State v. Nichols

[Cite as State v. Nichols, 2020-Ohio-6960.]
COURT OF APPEALS
RICHLAND COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
STATE OF OHIO, : JUDGES:
: Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J.
Plaintiff - Appellee : Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
: Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
-vs- :
:
DAVID NICHOLS : Case No. 2020 CA 0027
:
Defendant - Appellant : OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Richland County
Court of Common Pleas, Case No.
2019-CR-231
JUDGMENT: Affirmed
DATE OF JUDGMENT: December 29, 2020
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant
GARY BISHOP DARIN AVERY
Prosecuting Attorney 105 Sturges Avenue
Richland County Mansfield, Ohio 44903
JOSEPH C. SNYDER
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
38 South Park Street
Mansfield, Ohio 44902
Richland County, Case No. 2020 CA 0027 2
Baldwin, J.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant David Nichols appeals from the partial denial by the
Richland County Court of Common Pleas of his Motion to Suppress. Plaintiff-appellee is
the State of Ohio.
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE
{¶2} On March 8, 2019, the Richland County Grand Jury indicted appellant on
one count of possession of cocaine in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A) and (C)(4)(a), a felony
of the fifth degree. At his arraignment, appellant entered a plea of not guilty to the charge.
{¶3} Appellant filed a Motion to Suppress on August 7, 2019, seeking to
suppress statements made by appellant. Appellant also sought to suppress evidence
seized as a result of the search of his person and the truck which he had been in. A
hearing on the motion was held on September 4, 2019.
{¶4} Deputy Bryce Ernsberger of the Richland County Sheriff’s Office testified
that he was on duty on August 24, 2018 and was working from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
He testified that he pulled into a parking lot of a market after he ran a license plate on a
truck in the parking lot and the learned that the owner of the vehicle, Brinda Nichols, had
an outstanding warrant for failure to appear. Brinda Nichols was in the passenger seat
of the truck. Deputy Ernsberger had her step out of the truck and searched her before
arresting her. He testified that no contraband was found in her purse, but that he did find
an empty baggie consistent with the packaging of drugs.
{¶5} After arresting Brinda Nichols, the Deputy made contact with appellant, who
was standing about 20 or 30 feet from the truck. Appellant had been in the driver’s seat
and while Brinda was being searched, had walked over to the market. Deputy Ernsberger
Richland County, Case No. 2020 CA 0027 3
testified that while his body camera was on at the point, the audio was not recording
because he either bumped it or turned it off, but did not recall. He testified that he
questioned appellant when he initially made contact with appellant and Brinda because
appellant had been fidgeting around in the truck, and was “[c]ontinually moving his hands
around the truck, making me believe something might be illegal in the truck.” Transcript
at 10. Appellant, when asked what was in the truck, told the Deputy that there was a crack
pipe in the ashtray in the middle of the truck.
{¶6} The Deputy then searched the truck and located the crack pipe in the
ashtray and three baggies of what appeared to be cocaine in the center console.
Appellant told the Deputy that the substance in the bag was his and his wife’s cocaine
but later said that the cocaine was his. The Deputy testified that the audio portion of the
body camera stopped when he walked from his cruiser up to appellant when appellant
was standing near the market and then after he was placed in the cruiser. He testified
that he did not realize that the audio was not recording during his conversation with
appellant until several days later.
{¶7} On cross-examination, Deputy Ernsberger testified that Brinda Nichols
matched his description of the owner of the vehicle. He testified that appellant got out of
the truck as he was arresting Brinda Nichols and left the immediate area and that he only
approached appellant again after he found the empty baggie in Brinda’s purse.
{¶8} Deputy Ernsberger testified that he did not recall purposefully muting his
body camera. He testified that when he was dealing with Brinda Nichols, he did not think
that he had a reason to keep appellant there at that time. After finding the baggie, he re-
approached appellant. The audio was off at the time. He testified that he put appellant
Richland County, Case No. 2020 CA 0027 4
into his cruiser but did not Mirandize him at any time. When asked whether he then
searched the truck without permission, the Deputy testified that appellant had advised
that there was an illegal item in the truck, so he had probable cause at that time.
{¶9} On redirect, Deputy Ernsberger testified that once appellant told him that
the crack pipe was in the ashtray, appellant was not under arrest at that time. He testified
that he had not made up his mind that he was going to arrest appellant once told of the
crack pipe. He testified that appellant told him of the crack pipe before they even walked
over to appellant’s truck. He testified that was when it changed to a detention.
