Court Opinion

ID: 4447766
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-10-17 19:09:17.377555+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:44:58.782763
License: Public Domain

[Cite as State v. Johns, 2019-Ohio-4269.]

                                        COURT OF APPEALS
                                      LICKING COUNTY, OHIO
                                    FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                       JUDGES:
STATE OF OHIO                                  :       Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
                                               :       Hon. John W. Wise, J.
                         Plaintiff-Appellee    :       Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
                                               :
-vs-                                           :
                                               :       Case No. 19-CA-5
DAVID W. JOHNS, JR.                            :
                                               :
                     Defendant-Appellant       :       OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                           Criminal appeal from the Licking County
                                                   Court of Common Pleas, Case No.
                                                   18CR00445

JUDGMENT:                                          Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                            October 16, 2019

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee                             For Defendant-Appellant

WILLIAM HAYES                                      KEVIN GALL
Licking County Prosecutor’s Office                 33 West Main St., Ste 109
By: DARREN M. BURGESS                              Newark, OH 43055
20 South Second St., 4th Floor
Newark, OH 43055
[Cite as State v. Johns, 2019-Ohio-4269.]

Gwin, P.J.

        {¶1}     Defendant-appellant David Johns, Jr. [“Johns”] appeals from the December

18, 2018 Judgment Entry of the Licking County Court of Common Pleas that overruled

his motion to suppress.

                                            Facts and Procedural History

        {¶2}     The entire stop and interaction that followed were captured on the Trooper

Untied’s cruiser’s video and audio recording system.

        {¶3}     On February 16, 2017 around 4:59 p.m., Trooper Drew Untied with the Ohio

State Highway Patrol observed a gray Toyota Camry driving on Canal Road in Union Township,

Licking County, Ohio traveling at 44 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone and a traffic stop

was initiated. The stop occurred at 5:00 p.m. Johns was identified as the driver of the vehicle.

Trooper Untied made contact with Johns and advised him of the reason for the stop. Johns

did not have a driver’s license so he gave the Trooper his social security number. Trooper

Untied returned to his cruiser at 5:02 p.m., ran Mr. Johns’ social security number through

his in-car computer system, and discovered several suspensions on Johns' license. Trooper

Untied returned to the car at 5:04 p.m. and informed Johns that his driver’s license was under

suspension. Trooper Untied then had the passenger, Jennifer Dymek exit the vehicle for the

purpose of determining the status of her license.

        {¶4}     Ms. Dymek gave Trooper Untied her social security number. She told Trooper

Untied that she had a valid driver’s license. T. at 48. A conversation ensued in which Ms. Dymek

asked the officer various questions and Trooper Untied asked Ms. Dymek about contraband.

Trooper Untied returned to his cruiser to run Ms. Dymek’s information at 5:11 p.m. Trooper

Untied at this time requested that a canine unit be dispatched to his location. Trooper Untied
Licking County, Case No. 19-CA-5                                                               3

determined that Ms. Dymek’s license was under suspension. At approximately, 5:12 p.m. Ms.

Dymek got out of the car. Trooper Untied exited his cruiser and asked her what she was doing.

Ms. Dymek told the trooper that she was going to look for her identification.

       {¶5}    At approximately 5:13 p.m., Trooper Untied returned to the car. He inquired of

Ms. Dymek about the movements in the car and what she was doing with her hands. At 5:15

p.m., Trooper Untied had Ms. Dymek step out of the car. At this time, Deputy Tanner Vogelmeir

and Deputy Adam Hoskinson, the canine handling officers arrive. The drug-sniffing dog alerts

on the car at approximately 5:16 p.m.

       {¶6}    A search was conducted on the vehicle and a plastic container with

methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia was discovered in the coat Ms.

Dymek was holding over top of her. (Tr. at 18). Johns was questioned and admitted that

the coat and the items found inside the coat were his.

       {¶7}    Johns was indicted in the Licking County Common Pleas Court on August 9,

2018, with one count of aggravated possession of drugs, in violation of R.C.

2925.11(A)(C)(1)(b), a felony of the third degree. On October 17, 2018, counsel for Mr. Johns

filed a motion for leave to file a motion to suppress instanter, which the trial court granted on

that same date. On October 31, 2018, the motion to suppress was heard by the trial court. On

December 18, 2018, the motion to suppress was denied by the trial court in a written decision.

