Michelle Lightfoot v. Commonwealth of Virginia

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA
Present: Chief Judge Decker, Judges Beales and O’Brien
UNPUBLISHED
Argued by videoconference
MICHELLE LIGHTFOOT
MEMORANDUM OPINION* BY
v. Record No. 0313-20-2 JUDGE RANDOLPH A. BEALES
APRIL 6, 2021
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY
Harold W. Burgess, Jr., Judge Designate
Kevin Purnell (Kevin D. Purnell, PLLC, on brief), for appellant.
Erica L. Sieg, Assistant Attorney General (Mark R. Herring,
Attorney General; Craig W. Stallard, Assistant Attorney General,
on brief), for appellee.
Appellant Michelle Lightfoot was convicted of felony assault on a law enforcement
officer in violation of Code § 18.2-57, misdemeanor intentional destruction of property in
violation of Code § 18.2-137, and misdemeanor obstruction of justice in violation of Code
§ 18.2-460. On appeal, she challenges all of her convictions, arguing that “[t]he trial court erred
in not finding an unlawful arrest of Lightfoot and not recognizing Lightfoot’s reasonable use of
force to resist an unlawful arrest.”
*
Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication.
I. BACKGROUND1
On October 4, 2018, Deputy Will England of the Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office
was stopped at a red light in his police vehicle. England was facing westbound at the four-way
intersection while Lightfoot was operating a vehicle behind him. When the light turned green,
England observed Lightfoot “drive in the left only turn lane through the intersection and pass”
him and the vehicle in front of him. England “immediately activated” the lights on his patrol
vehicle. Instead of stopping, Lightfoot “proceeded in the left lane, going westbound,” made a
left turn onto another street, and then made another turn into a gas station where “she came to a
complete stop at gas pump number two.”
Deputy England pulled his police vehicle in behind Lightfoot’s vehicle with his lights
still activated. Upon England’s arrival, Lightfoot “immediately exited the vehicle.” England
“advised her to go ahead and get back in the vehicle.” Lightfoot did not comply with the request.
England identified himself to Lightfoot and informed her “that the reason of the traffic stop was
because she passed in the intersection.” Lightfoot replied that she had seen England and that
“she used her turn signal.” England then asked Lightfoot for her driver’s license and told her to
remain in her vehicle. Lightfoot gave England her license and initially seemed to agree to stay
with her vehicle.
England testified that it is “typical to ask the driver to stay with their vehicle” when
making traffic stops “for officer’s safety and scene control and scene safety.” He also testified
that during traffic stops, officers “run the driver’s license” through certain police databases in
1
As the Supreme Court has stated, “In accordance with established principles of
appellate review, we state the facts in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, the
prevailing party in the trial court. We also accord the Commonwealth the benefit of all
inferences fairly deducible from the evidence.” Riner v. Commonwealth, 268 Va. 296, 303
(2004).
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order to “to see if there is any active warrants and license pattern.” In order to go about this
procedure, England returned to his vehicle with Lightfoot’s license to run Lightfoot’s
information through VCIN.2 Before he could do so, however, he observed Lightfoot leave her
vehicle and “start walking towards the store.” England instructed her “multiple times” to return
to her vehicle, but Lightfoot refused, stating, “You can call whoever you want to call. I’m
getting gas.” She also remarked, “I do not have to get back in my car.” When she continued to
argue, England told Lightfoot that she was obstructing justice. England testified that Lightfoot
responded, “I guess I’m obstructing then” and that she continued walking toward the store.
Lightfoot also told England, “Call who you want.”
England did not tell Lightfoot that she was under arrest, but he removed his handcuffs
and advised Lightfoot to put her hands behind her back. England reached for her arm, and
Lightfoot “turned around and her fists were balled up, and stated, ‘I will fuck you up.’” When
England again instructed her to put her hands behind her back, Lightfoot punched England in the
face with a closed fist. England then tried to apply “a controlled technique, with an arm bar take
down, which was unsuccessful.” At that point, Lightfoot hit England in the face approximately
six times, once with her purse. She slapped him twice with an open hand and kicked him in the
leg. England was eventually able to get Lightfoot onto the ground while he waited for backup.