{¶10} Appellant testified that on August 24, 2018, he and his wife were sitting in a
parking lot at a corner market when Deputy Ernsberger arrested his wife. He testified that
they were sitting in the parking lot while his wife rolled cigarettes for him. Appellant
testified that he left the truck and went into the market and that when he came out, Deputy
Ernsberger called over to him. He did not recall telling the Deputy that there was a crack
pipe in the truck. Appellant testified that the Deputy did not ask if he could search
appellant’s person and that when the Deputy had him get up against the truck, he did not
feel that he could leave the area. He also testified that he did not give permission for the
truck to be searched.
{¶11} On cross-examination, appellant testified that his wife had been the driver
of the truck and that they switched seats so that she could roll cigarettes for him. He
testified that as his wife was getting arrested, he went into the market to buy cigarettes.
He testified that he probably could have stayed in the market, but the Deputy called him
back over and told him to “Come here”. Transcript at 33. The Deputy never went into the
market. Appellant testified that he was going to have to walk home once his wife was
Richland County, Case No. 2020 CA 0027 5
arrested. Appellant testified that he complied with the Deputy’s order because he did not
know that he had the right to refuse to talk to him. He denied telling the Deputy that there
was a crack pipe in the truck and denied admitting to the Deputy that he had smoked
crack a couple of hours before or that the baggies had contained cocaine. He denied
voluntarily talking to the Deputy. Appellant did not recall saying that the cocaine was his.
{¶12} On redirect, appellant testified that he did not feel that he could walk away
when Deputy Ernsberger called him over or when he was searched. He testified that he
was never Mirandized.
{¶13} The trial court, pursuant to a Judgment Entry filed on September 26, 2019,
overruled appellant’s Motion to Suppress the evidence located in the truck, finding that
the Deputy had probable cause to search the same. The trial court ordered that any
statements that appellant made while in the back of the police cruiser be suppressed
since appellant was never Mirandized.
{¶14} Thereafter, appellant pled no contest to the charge and was, on February
5, 2020, sentenced to 24 months of community control and fined $250.00.
{¶15} Appellant now raises the following assignment of error on appeal:
{¶16} “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN REFUSING TO SUPPRESS THE
FRUITS OF THE ILLEGAL SEIZURE OF THE DEFENDANT AND SEARCH OF HIS
VEHICLE AND PERSON.”
I
{¶17} Appellant, in his sole assignment of error, argues that the trial court erred in
refusing to suppress the fruits of the illegal seizure of appellant and the search of his
vehicle and person. We disagree.
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{¶18} Appellate review of a trial court's decision to deny a motion to suppress
involves a mixed question of law and fact. State v. Long, 127 Ohio App.3d 328, 332, 713
N.E.2d 1 (4th Dist.1998). During a suppression hearing, the trial court assumes the role
of trier of fact and, as such, is in the best position to resolve questions of fact and to
evaluate witness credibility. State v. Brooks, 75 Ohio St.3d 148, 154, 1996-Ohio-134, 661
N.E.2d 1030. A reviewing court is bound to accept the trial court's findings of fact if they
are supported by competent, credible evidence. State v. Medcalf, 111 Ohio App.3d 142,
145, 675 N.E.2d 1268 (4th Dist.1996). Accepting these facts as true, the appellate court
must independently determine as a matter of law, without deference to the trial court's
conclusion, whether the trial court's decision meets the applicable legal standard. State
v. Williams, 86 Ohio App.3d 37, 41, 619 N.E.2d 1141 (4th Dist.1993), overruled on other
grounds.
{¶19} There are three methods of challenging a trial court's ruling on
a motion to suppress on appeal. First, an appellant may challenge the trial court's finding
of fact. In reviewing a challenge of this nature, an appellate court must determine whether
the trial court's findings of fact are against the manifest weight of the evidence. See State
v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 437 N.E.2d 583 (1982); State v. Klein, 73 Ohio App.3d 486,
597 N.E.2d 1141 (4th Dist.1991). Second, an appellant may argue the trial court failed to
apply the appropriate test or correct law to the findings of fact. In that case, an appellate
court can reverse the trial court for committing an error of law. See Williams,
supra. Finally, an appellant may argue the trial court has incorrectly decided the ultimate
or final issues raised in a motion to suppress. When reviewing this type of claim, an
appellate court must independently determine, without deference to the trial court's
Richland County, Case No. 2020 CA 0027 7
conclusion, whether the facts meet the appropriate legal standard in any given
case. State v. Curry, 95 Ohio App.3d 93, 96,620 N.E.2d 906 (8th Dist.1994).
{¶20} Appellant initially argues that he was illegally seized by the Deputy.
