State v. Richardson

[Cite as State v. Richardson, 2021-Ohio-2751.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
STATE OF OHIO, : APPEAL NO. C-200187
TRIAL NO. B-1906312B
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
vs. : O P I N I O N.
WILLIAM RICHARDSON, :
Defendant-Appellant. :
Criminal Appeal From: Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas
Judgment Appealed From Is: Affirmed
Date of Judgment Entry on Appeal: August 11, 2021
Joseph T. Deters, Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney, and H. Keith Sauter,
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for Plaintiff-Appellee,
Matthew S. Schuh, for Defendant-Appellant.
OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
WINKLER, Judge.
{¶1} After pleading no contest, defendant-appellant William Richardson
was convicted of one count of possession of drugs under R.C. 2925.11(A) and one
count of illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia under R.C. 2925.14(C)(1).
He now appeals those convictions. We find no merit in his sole assignment of error,
and we affirm the trial court’s judgment.
{¶2} The record shows that Norwood police officers Ryan Harrison and
Nathan Fornash were dispatched to 2744 Norwood Avenue for what Officer Harrison
described as “family trouble.” Officer Fornash stated that the cause of the
disturbance was Theodore Steinle. Steinle’s mother had called police asking them to
talk to him and get him off the property.
{¶3} When the officers arrived, Steinle’s mother directed them to the back
of the house where they saw two men standing next to a car in the driveway and
talking. Officer Fornash approached one of the men, who identified himself as
Steinle. Steinle provided Officer Fornash with his identification, which revealed that
Steinle had open warrants. Officer Fornash arrested him. While searching Steinle,
the officer discovered what appeared to be methamphetamine in Steinle’s
possession.
{¶4} While Officer Fornash was searching Steinle, Officer Harrison noticed
Richardson “moving to the opposite side of the car” and “making some strange
movements.” Officer Harrison stated, “He kind of went to an angle that we couldn’t
see him very well. He dipped down and started reaching down towards the ground.”
At that point, Officer Harrison, who had been an officer for nine years and had made
approximately 100 drug arrests per year, was “very suspicious” that Richardson
possessed drugs.
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
{¶5} When Richardson came back around the car to approach Officer
Harrison, the officer asked Richardson if he had anything illegal on his person. He
stated that although he did not remember Richardson’s exact words, he said
something along the lines of “I don’t have anything on me, you can search.”
Richardson opened his coat pockets and took out “a couple of things.” According to
Officer Harrison, Richardson put his hands on the trunk of the car and “kind of
stepped back and took a side stance with his feet. It’s kind of what’s depicted in the
movies, as you would see a police officer search somebody.” When the officer
searched Richardson, he found a baggie of methamphetamine and drug
paraphernalia.
{¶6} While dealing with Steinle, Officer Fornash heard Officer Harrison ask
Richardson if he had “anything on him” and Richardson said that he did not.
Although Officer Fornash could not “remember verbatim the actual words that were
used,” he stated that Richardson “gave consent” for the search.
{¶7} The entire encounter was captured on Officer Harrison’s body camera,
and the trial court reviewed the recording. The video portion was clear, but noise
from the wind and traffic from a nearby highway drowned out most of the audio
recording, except for Officer Harrison’s voice.
{¶8} The video showed that as the officers approached the two men,
Richardson started to walk away until Officer Fornash said, “Where are you going big
man? Come on over here.” In response, Richardson walked back toward the
officers. He stood next to Officer Harrison while Officer Fornash spoke with Steinle.
Officer Fornash then handed Officer Harrison something that “looked like meth.”
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
{¶9} A short time later, Officer Harrison asked Richardson, “Buddy you got
anything on you?” Richardson shook his head and said “No, sir.” He then put his
hands in his pockets and took out two objects. Officer Harrison told him to “keep
your hands out of your pockets, put your hands on the hood.” Officer Harrison
began searching his coat pockets and asked, “Do you got anything?” Richardson
said, “No sir.”
{¶10} Subsequently, Richardson attempted to turn around, hunched over,
and put his hands above his head. Officer Harrison said, “What in the world? What
are you—just put your hands on the car, what are you doing?” Officer Harrison then
asked him, “When’s the last time you did meth?” Richardson’s response was not
entirely audible, but he could be heard saying, “I don’t have anything.” Officer
Harrison replied, “That’s what he said, too,” referring to Steinle.