Johns thereafter entered a plea of no contest to the sole count of the indictment and was

sentenced to serve twenty-four months in prison.

                                          Assignment of Error

       {¶8}    Johns raises one Assignment of Error,
Licking County, Case No. 19-CA-5                                                                 4

       {¶9}    “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DETERMINING THAT THE TROOPER DID

NOT UNREASONABLY EXTEND THE DURATION OF THE TRAFFIC STOP BEYOND THAT

WHICH IS CONSTITUTIONALLY PERMISSIBLE.”

                                            Law and Analysis

       {¶10} In his sole assignment of error, Johns argues the trial court erred by overruling his

motion to suppress. The parties agree that the vehicle was lawfully stopped. The question in

the case at bar is whether the lawful detention for the traffic infraction became an unlawful

detention when the officer decided to call for the use of a narcotics-detection dog to sniff around

exterior of the vehicle John was driving.

       STANDARD OF APPELLATE REVIEW.

       {¶11} Appellate review of a motion to suppress presents a mixed question of law

and fact. State v. Burnside, 100 Ohio St.3d 152, 154-155, 2003-Ohio-5372, 797 N.E.2d

71, ¶ 8. When ruling on a motion to suppress, the trial court assumes the role of trier of

fact and is in the best position to resolve questions of fact and to evaluate witness

credibility. See State v. Dunlap, 73 Ohio St.3d 308,314, 1995-Ohio-243, 652 N.E.2d 988;

State v. Fanning, 1 Ohio St.3d 19, 20, 437 N.E.2d 583 (1982). Accordingly, a reviewing

court must defer to the trial court's factual findings if competent, credible evidence exists

to support those findings. See Burnside, supra; Dunlap, supra; State v. Long, 127 Ohio

App.3d 328, 332, 713 N.E.2d 1(4th Dist. 1998); State v. Medcalf, 111 Ohio App.3d 142,

675 N.E.2d 1268 (4th Dist. 1996). However, once this Court has accepted those facts as

true, it must independently determine as a matter of law whether the trial court met the

applicable legal standard. See Burnside, supra, citing State v. McNamara, 124 Ohio

App.3d 706, 707 N.E.2d 539(4th Dist. 1997); See, generally, United States v. Arvizu, 534
Licking County, Case No. 19-CA-5                                                                  5

U.S. 266, 122 S.Ct. 744, 151 L.Ed.2d 740(2002); Ornelas v. United States, 517 U.S. 690,

116 S.Ct. 1657, 134 L.Ed.2d 911(1996). That is, the application of the law to the trial

court's findings of fact is subject to a de novo standard of review Ornelas, supra.

Moreover, due weight should be given “to inferences drawn from those facts by resident

judges and local law enforcement officers.” Ornelas, supra at 698, 116 S.Ct. at 1663.

       ISSUE FOR APPEAL.

       Whether the lawful detention for the traffic infraction became an unlawful detention when

the officer decided to call for the use of a narcotics-detection dog to sniff around exterior of the

vehicle Johns was driving.

       {¶12} In the case at bar, at approximately 5:11 p.m., Trooper Untied requested a canine

handler report to his location. The officer and the drug-sniffing dog arrived at approximately 5:15

p.m. Accordingly, the traffic stop was not delayed to await the arrival of the drug-sniffing dog. A

delay of four minutes can hardly be characterized as unreasonable.

       {¶13} The use of a drug detection dog does not constitute a “search” and an officer is

not required, prior to a dog sniff, to establish either probable cause or a reasonable suspicion

that drugs are concealed in a vehicle. See Illinois v. Caballes, 543 U.S. 405, 409, 125 S.Ct. 834,

838, 160 L.Ed.2d 842(2005); United States v. Place, 462 U.S. 696, 707, 103 S.Ct. 2637, 2645,

77 L.Ed.2d 110(1983); State v. Carlson, 102 Ohio App.3d 585, 594, 657 N.E.2d 591(9th

Dist.1995); United States v. Seals, 987 F.2d 1102, 1106(5th Cir.1993). Further, if a trained

narcotics dog alerts to the odor of drugs from a lawfully detained vehicle, an officer has probable

cause to search the vehicle for contraband. United States v. Reed, 141 F.3d 644(6th Cir.1998),

(quoting United States v. Berry, 90 F.3d 148, 153(6th Cir.1996), cert. denied 519 U.S. 999

(1996)); accord, United States v. Hill, 195 F.3d 258, 273(6th Cir.1999); United States v. Diaz,
Licking County, Case No. 19-CA-5                                                                 6

25 F.3d 392, 394(6th Cir.1994); State v. French, 104 Ohio App.3d 740, 663 N.E.2d 367(12th

Dist.1995), abrogated on different grounds, City of Dayton v. Erickson, 76 Ohio St.3d 3, 665

N.E.2d 1091(1996).

