line violation. The recording, therefore, contains
competent credible evidence that Smart did not extend the duration of the traffic stop beyond
what was reasonably necessary to issue a traffic citation.
{¶ 32} In reaching this determination we note that there was no evidence introduced
indicating that Smart prolonged his investigation of the traffic offenses in order to allow the
canine sniff of appellant's vehicle to be completed. "In the absence of some evidence that
the normal procedures were delayed for reasons unrelated to the investigation of the traffic
violation, the only reasonable conclusion to draw from the evidence is that the length of
appellant's detention was no longer than necessary to investigate the traffic violation and
issue the ticket." Neal, 2016-Ohio-1406 at ¶ 23. See also State v. Reece, 1st Dist. Hamilton
No. C-140635, 2015-Ohio-3638, ¶ 25. Given the record before us, we find that the canine
sniff did not prolong the duration of the traffic stop and, therefore, did not infringe on
appellant's rights under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution or Section
14, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
Canine's Training and Ability to Distinguish Conflict Odors
{¶ 33} In denying appellant's motion to suppress, the trial court found that "[o]nce the
canine alerted, Smart had probable cause to search the trailer and its contents." Appellant
contends, for the first time on appeal, that "in the absence of testimony regarding the dog's
training and ability to distinguish between narcotics and conflict odors," the dog's positive
alert does not support a finding of probable cause to search the trailer or its contents. In
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response, the state argues appellant has waived this argument by failing to raise the issue of
the canine's reliability and training in his written motion to suppress or at the suppression
hearing. We agree.
{¶ 34} Crim.R. 12 provides, in relevant part, as follows:
(C) Pretrial motions. Prior to trial, any party may raise by motion
any defense, objection, evidentiary issue, or request that is
capable of determination without the trial of the general issue.
The following must be raised before trial:
***
(3) Motions to suppress evidence, including but not limited to
statements and identification testimony, on the ground that it was
illegally obtained. Such motions shall be filed in the trial court
only.
***
(H) Effect of failure to raise defenses or objections. Failure by the
defendant to raise defenses or objections or to make requests
that must be made prior to trial, at the time set by the court
pursuant to division (D) of this rule, or prior to any extension of
time made by the court, shall constitute waiver of the defenses or
objections, but the court for good cause shown may grant relief
from the waiver.
(Emphasis added.)
{¶ 35} "To suppress evidence obtained as a result of a warrantless search or seizure,
the defendant must raise the grounds on which the validity of the search or seizure is
challenged with enough specificity to give the prosecutor notice of the basis for the
challenge." State v. Mixner, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2001-07-074, 2002 WL 83742, *2
(Jan. 22, 2002), citing Xenia v. Wallace, 37 Ohio St. 3d 216 (1988), paragraph one of the
syllabus. "By requiring the defendant to state with particularity the legal and factual issues to
be resolved, the prosecutor and court are placed on notice of those issues to be heard and
decided by the court and, by omission, those issues which are otherwise being waived."
State v. Shindler, 70 Ohio St. 3d 54, 58 (1994).
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{¶ 36} Here, appellant never put the state or the trial court on notice of his intent to
challenge the training and reliability of the canine. With respect to the traffic stop and
subsequent search of the trailer and its contents, appellant's motion to suppress only raised
the issues of (1) the "unlawful detention [of appellant] on the grounds that the officers lacked
reasonable suspicion to execute a traffic stop of the [appellant's] vehicle" and (2) "the
officer's unreasonably prolonged detention of the [appellant]." By failing to raise the issue of
the canine's reliability and training in his motion to suppress or at the suppression hearing,
appellant waived the issue and we need not consider the issue on appeal. See Neal, 2016-
Ohio-1406 at ¶ 29; Columbus v. Ridley, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 15AP-84, 2015-Ohio-4968, ¶
28 ("'It is well-settled law that issues not raised in the trial court may not be raised for the first
time on appeal because such issues are deemed waived.' * * * This well-settled waiver rule
applies to arguments not asserted either in a written motion to suppress or at the
suppression hearing").4
Automobile Exception
{¶ 37} Appellant also argues that the search of the track arm was without probable
cause as it did not fall within the automobile exception to the warrant requirement. Appellant
contends that because the canine did not alert specifically to the track arm, law enforcement
was not entitled to conduct a warrantless search of the track arm. We disagree.