Appellant argues that the Deputy’s order to him to “come here” when the Deputy was
wearing a uniform and had arrested a fellow vehicle passenger constituted a seizure for
Fourth Amendment purposes.
{¶21} The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, as well as Section
14, Article I of the Ohio Constitution, prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures. State
v. Kinney, 83 Ohio St.3d 85, 87, 1998–Ohio–425; Katz v. United States (1967), 389 U.S.
347, 351, 88 S.Ct. 507, 511. However, “not all personal intercourse between policemen
and citizens involves ‘seizures' of persons. 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” within the meaning of the Fourth
Amendment. Terry v. Ohio , 392 U.S. 1, 19, 88 S.Ct. 1868, 1879, fn. 16 (1968).Even when
a law enforcement [officer] phrases a statement in an imperative or declarative—rather
than in an interrogative—fashion, courts have generally ruled 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, 2014 WL
4161479, ¶ 16, citing Columbus v. Body, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 11AP-609, 2012-Ohio-
379, 2012 WL 353764, State v. Duncan, 9th Dist. Summit No. 21155, 2003-Ohio-241,
2003 WL 150091, and United States v. Brown, 447 Fed.Appx. 706, 708–709 (6th
Cir.2012). “Instead, courts must examine the totality of the circumstances present in each
case in order to ascertain whether an imperative or declarative statement constitutes a
Richland County, Case No. 2020 CA 0027 8
sufficient show of authority to ripen a consensual encounter into a seizure subject to
Fourth Amendment scrutiny.” (Citation omitted.) Id.{¶22} In State v. Smith, 45 Ohio St.3d 255, 544 N.E.2d 239 (1989), the Supreme
Court of Ohio held that a consensual encounter did not ripen into a seizure when an officer
stated “hey, come here a minute,” to the defendant, and none of the officers on the scene
displayed any weapons, physically touched the defendant, used a threatening tone of
voice, ordered the defendant into the police cruiser, indicated that the defendant's
noncompliance would lead to his arrest, or block the defendant's exit with their
cruiser. Id. at 258–259, 544 N.E.2d 239, reversed on other grounds, Smith v. Ohio, 494
U.S. 541, 110 S.Ct. 1288, 108 L.Ed.2d 464 (1990).
{¶23} Likewise, in Columbus v. Body, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 11AP-609, 2012-
Ohio-379, 2012 WL 353764, the Tenth District Court of Appeals determined that an
officer's statement “come over here,” did not constitute a seizure under circumstances
where the officer acted without the threatening presence of several officers, did not
activate his siren or search light, did not attempt to block the defendant's path, did not
attempt to pursue the defendant, did not display his weapon, and did not use a threatening
voice. Id. at ¶ 20.
{¶24} The Body court also noted that “[f]ederal courts have also recognized
that ‘simply calling out to someone to come over to talk does not constitute a
seizure.’ ” Id. at ¶ 18, quoting United States v. Brown, 2012 WL 29209 (C.A.6, 2012),
citing United States v. Matthews, 278 F.3d 560, 562 (6th Cir.2002), abrogated on other
grounds, United States v. McMurray, 653 F.3d 367 (6th Cir.2011) (holding that an officer's
Richland County, Case No. 2020 CA 0027 9
statement “hey, buddy, come here,” did not constitute a seizure because the addressee
could have “politely declined to do so, and walked away”).
{¶25} {¶ 23} More recently, in State v. Blankenship, 4th Dist. Ross No. 13CA3417,
2014-Ohio-3600, 2014 WL 4161479, the Fourth District Court of Appeals held there was
a consensual encounter where an officer told the defendant to “step over here,” and did
not otherwise engage in conduct that could be construed as a show of authority sufficient
to constitute a seizure. Id. at ¶ 23–24. Specifically, the officer did not pursue the
defendant, continue to interrogate the defendant against his expressed desire, call the
defendant to halt, block the defendant's path, hold the defendant's identification or other
property, physically grab or move the defendant, display his weapon, activate his siren or
cruiser lights, or indicate that the defendant's noncompliance would lead to his
arrest. Id. at ¶ 24. The Blankenship court also noted that the officer was alone, and thus
acted without the “ ‘threatening presence of several officers.’ ” Id., quoting United States
v. Mendenhall, 446 U.S. 544, 554, 100 S.Ct. 1870, 64 L.Ed.2d 497 (1980).
