Opinion ID: 1952375
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Application to Specific Cases

Text: As to the particular application of the statute to the defendants before this Court in the cases sub judice, we hold as follows: In Bell v. State, the record reflects that the defendant was hiding among bushes at a private dwelling at 1:20 a.m. When the officer came in response to a call, he saw the defendant jump from the fence surrounding the dwelling and start running. The officer apprehended the defendant and placed him under arrest. The record clearly establishes the elements of the offense under Section 856.021, Florida Statutes. The defendant's hiding on private property behind a bush at 1:20 in the morning would cause a reasonable person to be concerned for his safety or the safety of property in the vicinity. The fact that the defendant attempted to flee when the law enforcement officer came upon the scene, coupled with the fact that the defendant's car had a stolen tag on it, raises a clear issue of credible identification. The defendant was represented by counsel before the trial court and testified in his own behalf. The defendant accepted the opportunity to explain his presence and conduct, but his testimony raised an issue of fact concerning his presence in the vicinity. The defendant said at the trial that his car quit and that he went to get help. The arresting officer, in response, said that after the arrest he received the car keys from the defendant and cranked up the car. Another officer then drove the vehicle away for impoundment. The trier of fact clearly did not believe the explanation given by the defendant. Although the circumstances justified an arrest under Section 856.021, Florida Statutes, the testimony of the arresting officer who stated, I arrested him for loitering because we could not prove anything else, is disturbing. The use of Section 856.021 as a catchall criminal offense may result in a finding that the statute has been unconstitutionally applied. Fortunately in this instance the elements of the offense were fully established by the evidence. Under the circumstances of this case, we affirm the conviction but caution law enforcement officers that this statute contains separate, distinct elements that must be established in the same manner as those of any other criminal offense. In Worth v. State, the record reflects that the defendant was in a warehouse area at 9:30 p.m. He was stopped by three lay citizens, who called the police. The testimony at the trial relates primarily to statements that were made by the defendant after Miranda warnings had been given to him. The citizens who called the police and who were concerned about his presence in the area did not testify in the cause. There is a clear inference from this record that the defendant was in the area for the purpose of stripping an automobile located near one of the warehouses. The circumstances surrounding this incident should have been testified to by the individual citizens who observed the defendant's conduct. The elements of this offense were not properly established by the sole testimony of arresting officers who did not observe the circumstances that justified the concern for the safety of property by the lay citizens who made the call. The admissions and explanation of the defendant are not in and of themselves sufficient for conviction on this record. We must reverse the conviction, but in so doing we wish to stress that the circumstances inferred from this record would constitute a violation of Section 856.021, Florida Statutes, if properly established. In State v. Ecker, the complaint reflects that the defendant was observed in front of an apartment building. When approached for identification, he apparently had no proper or credible identification. The charging complaint shows no circumstances that threaten the public safety, and, therefore a charge of loitering could not be properly established. The holding by the trial judge that Section 856.021, Florida Statutes, is unconstitutional is reversed, but, under the circumstances of the complaint, the discharge of the defendant is affirmed. In State v. Harris, the record fails to include the charge or complaint made against the defendant. We reverse the holding by the trial court that the statute is unconstitutional and remand this cause to the trial court for determination not inconsistent with the construction of the subject statute herein expressed. It is so ordered. ADKINS, C.J., and ROBERTS, McCAIN and DEKLE, JJ., concur. ERVIN (Retired), J., dissents with opinion with which BOYD, J., concurs.