[Cite as State v. Addison, 2022-Ohio-2440.]

COURT OF APPEALS

GUERNSEY COUNTY, OHIO

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO : JUDGES:

: Hon. Earle E. Wise, Jr., P.J.

 Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, J.

: Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.

-vs- :

:

MICHAEL A. ADDISON : Case No. 21 CA 20

:

 Defendant-Appellant : O P I N I O N

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Court of Common 

Pleas, Case No. 20CR164

JUDGMENT: Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT: July 14, 2022

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant

JASON R. FARLEY MICHAEL J. CONNICK

627 Wheeling Avenue 45 North 4th Street

Cambridge, OH 43725 Suite 2B

Zanesville, OH 43701
Guernsey County, Case No. 21 CA 20 2

Wise, Earle, P.J.

{¶ 1} Defendant-Appellant, Michael A. Addison, appeals the May 26, 2021 denial 

of his motion to suppress by the Court of Common Pleas of Guernsey County, Ohio. 

Plaintiff-Appellee is state of Ohio.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

{¶ 2} On July 20, 2020, the Guernsey County Grand Jury indicted appellant on 

one count of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer in violation of R.C. 

2921.331 and one count of aggravated possession of drugs in violation of R.C. 2925.11. 

Said charges arose after his parole officer received a tip appellant may be in possession 

of firearms. Law enforcement attempted to arrest appellant pursuant to an arrest warrant, 

but appellant fled on his motorcycle. A chase ensued until appellant crashed his 

motorcycle and sustained injuries. Methamphetamine was found on the roadway among 

appellant's belongings.

{¶ 3} On January 14, 2021, appellant filed a pro se motion to suppress, claiming 

an illegal arrest. A hearing was held on May 10, 2021, at which appellant was represented 

by counsel. By judgment entry filed May 26, 2021, the trial court denied the motion, 

finding probable cause to stop and arrest appellant pursuant to a warrant. The trial court 

further found even if there had not been a warrant for appellant's arrest, appellant's 

actions after the stop led to probable cause for his arrest.

{¶ 4} On July 15, 2021, appellant pled no contest to the charges. By judgment 

entry filed July 21, 2021, the trial court found appellant guilty and sentenced him to a total 

aggregate term of thirty-six months in prison.
Guernsey County, Case No. 21 CA 20 3

{¶ 5} Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for 

consideration. Assignment of error is as follows:

I

{¶ 6} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING APPELLANT'S MOTION TO 

SUPPRESS EVIDENCE."

{¶ 7} In his sole assignment of error, appellant claims the trial court erred in 

denying his motion to suppress. We disagree.

{¶ 8} As stated by the Supreme Court of Ohio in State v. Leak, 145 Ohio St.3d 

165, 2016-Ohio-154, 47 N.E.3d 821, ¶ 12:

"Appellate review of a motion to suppress presents a mixed question 

of law and fact." State v. Burnside, 100 Ohio St.3d 152, 2003-Ohio-5372, 

797 N.E.2d 71, ¶ 8. In ruling on a motion to suppress, "the trial court 

assumes the role of trier of fact and is therefore in the best position to 

resolve factual questions and evaluate the credibility of witnesses." Id.,

citing State v. Mills, 62 Ohio St.3d 357, 366, 582 N.E.2d 972 (1992). On 

appeal, we "must accept the trial court's findings of fact if they are supported 

by competent, credible evidence." Id., citing State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 

19, 20, 437 N.E.2d 583 (1982). Accepting those facts as true, we must then 

"independently determine as a matter of law, without deference to the 

conclusion of the trial court, whether the facts satisfy the applicable legal 

standard." Id.
Guernsey County, Case No. 21 CA 20 4

{¶ 9} As the United States Supreme Court held in Ornelas v. U.S., 517 U.S. 690, 

699, 116 S.Ct. 1657, 134 L.Ed.2d 94 (1996):

We therefore hold that as a general matter determinations of 

reasonable suspicion and probable cause should be reviewed de novo on 

appeal. Having said this, we hasten to point out that a reviewing court 

should take care both to review findings of historical fact only for clear error 

and to give due weight to inferences drawn from those facts by resident 

judges and local law enforcement officers.

{¶ 10} Appellant makes a nebulous argument that any evidence seized should 

have been suppressed under the doctrine of derivative evidence. The derivative evidence 

rule "holds that evidence is illegally seized, and must be suppressed, when its discovery 

was the product of a constitutional violation." State v. Adams, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 

24184, 2011-Ohio-4008, ¶ 20. " 'There must be a causal connection between the 

constitutional violation and the derivative evidence for the latter to be suppressed. This 

stands to reason because the latter is excluded solely because of its connection to the 

constitutional violation.' Katz, 'Ohio Arrest, Search and Seizure,' 2008 Ed., § 28:3." Id.

{¶ 11} We do not find a constitutional violation in this case.

{¶ 12} At the time of this incident, appellant was on parole. His parole officer, Brian 

Jackson, was informed appellant may be in possession of firearms. May 10, 2021 T. at 

46-47. Officer Jackson went to appellant's home to conduct a home visit and look for 

weapons, but no one was home. Id. at 47. Pursuant to Adult Parole Authority policies 
Guernsey County, Case No. 21 CA 20 5

and procedures, Mr. Jackson obtained a warrant to arrest appellant (State's Exhibit B). 

Id. at 47-51. The warrant was issued by the chief of the Adult Parole Authority.

{¶ 13} Guernsey County Sheriff's Deputy Cory May was aware of the arrest 

warrant for appellant. Id. at 7, 40-41. While on patrol, he observed appellant on the side 

of the road. Id. at 7. He approached appellant and told him he was under arrest. Id. at 

8-9. Appellant fled on his motorcycle. Id. at 9. A chase ensued reaching speeds up to 

110 m.p.h. Id. The chase stopped when appellant crashed his motorcycle and sustained 

injuries. Id. In order to attend to appellant's injuries, emergency personnel were required 

to cut off appellant's clothing. Id. at 11, 29. Two baggies containing methamphetamine 

were found on the roadway among the clothing cut from appellant (State's Exhibit A). Id.

at 11. Footage from Deputy May's body camera corroborates his testimony (Defendant's 

Exhibit 1).

{¶ 14} Appellant testified and recalled Deputy May pulling up on him and indicating 

to him that he was under arrest. Id. at 74, 76, 84-85. 

{¶ 15} In its May 26, 2021 judgment entry denying the motion to suppress, the trial 

court found Deputy May had probable cause to stop and arrest appellant pursuant to the 

arrest warrant. The trial court further found even if there had not been a warrant for 

appellant's arrest, appellant's actions after the stop in failing to comply with Deputy May's 

order and fleeing the scene led to probable cause for his arrest. State v. Adams, 2d Dist. 

Montgomery No. 24184, 2011-Ohio-4008. We agree with the trial court's analysis. 

Deputy May approached appellant pursuant to the warrant and told him he was under 

arrest. Appellant ignored Deputy May and fled. Deputy May had probable cause to chase 

and stop appellant for disregarding his order. Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 22, 88 S.Ct. 
Guernsey County, Case No. 21 CA 20 6

1868, 20 L.Ed.2d 889 (1968). There is no evidence of a constitutional violation in this 

case. The doctrine of derivative evidence does not apply.

{¶ 16} Upon review, we find the trial court did not err in denying appellant's motion 

to suppress.

{¶ 17} The sole assignment of error is denied.

{¶ 18} The judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Guernsey County, Ohio is 

hereby affirmed.

By Wise, Earle, P.J.

Gwin, J. and

Delaney, J. concur.

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