{¶ 38} "Under the automobile exception to the warrant requirement, once police
officers obtain probable cause to believe the vehicle contains contraband, the officers may
search the vehicle." State v. Banks-Harvey, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2015-08-073, 2016-
4. We also note that at the motion to suppress hearing, defense counsel did not question Smart about the
canine's reliability or training. On direct examination, Smart was asked about the canine and its alert to
appellant's trailer. Smart testified that he was "familiar" with the canine, knew that "he was a good dog," had
seen the canine alert to the presence of narcotics in the past, and he saw the canine alert to appellant's trailer.
Although appellant had the opportunity to challenge the canine's reliability and training on cross-examination,
defense counsel did not raise the issue. See, e.g., Florida v. Harris, __ U.S. __, 133 S. Ct. 1050, 1057 (2013).
The issue was, therefore, waived.
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Ohio-2894, ¶ 15, citing State v. Raphael, 12th Dist. Warren Nos. CA2014-11-138 and
CA2014-11-139, 2015-Ohio-3179, ¶ 23. Probable cause to search a vehicle and its contents
exists where a narcotics dog "alerts to the odor of drugs from a lawfully detained vehicle."
State v. French, 104 Ohio App. 3d 740, 749 (12th Dist.1995). See also State v. Robinson, 4th
Dist. Lawrence No. 14CA24, 2016-Ohio-905, ¶ 26. "If probable cause justifies the search of
a lawfully stopped vehicle, it justifies the search of every part of the vehicle and its contents
that may conceal the object of the search." United States v. Ross, 456 U.S. 798, 825, 102
S. Ct. 2157 (1982).
{¶ 39} In the present case, there was probable cause for the officers to search the
track arm pursuant to the automobile exception. The drug dog alerted to the trailer
containing the track arm and, once inside the trailer, continued to alert "all over the floor of
the trailer." Smart explained the trailer's floor was covered in dog urine and feces, a tactic
commonly used by drug traffickers to "throw-off" narcotic dogs. Upon entering the trailer,
Smart smelled a strong odor of paint, noticed four cans of CAT spray paint in the trailer, and
observed that the track arm had been freshly painted in an unprofessional manner. Smart
also noticed that the track arm had four, large round holes on it and that there were "non-
factory" and "poor-looking" welds on the track arm. Based on the dogs' alerts and Smart's
observations and experiences, Smart had reason to believe that the track arm contained a
false compartment filled with contraband. Smart, therefore, had probable cause to search
the entire trailer, including the track arm, pursuant to the automobile exception. See Ross at
825.
"Hunch" vs Probable Cause
{¶ 40} Appellant also argues that "[e]ven if * * * a warrant was unnecessary, [Smart]
still needed sufficient probable cause to conduct a seizure and destructive search of the
[track] arm." He contends Smart's "generalized hunch" that altercations were made to the
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boom arm "falls short of the level of probable cause needed to justify a seizure and
destructive search of the cargo following a vehicle stop." In support of his argument that
Smart lacked probable cause to believe the track arm contained contraband, appellant points
to the fact that Smart is not a welder, excavator, or equipment designer. Appellant also relies
on the fact that Smart conducted additional research on the track arm upon arriving at
Fudge's before having the arm drilled into.
{¶ 41} As set forth above, the canine's positive alerts and Smart's observations inside
the trailer gave him probable cause to search the track arm. Smart did not need to be an
expert in the field of construction to identify sloppy, unprofessional paint work or poor-looking
welding marks. Smart could determine that something looked amiss with appellant's track
arm by comparing his observations of appellant's track arm to construction equipment he had
previously encountered in his day-to-day experiences.
{¶ 42} The United States Supreme Court recognized in Chambers v. Maroney, 399
U.S. 42, 52, 90 S. Ct. 1975 (1970), that "[f]or constitutional purposes, [there is] no difference
between on the one hand seizing and holding a car before presenting the probable cause
issue to a magistrate and on the other hand carrying out an immediate search without a
warrant." Here, probable cause to search the track arm existed at the scene of the traffic
stop. If Smart had been in possession of the tools he needed to cut open the track arm,
Smart would have been justified in drilling into the track arm on the side of the road.
However, the steel composition of the track arm required law enforcement to take the track
arm to a secondary location to obtain the proper tools to gain access to the machinery.
Smart's subsequent investigation of excavator track arms upon his arrival at Fudge's does
not undermine the existence of probable cause. While Smart's subsequent internet search
and discussion of track arms with the neighboring construction company cannot be used to
establish probable cause to seize and search the track arm, it in no way lessens the probable
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cause that was established at the scene of the initial traffic stop.