{¶11} The officer continued to search Richardson, and Richardson again
removed his hands from the hood of the car. Officer Harrison said, “If the hands
come off again, you’re going in handcuffs.” Eventually, the officer reached in
Richardson’s pants pocket and found a baggie. He asked Richardson, “What’s in
here?” He then placed Richardson under arrest.
{¶12} In his sole assignment of error, Richardson contends that the trial
court erred in overruling his motion to suppress. He argues that his initial detention
was unsupported by reasonable suspicion, that the search of his person was
unjustified because there was no evidence that the investigating police officers
thought that he was armed and dangerous, and that the evidence did not support the
trial court’s finding that he consented to the search. This assignment of error is not
well taken.
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
{¶13} Appellate review of a motion to suppress presents a mixed question of
law and fact. We must accept the trial court’s findings of fact as true if competent,
credible evidence supports them. But we must independently determine whether the
facts satisfy the applicable legal standard. State v. Burnside, 100 Ohio St.3d 152,
2003-Ohio-5372, 797 N.E.2d 71, ¶ 8; State v. Sweeten, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-
150583, 2016-Ohio-5828, ¶ 8.
{¶14} First, Richardson argues that his initial detention was improper
because the officers did not have a reasonable and articulable suspicion that he had
engaged in criminal activity. The United States Supreme Court has held that a
seizure does not occur simply because a police officer approaches an individual and
asks a few questions. So long as a reasonable person would feel free to leave or go
about his or her business, the encounter is consensual and no reasonable suspicion is
required. Florida v. Bostick, 501 U.S. 429, 434, 111 S.Ct. 2382, 115 L.Ed.2d 389(1991); State v. Lyle, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-190447, 2020-Ohio-4683, ¶ 22-23;
State v. Black, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-970874, 1998 WL 906351, *1 (Dec. 31, 1998).
{¶15} Simply because most people do respond to a police request without
being told they are free not to respond does not eliminate the consensual nature of
the response. Immigration & Naturalization Serv. v. Delgado, 466 U.S. 210, 216,
104 S.Ct. 1758, 80 L.Ed.2d 247 (1984); State v. Daniel, 81 Ohio App.3d 325, 328, 610
N.E.2d 1099 (9th Dist.1992); Black at *1. “Only when the officer, by means of
physical force or show of authority, has in some way restrained the liberty of a citizen
may we conclude that a ‘seizure’ has occurred.” Bostick at 434, quoting Terry v.
Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 19, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 20 L.Ed.2d 889 (1968). Whether a seizure has
occurred is a question of fact to be determined from the totality of the circumstances.
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
Michigan v. Chesternut, 486 U.S. 567, 573, 108 S.Ct. 1975, 100 L.Ed.2d 565 (1988);
State v. Hummons, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-950747, 1996 WL 526697, *2 (Sept. 18,
1996).
{¶16} The officers were lawfully at the residence to investigate a domestic
disturbance, and they were directed to go to the back of the house. They saw two
men in the yard, and they did not know who the men were or which one was the
subject of the call to the police. They wanted to ascertain their identities.
{¶17} Richardson contends that as he was walking away, Officer Fornash
ordered him to come back, stating, “Where are you going big man? Come over here.”
He argues that those statements were a show of authority and that a reasonable
person would not have felt free to leave under those circumstances.
{¶18} Courts have held that an imperative or declarative statement, by itself,
does not transform a consensual encounter into a seizure. State v. Blankenship, 4th
Dist. Ross No. 13CA3417, 2014-Ohio-3600, ¶ 16. Instead, courts must examine the
circumstances in each case to determine whether an imperative or declarative
statement constitutes a sufficient show of force to change a consensual encounter
into a seizure. Id.{¶19} Although Officer Fornash told Richardson to come over to him rather
than asking him to do so, none of the other facts and circumstances demonstrate a
show of authority sufficient to turn a consensual encounter into a seizure.
Richardson was not attempting to flee the scene. He did not walk toward the
driveway, but instead was walking to the back of the enclosed backyard. Officer
Fornash’s statement was not threatening or intimidating. He used a conversational
tone of voice and did not threaten any consequences if Richardson did not comply.