       {¶14} The Ohio Supreme Court has held,

              “[W]hen detaining a motorist for a traffic violation, an officer may delay the

       motorist for a time period sufficient to issue a ticket or a warning. State v. Keathley

       (1988), 55 Ohio App.3d 130, 131 [562 N.E.2d 932]. This measure includes the

       period of time sufficient to run a computer check on the driver’s license,

       registration, and vehicle plates. State v. Bolden, Preble App. No. CA2003–03–

       007, 2004–Ohio–184 [2004 WL 77617], ¶ 17, citing Delaware v. Prouse (1979),

       440 U.S. 648, 659, 99 S.Ct. 1391 [59 L.Ed.2d 660]. “In determining if an officer

       completed these tasks within a reasonable length of time, the court must evaluate

       the duration of the stop in light of the totality of the circumstances and consider

       whether the officer diligently conducted the investigation.” State v. Carlson (1995),

       102 Ohio App.3d 585, 598–599 [657 N.E.2d 591], citing State v. Cook (1992), 65

       Ohio St.3d 516, 521–522 [605 N.E.2d 70], and U.S. v. Sharpe (1985), 470 U.S.

       675, 105 S.Ct. 1568 [84 L.Ed.2d 605].

State v. Batchili, 113 Ohio St.3d 403, 2007–Ohio–2204, 865 N.E.2d 1282, ¶ 12. In order to justify

a continued detention beyond the normal period required to issue a citation the officer must have

a “reasonable, articulable suspicion of criminal activity beyond that which prompted the initial

stop.” Batchili, ¶ 15. “In determining whether a detention is reasonable, the court must look at

the totality of the circumstances.” State v. Matteucci, 11th Dist. No.2001–L–205, 2003–Ohio–

702, ¶ 30, citing State v. Bobo, 37 Ohio St.3d 177, 178, 524 N.E.2d 489(1988).
Licking County, Case No. 19-CA-5                                                                   7

       {¶15} The initial stop occurred in this case at approximately 5:00 p.m. The dog alerted

to drugs in the car at approximately 5:16 p.m. In this case, the traffic stop was not unreasonably

prolonged beyond the time required for the initial purpose of the stop. There is no dispute that

the stop for the speeding violation was lawful. Because the occupants of the car were lawfully

detained for the traffic violation, Trooper Untied did not need reasonable suspicion of further

criminal activity to ask for the driver’s license or to order the passenger from the car. His request

for the passenger’s identification added no appreciable additional time to the detention.

Confronted with a driver and a passenger carrying no license or identification, Trooper Untied

was required to manually enter the information into the system and await a photograph of the

individuals to insure that he was dealing with the same individuals.

       {¶16} The United States Supreme Court has held that an officer making a traffic stop

may order passengers to get out of the vehicle pending completion of the stop. See Maryland

v. Wilson, 519 U.S. 408, 415, 117 S.Ct. 882, 137 L.Ed.2d 41(1997). An officer may also ask the

driver and passengers about matters unrelated to the traffic stop itself, so long as those questions

do not measurably extend the duration of the stop. Rodriguez at 1615; Johnson at 333. As the

United States Supreme Court has repeatedly held, mere police questioning does not constitute

a seizure. Muehler v. Mena, 544 U.S. 93, 101, 125 S.Ct. 1465, 161 L.Ed.2d 299 (2005); Florida

v. Bostick, 501 U.S. 429, 434, 111 S.Ct. 2382, 115 L.Ed.2d 389 (1991). “[E]ven when officers

have no basis for suspecting a particular individual, they may generally ask questions of that

individual; ask to examine the individual’s identification; and request consent to search his or her

luggage.” Muehler at 101 citing Bostick at 434–435. As long as a detention is not prolonged by

the questioning, there is no additional seizure within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment. Id.