{¶ 43} Therefore, for the reasons set forth above, we find no merit to the arguments
set forth in appellant's first assignment of error. The trial court did not err in denying
appellant's motion to suppress. Appellant's first assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 44} Assignment of Error No. 2:
{¶ 45} DEFENDANT-APPELLANT WAS DENIED HIS RIGHTS UNDER CRIM.R.
12(F) AND THE DUE PROCESS CLAUSE OF THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT TO AN
ADJUDICATION AS TO THE ADMISSIBILITY OF HIS CUSTODIAL STATEMENTS DUE TO
MISDIRECTION BY THE STATE, THE INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF HIS OWN
ATTORNEY, AND INATTENTION ON THE PART OF THE TRIAL COURT.
{¶ 46} In his second assignment of error, appellant contends he was denied the right
to an adjudication of his motion to suppress his statements to law enforcement due to the
fault of the trial court, the prosecutor, and his defense counsel. Appellant contends the
prosecutor's statement at the motion to suppress hearing that "[t]here are no statements to
suppress in this case, Your Honor. The Defendant made no statements after being read his
rights," mislead the trial court and resulted in his motion to suppress not being fully resolved.
Relying on the conflicting evidence presented at the motion to suppress hearing as well as
the audio recording of his interview with Trooper Beatty presented at trial, appellant contends
he is entitled to an adjudication as to if and when he invoked his right to remain silent and his
right to an attorney, whether such rights were ever relinquished, and, if not, what statements
to Smart and Beatty were excludable from evidence.
Miranda and the Admissibility of Statements
{¶ 47} The Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the United States Constitution guarantee,
respectively, that "'[n]o person * * * shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness
against himself,’ and that ‘the accused shall * * * have the Assistance of Counsel.'" Miranda
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v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 442, 86 S. Ct. 1602 (1966); State v. Barker, Slip Opinion No. 2016-
Ohio-2708, ¶ 21. Therefore, pursuant to the protections awarded by the constitution, the
"prosecution may not use statements, whether exculpatory or inculpatory, stemming from
custodial interrogation of the defendant unless it demonstrates the use of procedural
safeguards effective to secure the privilege against self-incrimination." Miranda at 444.
"Prior to questioning, the police must warn a suspect 'that he has a right to remain silent, that
any statement he does make may be used as evidence against him, and that he has a right
to the presence of an attorney, either retained or appointed.'" Barker at ¶ 22, quoting
Miranda at 444.
{¶ 48} If a custodial interrogation continues without the presence of an attorney after
a suspect has been advised of his rights, the government bears "a heavy burden" of
demonstrating by a preponderance of the evidence that the suspect "knowingly and
intelligently waived his privilege against self-incrimination and his right to retained or
appointed counsel" before speaking to the police. Miranda at 475, 86 S. Ct. 1602, citing
Escobedo v. Illinois, 378 U.S. 478, 490, 84 S. Ct. 1758 (1964), fn. 14. See also Barker at ¶
23. "A court may not presume a valid waiver either from the suspect's silence after warnings
are given or from the fact that the suspect eventually confessed." Id., citing Miranda at 475.
Instead, the record must demonstrate that "'an accused was offered counsel but intelligently
and understandingly rejected the offer. Anything less is not waiver.'" Miranda at 475, quoting
Carnley v. Cochran, 369 U.S. 506, 516, 82 S. Ct. 884 (1962). If the state fails to meet its
burden, "no evidence obtained as a result of interrogation can be used" against the
defendant. Id. at 479; Barker at ¶ 23.
{¶ 49} In the present case, the trial court did not make any findings with respect to
whether appellant was "properly provided" his Miranda rights or whether such rights were
invoked or knowingly and intelligently waived. As discussed below, the court's failure to
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make such findings substantially affected appellant's right to a fair trial.
Motion to Suppress: Appellant's Statement to Smart – "I'm done talking"
{¶ 50} At the motion to suppress hearing, there was conflicting evidence presented as
to when appellant was given his Miranda rights. Smart testified he Mirandized appellant at
Fudge's. However, the audio recording demonstrates appellant was Mirandized while at the
scene of the traffic stop. Regardless of where he was advised of his rights, the record clearly
demonstrates that at 11:35 a.m., after being Mirandized, appellant told Smart, "I'm done
talking" while they were at Fudge's. The effect of this statement was never determined by
the trial court.
{¶ 51} Pursuant to Crim.R. 12(F), a motion to suppress "shall be determined before
trial." A trial court's failure to rule upon a motion to suppress prior to trial constitutes error.