Two additional officers arrived on the scene and took Lightfoot into custody. Footage from
England’s body camera, which captured the encounter while it was attached to England’s person
and after it was knocked to the ground during the altercation, was introduced into evidence. At
Lightfoot’s trial, England testified that he was not able to run Lightfoot’s information through
VCIN during the stop.
2
VCIN refers to the Virginia Criminal Information Network. See Neal v. Fairfax Cnty.
Police Dep’t, 299 Va. 253, ___ (2020).
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As a result of the encounter, England suffered scratches on his neck and cuts on his knees
and hands. In addition, his “body cam bracket” was damaged when his “body cam was knocked
off during the tussle,” and the “ribbons pin that goes above the name plate” on his uniform was
ripped off.
Lightfoot was tried for felony assault on a law enforcement officer in violation of Code
§ 18.2-57, misdemeanor intentional destruction of property in violation of Code § 18.2-137, and
misdemeanor obstruction of justice in violation of Code § 18.2-460. After the Commonwealth
presented its case-in-chief, Lightfoot’s counsel moved to strike, arguing that Lightfoot had been
exercising her right to use reasonable force to resist an unlawful arrest. Her counsel contended
that the arrest was unlawful because Deputy England lacked probable cause to arrest Lightfoot.
In response, the Commonwealth argued that there was probable cause to arrest Lightfoot for
obstruction of justice because England was unable to complete the traffic stop and run
Lightfoot’s information through VCIN due to Lightfoot’s repeated attempts to leave the scene
and her refusal to obey his commands during the traffic stop, which interfered with his
investigation.
After hearing argument on the motion to strike, the trial court stated, “There is no
question but that if I believe the arrest was unlawful, that the lady had a right to maintain force to
resist arrest. So the issue for me is whether or not I think there is probable cause to arrest her.”
The trial court denied the motion to strike, finding as follows:
The evidence I have is that he told her, or asked her to stay
in the car so, for police officer’s safety, so that he could run her
driver’s license in his computer to see if there were warrants and
such outstanding. And despite having been asked repeatedly to get
back in the car, she refused to do it, said she was going to the store.
So. I think your argument invites me to assume that she was going
to go in the store and pay for her gas, as she said.
But the other side of that coin is, she may not. She may
have taken off. So, I think the police officer’s commands to her
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were lawful commands, which she refused to do, which hindered
her, his ability to complete his traffic stop. So, your motion to
strike is overruled.
Lightfoot’s counsel declined to put on evidence and renewed the motion to strike,
adopting the earlier argument. The trial court again denied the motion, stating:
Well, again, I think the police officer had a basis for
directing her to stay in her car so that he could run her record, run
her license check, make sure that she wasn’t going to present any
danger to him or to other people. He repeatedly asked her to do it.
She refused to do it. His own testimony was, yeah, she did say she
was going to go in the store and pay for the gas, but he didn’t know
what she was going to do.
His testimony was, “I did not know what she planned to
do.” So, based on that, Ms. Lightfoot, would you stand, ma’am.
I find beyond a reasonable doubt that you are guilty of
assaulting a police officer, and I also find beyond a reasonable
doubt that you obstructed, hindered his duties as an officer, and
that you did, in fact destroy, vandalize property belonging to the
county. You may have a seat again, please.
The trial court sentenced Lightfoot to two years of incarceration for the assault on a law
enforcement officer, with one year and six months suspended, and ninety days, all suspended, on
each of the two misdemeanor convictions.
II. ANALYSIS
On appeal to this Court, Lightfoot argues that the “trial court erred in not finding an
unlawful arrest of Lightfoot and not recognizing Lightfoot’s reasonable use of force to resist an
unlawful arrest.”3 Lightfoot contends that Deputy England lacked probable cause to make a
lawful arrest because “[e]ven with Lightfoot going in the store, the deputy remained capable to
verify her information, learn of any issues with her driver’s license and/or discover any
3
On appeal, Lightfoot challenges all of her convictions because she argues that they all
arose from the actions she took while she resisted what she claimed was an unlawful arrest.