For example, officers do not need reasonable suspicion to ask a detained individual for her name,
Licking County, Case No. 19-CA-5                                                                8

date and place of birth, or immigration status. United States v. Alexander, 467 Fed.Appx. 355,

362 (6th Cir.2012); United States v. Fernandez, 600 F.3d 56 (1st Cir.2010); United States v.

Soriano–Jarquin, 492 F.3d 495 (4th Cir.2007). See State v. Chagaris, 107 Ohio App.3d 551,

669 N.E.2d 92 (9th Dist.1995); State v. Emmons, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-150636, 2016-Ohio-

5384, ¶15.

       {¶17} In State v. Robinette, the Ohio Supreme Court observed,

                 In sum, Royer1 and Brown2 set out a standard whereby police officers,

       under certain circumstances, may briefly detain an individual without reasonably

       articulable facts giving rise to suspicion of criminal activity, if the detention

       promotes a legitimate public concern, e.g., removing drunk drivers from public

       roadways or reducing drug trade.

       In the case at bar, we find that, pursuant to Royer and Brown, Officer Newsome

       was justified in briefly detaining Robinette in order to ask him whether he was

       carrying any illegal drugs or weapons pursuant to the drug interdiction policy,

       because such a policy promotes the public interest in quelling the drug trade.

80 Ohio St.3d 234, 241, 1997-Ohio-343, 685 N.E.2d 762.

       {¶18} In the case at bar, Trooper Untied spoke to the passenger at approximately 5:05

p.m. His purpose initially was to determine whether Ms. Dymek had a valid driver license in order

to allow her to drive the car from the scene after Trooper Untied finished with Johns’ citations.

He returned to his cruiser at approximately 5:11 p.m. to complete writing the citations for Johns.

During the six-minute period, Trooper Untied asked Ms. Dymek about the couple’s activities, and

whether they were carrying any illegal drugs. Ms. Dymek, who was not driving the car at the

       1   Florida v. Royer, 460 U.S. 491, 103 S.Ct. 1319, 75 L.Ed.2d 229(1983).
       2   Brown v. Texas, 443 U.S. 47, 99 S.Ct. 2673, 61 L.Ed.2d 357(1979)
Licking County, Case No. 19-CA-5                                                               9

time of the stop, and who did not own the car, was extremely nervous, volunteered information

and asked Trooper Untied questions.

       {¶19} Ms. Dymek exited the car on her own at approximately 5:12 p.m. Trooper Untied

can then be heard asking Dymek about her movements and her hands. He asked her if there

were any weapons in the car. Trooper Untied testified during the suppression hearing that after

returning to his vehicle, and while in the process of writing a citation, Ms. Dymek began making

furtive, suspicious movements including putting her hands in her jacket, pulling a coat over her

head and sinking down in her seat. Trooper Untied had not completed Johns’ citations before

Ms. Dymek exited the car.

       {¶20} The issue in the case at bar becomes whether the six-minute questioning of Ms.

Dymek by Trooper Untied can be considered as measurably extending the duration of the stop.

Trooper Untied’s questioning of Ms. Dymek was reasonably related to a legitimate public

concern, e.g., reducing the drug trade. Trooper Untied was not stalling, as he had not yet called

for the drug-sniffing dog. Upon observing Ms. Dymek exit the car and further observing Ms.

Dymek putting her hands in her jacket, pulling a coat over her head and sinking down in her seat,

Trooper Untied had reasonable, articulable suspicion of criminal activity beyond that which

prompted the initial stop.

       {¶21} Nothing in the record suggests that the detention of Johns “was of sufficient length

to make it constitutionally dubious.” See Batchili, 113 Ohio St.3d 403, 2007–Ohio–2204, 865

N.E.2d 1282, at ¶ 14. Once the drug dog alerted to the vehicle, police had probable cause to

search that vehicle for contraband.

       {¶22}    No violation of Johns’ Fourth Amendment rights has been demonstrated.

Therefore, we find the trial court correctly denied Johns’ motion to suppress evidence.
Licking County, Case No. 19-CA-5                                                    10

      {¶23} Johns’ sole assignment of error is overruled.

      {¶24} The judgment of the Licking County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.

By Gwin, P.J.,

Wise, John, J., and

Delaney, J., concur