State v. Tolbert, 70 Ohio App. 3d 372, 388 (1st Dist.1990). However, such error is harmless
"unless it adversely affects the substantial rights of the defendant." Id. See also State v.
Johnson, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2015-09-086, 2016-Ohio-7266, ¶ 64.
{¶ 52} Given the record before us, we find that appellant's substantial rights were
adversely affected by the trial court's failure to rule on his motion to suppress. Appellant's
motion sought to suppress "any statements" made after his arrest or "any statements" made
in violation of his rights under Miranda. The law is clear that a defendant has the opportunity
to exercise his Miranda rights throughout the entirety of an interrogation and that an
"interrogation must cease when the defendant exercises his 'right to cut off questioning,'
which must be scrupulously honored." State v. Miller, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 13 MA 12,
2014-Ohio-2936, ¶ 41, citing Miranda at 473-474 and Michigan v. Mosley, 423 U.S. 96, 104,
96 S. Ct. 321 (1975). Where a defendant initially waives his right to remain silent, but later
invokes this right, "the subsequent assertion of the right during the interview must be
unambiguous in order to require the police to stop." Id., citing Berghuis v. Thompkins, 560
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U.S. 370, 381, 130 S. Ct. 2250 (2010). See also State v. Murphy, 91 Ohio St. 3d 516, 520
(2001) (finding that a suspect must articulate his desire to remain silent or cut off questioning
"sufficiently clearly" so that a reasonable police officer under the circumstances would
understand the statement to be an invocation of the right to remain silent).
{¶ 53} In the present case, the trial court should have looked at the circumstances
surrounding appellant's statement that he was "done talking" and determined whether
appellant invoked his right to remain silent. See, e.g., Miller, 2014-Ohio-2936 (finding the
circumstances surrounding a defendant's repeated statements that "I'm done talking" and
"I'm done talking. There's nothing else to talk about" was an unambiguous invocation of the
right to remain silent); State v. Nowlin, 5th Dist. Muskingum No. CT2012-0015, 2012-Ohio-
4923 (finding a defendant's response of "yeah" following an officer's question of "You done
talking?" was not an unambiguous assertion of the right to remain silent). Not only is this
issue determinative of whether some of appellant's statements to Smart at Fudge's are
admissible, but, as discussed below, it impacts whether statements appellant later made to
Beatty at Unger's are admissible.
{¶ 54} Accordingly, based on the record before us, we find prejudicial error in the trial
court's failure to rule on appellant's motion to suppress any statements he made after
indicating he no longer wished to speak with law enforcement officers. We therefore sustain
appellant's second assignment of error to this extent. The trial court's denial of appellant's
motion to suppress is reversed and the cause remanded for a determination of whether
appellant unambiguously invoked his right to remain silent based on the existing record. If
the trial court finds that appellant invoked his right to remain silent, the court should then
determine whether appellant later relinquished this right by initiating further conversation with
law enforcement.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel: Statements to Beatty
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{¶ 55} In addition to finding reversible error for the trial court's failure to rule on
appellant's motion to suppress his statements to Smart, we also find that appellant's trial
counsel provided ineffective assistance when he failed to seek suppression of appellant's
statement's to Beatty.
{¶ 56} On June 4, 2015, defense counsel filed a motion to suppress "any statements"
made by appellant after his arrest and "any statements" made without appellant being
properly provided his Miranda rights. At the time this motion was filed, the state had already
filed its initial response to appellant's request for discovery. In its initial discovery response,
the state indicated that "oral statements made by the defendant, if any, are included in the
attached police report." The police reports attached to the discovery response, however, did
not include appellant's statement to Beatty.5 The state did not provide Beatty's statement to
appellant until November 19, 2015, which was well after the suppression hearing was held
and appellant's motion decided by the trial court.
{¶ 57} At the suppression hearing, the only evidence presented by the state was
Smart's testimony, photographs of the track arm, and a two-and-one-half hour long recording
of the traffic stop, which concluded with appellant sitting in the back of Smart's cruiser at
Fudge's. Smart testified at the hearing that after he Mirandized appellant and asked about
appellant's brother, appellant "advised at that point he wanted to speak with an attorney."
According to Smart, appellant did not make any other incriminating statements after
requesting an attorney. The state's representation that "[t]here are no statements to
suppress in this case, Your Honor. The Defendant made no statements after being read his
rights" appeared to support Smart's testimony that appellant had made no statements after
asking to speak with an attorney.
5. The state's initial discovery response also indicated that "4 CDs" were being provided to defense counsel with
its discovery response. It is unclear from the record what the contents of these 4 CDs included.