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outstanding warrant.”4 Lightfoot’s counsel emphasizes that “the deputy was fully capable of
performing his duties while Lightfoot walked into the store.”5
“We review de novo whether a police officer had probable cause to make an arrest.”
Doscoli v. Commonwealth, 66 Va. App. 419, 424 (2016) (citing McCain v. Commonwealth, 261
Va. 483, 489 (2001)). “In performing such analysis, we are bound by the trial court’s findings of
historical fact unless ‘plainly wrong’ or without evidence to support them and we give due
weight to the inferences drawn from those facts by resident judges and local law enforcement
officers.” McGee v. Commonwealth, 25 Va. App. 193, 198 (1997) (en banc) (citing Ornelas v.
United States, 517 U.S. 690, 699 (1996)). Furthermore, “when the issues are the lawfulness of
an arrest and the reasonableness of force used to resist an unlawful arrest, the ultimate questions
involve law and fact and are reviewed de novo on appeal.” Brown v. City of Danville, 44
Va. App. 586, 603 (2004) (quoting Brown v. Commonwealth, 27 Va. App. 111, 117 (1998)).
“Under the common law, a citizen generally is permitted to use reasonable force to resist
an illegal arrest.” Commonwealth v. Hill, 264 Va. 541, 546 (2002). “The underlying rationale
supporting this common law right is the ‘provocation’ of an illegal arrest, which operates to
excuse an assault directed at thwarting the unlawful arrest.” Id. at 547. “An unlawful arrest was
4
At oral argument before this Court, counsel for Lightfoot confirmed that Lightfoot was
not challenging the lawfulness of the traffic stop.
5
On appeal, the Commonwealth argues that, by using the handcuffs, “[t]he deputy was
simply attempting to maintain the ‘status quo’ for the Terry stop that he was conducting.” The
Commonwealth further argues that, because this was a mere detention rather than an arrest,
Lightfoot had no right to use force to resist even if the stop had been unlawful. See
Commonwealth v. Hill, 264 Va. 541, 546 (2002) (“We conclude that the law of this
Commonwealth, including the common law of England incorporated into our Code by § 1-10,
does not provide a basis for recognizing a common law right to use force to resist an illegal
detention.” (emphasis added)). However, the trial court’s decision in this case rested on its
assumption that England was making an arrest and that the question before it was, as the trial
judge put it, “whether or not I think there is probable cause to arrest her.” Consequently, we
review whether there was probable cause for an arrest.
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considered a great provocation at common law because of the dire consequences, including
incarceration of extreme duration, which often resulted before an accused was permitted a trial
for the charged offense.” Id. However, “to the extent a suspect exercises his right to resist an
unlawful arrest, he gambles that the facts and circumstances viewed objectively from the
officer’s perspective will not support a finding of probable cause.” Doscoli, 66 Va. App. at 426
(emphasis in original).
“To determine whether an officer had probable cause to arrest an individual, we examine
the events leading up to the arrest, and then decide ‘whether these historical facts, viewed from
the standpoint of an objectively reasonable police officer, amount to’ probable cause.” Id.
(quoting Maryland v. Pringle, 540 U.S. 366, 371 (2003)); see also Jones v. Commonwealth, 279
Va. 52, 59 (2010) (noting that the Virginia Supreme Court has “stated that probable cause exists
‘“when the facts and circumstances within the officer’s knowledge, and of which he has
reasonably trustworthy information, alone are sufficient to warrant a person of reasonable
caution to believe that an offense has been or is being committed”’” (quoting Buhrman v.
