Court Opinion

ID: 9852130
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 05:25:06.919914+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:22:22.960787
License: Public Domain

PORTER, Justice
(concurring specially).
The most difficult question for me was whether the baton was a dangerous weapon under the strict requirements of State v. Page, 15 S.D. 613, 91 N.W. 313 (1902). Page is directly in point and binds us unless we expressly overrule it. Defendant would at most be guilty of misdemeanor riot unless the baton came within the felony riot terms of SDCL 22-10-5.
Page makes clear that we may not consider the method in which the alleged weapon is used in the incident involved. Instead the trial court must be able to say as a matter of law that the alleged weapon is a dangerous weapon, per se. As this court noted in Page, the felony offense of riot, now SDCL 22-10-5, does not involve the use which is made of the alleged weapon during the riot, but instead is complete in any case where the dangerous weapon is simply carried by a riot participant, and thus the question of whether it is or is not actually used is, as I understand Page, immaterial and not an element. The reasoning by this court in Page, and the wording of our statute condemning the carrying rather than the use of the weapon, seems to require that the alleged dangerous weapon be something designed as a weapon, rather than something designed for some other use but capable of being used as a dangerous weapon. (Page involved a heavy driving whip, six feet long. The court there held as a matter of law that it was not a dangerous weapon within the felony riot statute, now SDCL 22-10-5.) Under Page a trial court may not consider the use made of the alleged weapon in determining whether it *56was a dangerous weapon under SDCL 22-10-5, but rather must be able to find from the evidence that the instrument was primarily designed as a weapon. As Page notes, one engaged in a riot using any kind of instrument may be prosecuted for some other offense, e. g., assault with a dangerous weapon, or assault with intent to kill, etc. As to such other offense, it is for the jury to decide whether the manner in which the instrument was actually used during the incident in question made the instrument a dangerous weapon.
In Page, supra, at 616, 91 N.W. at 314, the court quotes Webster’s definition of “weapon” as an “instrument of offensive or defensive combat; . . . ” The court also quotes Bouvier defining “weapon” as an “instrument of offensive or defensive combat.” At trial, defendant’s expert witness Kevin Parsons testified on cross-examination:
Q Well, it is designed — you said basically as a weapon, correct?
A Yes
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Q Is there any other use for this other than a weapon?
A Any other use for the baton?
Q For the baton.
A No.
It is true that Parsons’ testimony strongly indicates that the instrument is designed as a defensive weapon, but accepting that, the weapon nevertheless comes within the definition approved in Page since the quotations from Webster and Bouvier in Page indicate both offensive and defensive weapons are covered by the statute.
It was also proper to consider that the baton was initially carried by a law enforcement officer as an important part of his equipment at a time when he was going on potentially hazardous duty. This is strong evidence that it was designed as a weapon, even arguendo a defensive weapon. It seems plain from the total testimony of Parsons that even if the riot baton is used exclusively as a defensive weapon, it is nonetheless likely to inflict injury. When used for what it is designed to be used it not only will inflict injury but is capable of inflicting great bodily injury.1 I think a crucial finding is whether or not it is a weapon and primarily designed for use as such. Once that finding is made, it seems implicit that a further finding, which certainly is factual in this case, that the weapon may inflict great bodily injury, is unquestionably sufficient to meet the requirements of Page, and the applicable riot statute, SDCL 22-10-5.
I join in the opinion of Judge Miller for affirmance.

. Parsons testified on direct examination: “The weapon is designed to be used to expose bony areas of the body, nerve centers or muscle groups, areas which will control an individual and may incapacitate an individual but which will not leave permanent damage.” (Emphasis added)