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
Richardson never expressed any desire to stop the encounter. The officers did not
chase Richardson or block his path. They did not brandish weapons or otherwise
indicate that he was not free to leave. Consequently, the trial court’s finding that the
initial encounter was consensual was supported by competent, credible evidence.
See Columbus v. Body, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 11AP-609, 2012-Ohio-379, ¶ 16-20;
State v. Duncan, 9th Dist. Summit No. 21155, 2003-Ohio-241, ¶ 13-16.
{¶20} Next, Richardson argues that the subsequent search of his person
violated his Fourth Amendment rights because the evidence did not show that he
consented to the search, and the officers went beyond the permissible scope of a
limited search for weapons under Terry, 392 U.S. 1, 18-19, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 20 L.Ed.2d
889. “But police officers do not need a warrant, probable cause, or even a
reasonable, articulable suspicion to conduct a search when a suspect voluntarily
consents to the search.” State v. Riggins, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-030626, 2004-
Ohio-4247, ¶ 11.
{¶21} Where the state relies upon consent to justify a warrantless search, it
bears the burden to show that consent was freely and voluntarily given. Schneckloth
v. Bustamante, 412 U.S. 218, 222, 93 S.Ct. 2041, 36 L.E.2d 854 (1973); State v.
Smith, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-061032, 2007-Ohio-3786, ¶ 13. Whether consent
was voluntary or was the product of duress or coercion is a question of fact that a
court must determine from the totality of the facts and circumstances. Schneckloth
at 248-249; Smith at ¶ 13; Riggins at ¶ 14. Police officers need not warn an
individual of the right to refuse consent. State v. Robinette, 80 Ohio St.3d 234, 242,
685 N.E.2d 762 (1997); State v. Davis, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-040818, 2005-Ohio-
4139, ¶ 10.
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OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
{¶22} The state presented evidence to show that Richardson had consented
to the search. Officer Harrison testified that he had asked Richardson if he had
anything illegal on him. Richardson responded that he did not and said, “You can
search.” Officer Harrison described him as “more than compliant.” He voluntarily
took objects out of his coat pockets and assumed a stance that would facilitate the
search. Though the audio portion of the recording was hard to hear, Richardson’s
actions and body language supported the police officers’ testimony that he consented
to the search.
{¶23} Richardson points out that the video recording shows that when
Richardson put his hand in his pocket, Officer Harrison stated, “Keep your hands out
of your pockets, put your hands on the hood.” Subsequently, Richardson started
moving around and Officer Harrison said, “What in the world? What are you – Just
put your hands on the car, what are you doing?” Richardson argues that those
commands cannot be reconciled with a finding that the search was consensual.
{¶24} We disagree. In Davis, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-040818, 2005-Ohio-
4139, at ¶ 15, we stated that where a police officer made a similar command, the
defendant’s consent was still valid. “Such a command would not have constituted an
illegal seizure. A reasonable person would have understood that an officer’s safety
concerns required the vehicle’s occupants’ hands to be in plain view * * *.”
{¶25} Once Richardson had given his consent to search, Officer Harrison was
justified in ensuring that the search was done safely. Nothing in the testimony or the
video recording showed that Richardson had revoked or limited his consent or was
submitting to the search against his will. See Riggins, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-
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030626, 2004-Ohio-4247, at ¶ 26; State v. Chapman, 97 Ohio App.3d 687, 691, 647
N.E.2d 504 (1st Dist.1994).
{¶26} The issue came down to credibility. In a hearing on a motion to
suppress, matters as to credibility are for the trier of fact to decide. State v. Fanning,
1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20, 437 N.E.2d 583 (1982); Smith, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-061032,
2007-Ohio-3786, at ¶ 25. After considering all the evidence, the trial court believed
the officers’ testimony that the search was consensual. We cannot say that the trial
court’s determination that the search was consensual was contrary to law or against
the manifest weight of the evidence. See Chapman at 691-692. Consequently, we
overrule Richardson’s assignment of error and affirm the trial court’s judgment.
Judgment affirmed.
ZAYAS, P.J., and CROUSE, J., concur.
Please note:
The court has recorded its own entry on the date of the release of this opinion.
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