Commonwealth, 275 Va. 501, 505 (2008))). Probable cause is “a fluid concept ‘incapable of
precise definition or quantification into percentages because it deals with probabilities and
depends on the totality of the circumstance.’” Doscoli, 66 Va. App. at 425 (quoting Pringle, 540
U.S. at 370-71). Accordingly, “[f]inely tuned standards such as proof beyond a reasonable doubt
or by a preponderance of the evidence, useful in formal trials, have no place in the
probable-cause decision.” Joyce v. Commonwealth, 56 Va. App. 646, 659 (2010) (quoting
Pringle, 540 U.S. at 371). “Not even a ‘prima facie showing’ of criminality is required.” Id.(quoting Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 235 (1983)). Instead, “[p]robable cause requires only a
probability or substantial chance of criminal activity, not an actual showing of such activity.”
Boyd v. Commonwealth, 12 Va. App. 179, 188-89 (1991) (quoting Gates, 462 U.S. at 243 n.13).
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Code § 18.2-460(A) states, in relevant part, “If any person without just cause knowingly
obstructs . . . any law-enforcement officer . . . in the performance of his duties as such or fails or
refuses without just cause to cease such obstruction when requested to do so by such . . .
law-enforcement officer . . . he is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.”6
“To constitute obstruction of an officer in the performance of his duty, it is not necessary
that there be an actual or technical assault upon the officer . . . .” Jordan v. Commonwealth, 273
Va. 639, 648 (2007). However, “there must be acts clearly indicating an intention on the part of
the accused to prevent the officer from performing his duty, as to ‘obstruct’ ordinarily implies
opposition or resistance by direct action and forcible or threatened means.” Id. (quoting Jones v.
Commonwealth, 141 Va. 471, 478-79 (1925)). Where the “obstructive behavior ‘clearly
indicat[es] an intention on the part of the accused to prevent the officer from performing his
duty,’ the evidence proves the offense.” Thorne v. Commonwealth, 66 Va. App. 248, 256 (2016)
(alteration in original) (quoting Jordan, 273 Va. at 648).
In Thorne, 66 Va. App. at 250, this Court held that the evidence was sufficient to convict
Thorne of obstruction of justice under Code § 18.2-460(A) where she repeatedly refused to
comply with an officer’s commands during a traffic stop. The officer explained to Thorne that
he needed her to roll down her window four to six inches so that he could determine if the tint
was “within legal standards” and so that “he could see who was in the back seat to ensure officer
6
The sentencing order in this case does not specify the subsection under which Lightfoot
was convicted. However, that information is not necessary to the question of whether probable
cause existed for an arrest. As long as Deputy England had probable cause to arrest Lightfoot for
a crime – even if that crime was not the one for which she was ultimately charged or convicted –
then the arrest was lawful. Doscoli, 66 Va. App. at 428 (“[W]hen a law enforcement officer has
probable cause to arrest a suspect for one crime, it is immaterial if the suspect is later charged
with something else.”); see also Sullivan v. Commonwealth, 210 Va. 201, 203 (1969) (stating
that it was “immaterial that the officer advised [the defendant] he was being arrested for
disorderly conduct” when the officer actually had the right to arrest the defendant for obstructing
an officer in the discharge of his duties).
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safety.” Id. at 257. Thorne repeatedly refused to roll her window down, and she shouted at the
officer. Id. When the officer told her that he would charge her with obstruction, Thorne stated,
“I know my rights! Do what you gotta do!” Id. Thorne did not comply until backup arrived for
the officer – approximately nine minutes after the officer had made his first request for her to roll
down her window. Id. On appeal, this Court held that “these facts demonstrate behavior on the
part of the appellant that completely prevented the officer from performing his duty.” Id. at 258.