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{¶ 58} However, at trial, the state presented testimony from Beatty. Beatty testified
about her interview of appellant at Unger's and an audio recording of this interview was
admitted into evidence without any objection from defense counsel. Appellant contends his
trial counsel's failure to object to this evidence or request that the trial court conduct a
hearing outside the jury's presence to determine if suppression of such evidence was
appropriate amounts to deficient performance, and that he was prejudiced by this deficiency.
Appellant asserts that the "audio recording of the interview indicates Beatty initiated the
interview, did not re-administer Miranda warnings prior to questioning him, did not honor his
prior request for counsel, and did not obtain a waiver of his Fifth and Sixth Amendment
rights." He contends that "if the issue had been fully litigated, the trial court would have been
bound to suppress the custodial statements."
{¶ 59} "To establish a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must
show that his or her counsel's actions were outside the wide range of professionally
competent assistance, and that prejudice resulted by reason of counsel's actions." State v.
Ullman, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2002-10-110, 2003-Ohio-4003, ¶ 43, citing Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052 (1984). To show prejudice, a defendant
must prove there exists "a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors,
the result of the proceeding would have been different." State v. Wilson, 12th Dist. Madison
No. CA2013-10-034, 2014-Ohio-2342, ¶ 17, quoting Strickland at 694.
{¶ 60} We begin our review mindful that the failure to file a motion to suppress does
not constitute per se ineffective assistance of counsel. State v. Smith, 12th Dist. Fayette No.
CA2014-05-013, 2015-Ohio-1094, ¶ 44. To establish ineffective assistance of counsel for
failure to file a motion to suppress, a defendant must be able to prove that there was a basis
for suppression of the evidence in question. State v. Robinson, 12th Dist. Butler No.
CA2014-12-256, 2015-Ohio-4649, ¶ 49; State v. Brown, 115 Ohio St. 3d 55, 2007-Ohio-4837,
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¶ 65. Even when there is some evidence in the record to support a motion to suppress, "an
appellate court presumes that defense counsel was effective if defense counsel could
reasonably have decided that the motion to suppress would have been futile." State v.
Dominguez, 12th Dist. Preble No. CA2011-09-010, 2012-Ohio-4542, ¶ 20.
{¶ 61} In the present case, we face an undeveloped record. The video recording
from the traffic stop (entered into evidence both at the suppression hearing and at trial) ends
while appellant is sitting in the back of Smart's cruiser at Fudge's. From Smart's testimony at
the suppression hearing and at trial, it appears that at some point appellant advised Smart he
wanted to speak with an attorney.6 It is well established that if, after Miranda warnings have
been given, a suspect asserts his right to counsel, "the interrogation must cease until an
attorney is present." State v. Coleman, 12th Dist. Butler CA2001-10-241, 2002 WL 745322,
*3, citing Miranda at 474. "An accused * * * having expressed his desire to deal with the
police only through counsel, is not subject to further interrogation by the authorities until
counsel has been made available to him, unless the accused himself initiates further
communication, exchanges, or conversations with the police." Edwards v. Arizona, 451 U.S.
477, 484-485, 101 S. Ct. 1880 (1981).7
6. {¶ a} At the motion to suppress hearing, Smart testified as follows:
{¶ b} [I]t would have been at Fudge's Wrecker Service, I believe. I did Mirandize
him. * * *
{¶ c} I Mirandized him. He advised he had understood his rights. I asked him
about his brother and he advised at that point he wanted to speak with an
attorney. He never made any incriminating statements to me, other than
statements about where he's coming and where he's going, the initial stuff."
{¶ d} At trial, Smart testified that he Mirandized appellant "at the scene, the initial traffic stop scene" but
continued to speak with appellant "until the moment he decided to ask for an attorney deeper into the stop."
7. The state argues in its brief that appellant did not invoke his right to an attorney until he was being interviewed
by Beatty. While appellant clearly invoked his Miranda rights during his interview with Beatty, stating, "I want to
exercise my rights," Smart's testimony at both the motion to suppress hearing and at trial indicates appellant
exercised his right to an attorney earlier during law enforcement's investigation. A determination as to whether
appellant relinquished his right to an attorney prior to speaking with Beatty is essential to a determination of
whether appellant's statements to Beatty are admissible evidence.
