Opinion ID: 2441447
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Sufficiency of the evidenceresisting arrest and public intoxication

Text: For his first allegation of error, Mr. Bailey essentially claims that the trial court should have directed a verdict on the resisting-arrest and public-intoxication charges because the State's evidence was insufficient to support these claims. We will review the State's evidence as it relates to each of these offenses under the following standards: Motions for directed verdict are treated as challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence. Johnson v. State, 326 Ark. 3, 929 S.W.2d 707 (1996); Penn v. State, 319 Ark. 739, 894 S.W.2d 597 (1995). When a defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence convicting him, the evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the state. Dixon v. State, 310 Ark. 460, 470, 839 S.W.2d 173 (1992). Evidence is sufficient to support a conviction if the trier of fact can reach a conclusion without having to resort to speculation or conjecture. Id. Substantial evidence is that which is forceful enough to compel reasonable minds to reach a conclusion one way or the other. Id. Only evidence supporting the verdict will be considered. Moore v. State, 315 Ark. 131, 864 S.W.2d 863 (1993). Lloyd v. State, 332 Ark. 1, 5, 962 S.W.2d 365 (1998); Green v. State, 330 Ark. 458, 466-7, 956 S.W.2d 849 (1997); McGehee v. State, 328 Ark. 404, 410, 943 S.W.2d 585 (1997). Mr. Bailey claims that his resisting-arrest conviction cannot stand because the State failed to prove that he used physical force against the officers. The resisting-arrest statute is found at Ark.Code Ann. § 5-54-103 (Repl.1997), and states in part that: (a)(1) A person commits the offense of resisting arrest if he knowingly resists a person known by him to be a law enforcement officer effecting an arrest; (2) Resists, as used in this subsection, means using or threatening to use physical force or any other means that creates a substantial risk of physical injury to any person. (Emphasis added.) According to the plain language of subsection (a)(2), the actual use of physical force is only one way to resist under the statute. This subsection also provides that a person can threaten to use physical force and thus satisfy the resist element. Thus, Mr. Bailey's contention that the State was required to prove that he actually used physical force is unpersuasive. While Mr. Bailey never punched or struck any of the officers, there was ample evidence indicating that he continuously struggled with them when they attempted to place handcuffs on him. He repeatedly swung at the officers and attempted to kick two of them even after he was finally handcuffed and placed in the patrol car. Under these circumstances, there was substantial evidence supporting Mr. Bailey's conviction of resisting arrest. Regarding the public-intoxication charge, Mr. Bailey argues that the State failed to prove that he was intoxicated. Particularly, he asserts that the officers at the scene never administered or attempted to administer a test to confirm that he was intoxicated. The statute at issue, Ark.Code Ann. § 5-71-212 (Repl.1997), provides in relevant part that: (a) A person commits the offense of public intoxication if he appears in a public place manifestly under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance to the degree and under circumstances such that he is likely to endanger himself or other persons or property, or that he unreasonably annoys persons in his vicinity. At trial, Mr. Bailey admitted that he had two drinks at a private club on the night of his arrest. Officer Geater testified that he thought Mr. Bailey was extremely intoxicated because he smelled of alcohol, had glassy, blurry, and watery eyes, and because of the way that he was acting. The officer's opinion testimony was admissible to prove intoxication. Mace v. State, 328 Ark. 536, 540, 944 S.W.2d 830 (1997). In light of the testimony presented, there was substantial evidence supporting Mr. Bailey's conviction for public intoxication. See, e.g., State v. Johnson, 326 Ark. 189, 931 S.W.2d 760 (1996).