The Court reasoned that Thorne’s “verbal responses to the officer not only constituted repeated
refusals to roll down a window but also reflected her clear understanding that she was keeping
him from performing his duty.” Id.In Molinet v. Commonwealth, 65 Va. App. 572, 581 (2015), this Court affirmed
Molinet’s conviction for obstruction of justice under Code § 18.2-460(A) where Molinet
interfered with officers’ attempts to question three women. Molinet “failed to comply with
numerous requests for [him] to back away to the curb” so that one of the officers “could maintain
a secure perimeter” while another officer continued the investigation and the questioning of the
women. Id. at 578. Molinet also stepped toward one of the officers “in an aggressive,
threatening, and angry manner while shouting and cursing.” Id. at 580. Molinet also further
evinced his intent to commit obstruction when he testified at his trial that his “main goal [was] to
make sure that [those women were] not going to jail or getting arrested.” Id. at 581 (alterations
in original).
Given that the actions of Thorne and Molinet were sufficient for this Court to conclude
that a rational factfinder could have found them guilty of obstruction beyond a reasonable doubt,
then Lightfoot’s actions certainly at least amounted to probable cause for obstruction. As the
trial court found, Lightfoot “hindered . . . his [Deputy England’s] ability to complete his traffic
stop.” In order to run Lightfoot’s information and comply with his duties during the traffic stop,
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Officer England testified that he needed Lightfoot to stay with her vehicle “for officer’s safety
and scene control and scene safety.” Because Lightfoot refused his commands to stay with her
vehicle, England was not able to maintain order and safety at the scene of the stop and also, at
the same time, run her information through VCIN. In addition, when Lightfoot started walking
away from her vehicle, England commanded her “multiple times” to return to her vehicle, but
she refused to obey his commands and instead continued walking toward the store. The trial
court accepted England’s testimony, finding that “despite having been asked repeatedly to get
back in the car, she refused to do it, said she was going to the store.” Furthermore, when
Lightfoot stated, “I guess I’m obstructing then[,]” in response to England’s accusation that she
was obstructing justice, she demonstrated her intent to commit obstruction and thereby prevent
England from completing his duties at the traffic stop. Viewed from the perspective of an
objectively reasonable police officer, the totality of the circumstances clearly establish “a
probability or substantial chance,” see Boyd, 12 Va. App. at 188-89, that Lightfoot “without just
cause” was “knowingly obstruct[ing]” England “in the performance of his duties.” See Code
§ 18.2-460(A). Therefore, assuming without deciding that England’s actions did equate to an
arrest of Lightfoot, there was probable cause to arrest her, and, consequently, her argument that
she was simply resisting an unlawful arrest has no merit.
III. CONCLUSION
In short, Lightfoot is wrong when she claims she was resisting an unlawful arrest when
she punched, kicked, slapped, and threatened Deputy England, in response to his attempts to
restrain her, because there was already probable cause to arrest her for obstruction of justice
when the officer first attempted to handcuff her. As England testified, during traffic stops, he
asks drivers to stay with their vehicle “for officer’s safety and scene control and scene safety.”
After England stopped Lightfoot – a traffic stop that Lightfoot’s counsel does not contest on
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appeal – the officer told her to stay with her vehicle. When England returned to his patrol
vehicle to run her information and complete the traffic stop, he saw her leaving her vehicle and
walking toward the convenience store. The trial judge made a finding of fact that Deputy
England commanded Lightfoot multiple times to stay with her vehicle but that she refused to
obey his commands and continued walking toward the store – preventing the officer from
completing his investigation and duties during the traffic stop. Furthermore, when England told
Lightfoot that she was obstructing, Lightfoot clearly demonstrated her understanding that she
was actually obstructing England in his duties when she stated, “I guess I’m obstructing then.”
Considering the totality of the circumstances, an objectively reasonable police officer could
conclude that there was probable cause to arrest Lightfoot for obstruction of justice. Therefore,
assuming England did actually arrest her, it was a lawful arrest. Consequently, when Lightfoot
then punched, kicked, hit, and slapped Deputy England, she was not resisting an unlawful arrest
– and was instead committing an assault on a law enforcement officer.
For all of these reasons, we affirm Lightfoot’s conviction for felony assault on a law
enforcement officer – as well as her convictions for misdemeanor intentional destruction of
property and misdemeanor obstruction of justice.
Affirmed.
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