Opinion ID: 1624994
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the trial court erred in overruling herring's motion to suppress his statements.

Text: Herring filed a motion to suppress statements made by him which he alleges were obtained in violation of his right against self-incrimination. A hearing was held on this motion and the testimony is summarized here. Jerry Blankenship, a Clinton Policeman, was the State's first witness and he testified that on October 4, 1985, he and Highway Patrol Officer Jimmy Boxx interviewed Herring at the Clinton Police Department. Blankenship testified that Herring was advised of his rights and signed a waiver of those rights. Blankenship testified that Herring understood his rights and declined to invoke them. A statement was then taken and transcribed by the police and then signed by Herring. According to Blankenship no force, threats, promises or coercion were used to obtain this statement. On cross-examination Blankenship testified that he and Boxx had gone to the Jackson City Police Department to pick up Herring on October 4, at about 11:00 a.m. Blankenship further testified that he, Boxx and Detective Wilson had spoken to Herring the day before, October 3, 1985, at the city jail where Herring had given a statement. Blankenship reiterated his denial that any threats, force, promises, or coercion were used to obtain the statement. On the contrary Herring testified in support of his motion that Blankenship and Boxx beat him in order to obtain the statement. Herring claims to have been beaten at the Clinton Police Department where his statement was taken and beaten again at the Hinds County Detention Center by some investigators. Herring also contends that while at Clinton he repeatedly requested an attorney and that he signed the false confession only because of physical abuse. Under cross-examination Herring stated that he was beaten on October 3 and on October 4 at the Hinds County Detention Center. After this Herring was taken to Clinton where he claims he was beaten by Boxx and Blankenship. Additionally, Herring claims that he was taken out in a car on U.S. Interstate 55 South by three officers, one of whom sat in the back seat and whose elbow would strike him when he didn't say what they wanted him to say. In short Herring testified that he was beaten most all the way through the whole program. Herring originally claimed that he was photographed upon his arrival at the Clinton Police Department. He later stated that he was booked and photographed when he returned to the Hinds County Jail and that the pictures would show that he had been beaten in Clinton. Still later Herring testified that he was photographed before he went to Clinton and that no signs of physical abuse would be visible in the photograph. It is Herring's contention that five separate law enforcement agencies systematically abused him. Windell Wilson, an inmate in the Warren County Jail (where Herring was taken after being returned from his visit in Clinton), testified that Herring claimed to have been beaten. Wilson thought that Herring claimed to have been beaten by the Jackson Police Department. Wilson could recall no request for medical attention from Herring. Wilson further stated that Herring had no cuts, swelling, bruises, or signs of physical abuse when he was brought to the Warren County Jail on October 4. Peter Kiner, an inmate at Parchman who was in the Warren County Jail with Herring, testified that Herring claimed to have been beaten in Jackson and that Herring had a little rise on his lip, a mouse under one eye, and a reddish eye. Kiner was unable to pinpoint the date on which he observed Herring in this condition. Jimmy Boxx, an investigator with the Mississippi Highway Patrol, testified that on October 3, he and Blankenship and Detective Wilson went to the Jackson Police Department and talked to Herring. Boxx testified that Blankenship advised Herring of his rights and that Herring was not physically abused. According to Boxx on October 4 he and Blankenship went to the Hinds County Detention Center and got Herring and took him to the Clinton Police Department to get a statement, photograph and process him. Boxx testified that upon arriving at the Clinton Police Department Herring was again advised of his rights, waived his rights and made a statement. Boxx further testified that Herring was not abused, tricked, or forced into making this statement. Boxx also testified that Herring was photographed after he had signed the statement and this photograph of Herring was admitted as an exhibit into evidence. Tom Wilson, a detective with the Jackson Police Department, testified that on October 3, Herring volunteered that he had raped a woman in the Jackson area, but not in the City of Jackson. Wilson called the Clinton Police Department with this information. Wilson further testified that he observed Blankenship inform Herring of his Miranda rights and that there were no threats, promises, or physical force used against Herring. The trial judge heard arguments on the motion, recited the grounds for his decision, and ruled that the typewritten statement given on October 4 was admissible. The only issue to be resolved by us is whether or not the trial judge's ruling was contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence. Cabello v. State, 490 So.2d 852, 856 (Miss. 1986); White v. State, 495 So.2d 1346, 1347 (Miss. 1986). The trial judge conducted an extensive hearing to determine whether Herring's statement was admissible. After hearing evidence and argument on this issue the trial judge articulated the facts upon which his decision was based and ruled that the statement was admissible. This ruling by the trial court is not contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence. See Wiley v. State, 465 So.2d 318, 320 (Miss. 1985). Therefore this assignment of error is without merit.