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{¶ 62} Based on the record before us, we find that trial counsel was deficient for not
seeking to suppress appellant's statements to Beatty. Given Smart's testimony that appellant
had earlier invoked his right to counsel during law enforcement's investigation, there is a
basis for suppression of appellant's statements to Beatty. See id. Counsel's failure to seek
exclusion of appellant's statements to Beatty precluded appellant from asserting violations of
his constitutional rights. See, e.g., State v. Scott, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2005-12-134,
2007-Ohio-1094. Under the facts of this case, we cannot say that defense counsel could
have determined that his trial strategy was best served by not filing a motion to suppress
appellant's statements to Beatty. See id. at ¶ 18. We therefore find that trial counsel's
performance was deficient for not seeking suppression of these statements.
{¶ 63} We further find that appellant was prejudiced as a result of trial counsel's error,
as there is a reasonable probability that had counsel sought suppression of appellant's
statements to Beatty, the result of the trial would have been different. The state heavily
relied on appellant's statements to Beatty in proving that he "knowingly possessed" the
marijuana, pointing out appellant's inconsistent statements to law enforcement and his
acknowledgement to Beatty that he "knew" he was "in trouble." During closing arguments,
the prosecutor stated the following:
[Prosecutor]: Then when he's interviewed by Penny Beatty, he
says he's going by his brother's. He knows nothing about this.
He says my brother knows nothing about this. Well, if - - you
can't know if somebody else knows or doesn't know unless you
do.
He says he's going to swap it out. He's dropping it off at a farm.
He mentions nothing about a tractor pull or a sled to Penny
Beatty at all. Then he says his brother works as a machinist.
Now he's not the owner of an excavating company anymore,
apparently. He says a farmer is going to try to sell it for him.
Why is all this stuff important? It's important because the truth
does not change. The truth does not change every time
somebody asks you a question. You only need to make up
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things as you go along when you can't remember the lie you told
10 minutes ago because you're nervous, you're scared, and you,
you're all of those things because you know what you're hauling
down the highway.
The jury also appeared to rely on appellant's statements to Beatty in finding appellant guilty,
as the jury specifically requested it be permitted to rehear the audio recording of appellant's
interview with Beatty during its deliberations.
{¶ 64} Accordingly, given the facts of this case, we find that appellant has
demonstrated his trial counsel's deficient performance was prejudicial. We therefore sustain
that portion of appellant's second assignment of error alleging ineffective assistance of
counsel. Appellant's convictions are vacated and this matter remanded for further
proceedings according to law and consistent with this opinion. See Scott, 2007-Ohio-1094 at
¶ 30. On remand, the trial court is instructed to determine the admissibility of appellant's
statements to Beatty in light of appellant's possible invocation of his right to remain silent
(see above) as well as his invocation of his right to counsel. The court may receive additional
evidence as needed to resolve whether appellant's statements to Beatty should be
suppressed.
{¶ 65} Assignment of Error No. 3:
{¶ 66} THE ADMISSION OF TESTIMONY REGARDING DEFENDANT-
APPELLANT'S PRE-ARREST AND POST-ARREST SILENCE AND THE PROSECUTOR'S
CLOSING REMARKS VIOLATED HIS PRIVILEGE AGAINST SELF-INCRIMINATION AND
RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS UNDER THE FIFTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO
THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.
{¶ 67} Assignment of Error No. 4:
{¶ 68} THE COMBINED EFFECT OF DEFENSE COUNSEL'S MULTIPLE
INSTANCES OF DEFICIENT PERFORMANCE DEPRIVED DEFENDANT-APPELLANT OF
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HIS RIGHT TO THE EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL GUARANTEED UNDER
THE SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES
CONSTITUTION.
{¶ 69} Assignment of Error No. 5:
{¶ 70} THE TRIAL COURT'S DECISION TO FORFEIT DEFENDANT-APPELLANT'S
CASH AND TRAILER IS AGAINST THE WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE AND IS CONTRARY
TO LAW.
{¶ 71} In his remaining assignments of error, appellant raises issues relating to the
admission of evidence at trial, errors his attorney allegedly committed in rendering his
defense, and errors the trial court allegedly made in determining his trailer and the $5,699 in
cash he was carrying were subject to forfeiture. Based on our resolution of appellant's
second assignment of error, we need not address appellant's third, fourth, and fifth
assignments of error. See App.R. 12(A)(1)(c); Scott, 2007-Ohio-1094 at ¶ 29.
{¶ 72} The judgment is affirmed in part and reversed in part, appellant's convictions
vacated, and the matter remanded for further proceedings according to law and consistent
with this opinion.
M. POWELL, P.J., and PIPER, J., concur.
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