{¶26} Appellant specifically contends that the Trooper’s order to appellant to
“come here” constitutes a seizure. In the case sub judice, we find that the encounter was
a consensual encounter. We find that the Trooper’s request that appellant “come here”
did not turn the encounter into a seizure. No evidence exists that the officer used a
threatening voice when he told appellant to “come here,” that he restrained appellant in
any way, or displayed any physical force or weapon. Appellant testified that the Trooper
called out to him after appellant exited the market. At the time, appellant was standing 20
or 30 feet from his truck. After appellant told the Deputy about the crack pipe, the Deputy
had probable cause to search the truck and appellant.
Richland County, Case No. 2020 CA 0027 10
{¶27} Moreover, we note that while the Deputy testified that appellant admitted to
having a crack pipe in the truck prior to the Deputy’s search of appellant and prior to the
search of the vehicle, appellant testified that he did not remember telling the Deputy about
a crack pipe. The trial court, based on the testimony and a review of the body camera,
found the Deputy’s testimony to be more credible than appellant’s testimony. The trial
court, noted that “when the audio of the body camera comes back on the defendant is
responding to a question from Dep. Ernsberger about the last time he smoked “it”. It
appears to the Court that the defendant is talking about the crack pipe.” The trial court
further stated, in relevant part, as follows:
{¶28} Based on the testimony of the witness and a review of the body camera
audio the Court finds Dep. Ernsberger’s testimony to be more credible than the
defendant’s testimony. Accordingly, the Court finds that Dep. Ernsberger had probable
cause to search the vehicle. Once searching the vehicle Dep. Ernsberger located the
crack pipe and three small baggies containing cocaine. Accordingly the defendant’s
motion to suppress the evidence located inside the vehicle is hereby overruled as Dep.
Ernsberger had probable cause to search the vehicle.
{¶29} Having reviewed the body camera video, we agree.
{¶30} Furthermore, we find that the crack pipe and cocaine would have been
inevitably discovered. The inevitable-discovery rule allows the admission of illegally
obtained evidence where “it is established that the evidence would have been ultimately
or inevitably discovered during the course of a lawful investigation.” State v. Perkins, 18
Ohio St.3d 193, 480 N.E.2d 763 syllabus (1985).
Richland County, Case No. 2020 CA 0027 11
{¶31} As is stated above, appellant did not have a driver’s license and his wife
had been arrested. Thus, the truck would have been searched prior to being impounded.
The crack pipe was in the ashtray in the middle of the truck. We find that the crack pipe
and the cocaine would have been inevitably discovered.
{¶32} Appellant also argues that the repeated and unexplained muting of the body
camera in this case constitutes spoliation of evidence “that gives rise to a presumption in
favor of a defendant concerning the conversation that but for the officer’s muting would
have been available to the trial court.”
{¶33} “Spoliation” is defined as: “[t]he intentional destruction, mutilation,
alteration, or concealment of evidence[.]” Black's Law Dictionary (7th Ed. 2000) 1133.
{¶34} Trooper Ernsberger testified that he turned on the body camera before he
made or as he was making contact with Brinda Nichols. He testified that when he made
contact with appellant, his body camera was on, but the audio was not recording. When
asked why the audio was not recording, he testified that he either bumped it or turned off
the audio, but did not recall. The body camera video was introduced as joint exhibit A.
{¶35} The Trooper testified that it was the Sheriff’s Department’s protocol to
activate the camera when making official contact with someone for some sort of law
enforcement action. He testified that he did not realize that the audio did not record during
the time of his conversation with appellant until several days later when he reviewed the
video. He further testified that he must have realized that it was off because it was turned
back on when he was searching the cruiser. He testified that it was “[f]airly easy” to turn
off the audio and that once he realized that the body camera was not recording audio, he
turned it back on. Transcript at 15. On cross-examination, Trooper Ernsberger testified
Richland County, Case No. 2020 CA 0027 12
that it was common practice to mute the body camera during a stop or investigation but
that he did not recall purposely muting his body camera.
{¶36} We find that there was no evidence that the Trooper intentionally
destroyed or concealed evidence. The trial court found that the audio was inadvertently
turned off. In addition, this case involves a criminal, not a civil matter. Spoliation of
evidence is inapplicable in a criminal case State v. Pace, 3rd Dist. Hancock No. 5–12–
30, 2013-Ohio-2143, 2013 WL 2459877, ¶ 17, State v. Drummond, 2015-Ohio-939, 31
N.E.3d 1216, 1228.
{¶37} Based on the foregoing, appellant’s sole assignment of error is overruled.
{¶38} Accordingly, the judgment of the Richland County Court of Common Pleas
is affirmed.
By: Baldwin, J.
Hoffman, P.J. and
Delaney, J. concur.