Court Opinion

ID: 4230315
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-12-19 20:23:09.569296+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:43:19.669712
License: Public Domain

J-S57019-17

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA               :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :         PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
               v.                              :
                                               :
                                               :
    TERRENCE FULLER,                           :
                                               :
                      Appellant                :       No. 484 EDA 2017

            Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence January 19, 2017
             in the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County
             Criminal Division at No(s): CP-46-CR-0003819-2016

BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., PANELLA, J., and MUSMANNO, J.

MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.:                         FILED DECEMBER 19, 2017

        Terrence Fuller (“Fuller”), pro se,1 appeals from the judgment of

sentence entered following his conviction of two counts each of possession of

a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled

substance, and use of drug paraphernalia.2 We affirm.

        In its Opinion, the trial court summarized the factual and procedural

history underlying the instant appeal, which we adopt as though fully

restated herein. See Trial Court Opinion, 5/4/17, at 1-3.

        Fuller presents the following claims for our review:

____________________________________________

1Fuller was permitted to proceed pro se, following a hearing pursuant to
Commonwealth v. Grazier, 713 A.2d 81 (Pa. 1998).

2   35 P.S. § 780-113(a)(16), (30), (32).
J-S57019-17

      1. Did the suppression court err as a matter of law by
         concluding that [Fuller] was subjected to an investigative
         detention and not a mere encounter[,] which ripened to a
         warrantless arrest with probable cause?

      2. Was Officer [Carl] Robinson[, Jr.’s (“Officer Robinson”)]
         reasonable suspicion for detaining [Fuller] based on a mere
         hunch?

Brief for Appellant at 4.

      In his appellate brief, Fuller addresses his challenges to the denial of

his suppression Motion together. Fuller claims that the trial court improperly

denied his Motion to suppress the evidence seized following his detention.

Id. at 14. According to Fuller, there was no weapon involved in the simple

assault being investigated by police.    Id. at 10.    Further, police officers

never told him why he was being detained, and the officers should have

brought the victim of the assault to the scene for identification purposes.

Id. at 11. Fuller argues that as he lawfully exited the back seat of a vehicle,

he was immediately told to raise his hands and get on the ground, and then

was placed in handcuffs.       Id.   Fuller asserts that “this was not an

investigatory detention that ripened into probable cause[,]” and that “any

reasonable [sic] minded person would believe that they are under arrest.”

Id.   Fuller contends that the police officer’s observation was based on

nothing more than a “hunch,” and that simply moving around in the back

seat of a vehicle does not give rise to a reasonable suspicion of criminal

activity. Id. at 12. Fuller points out that he was not charged or identified as

a suspect in the simple assault, that the vehicle in which he was a passenger

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J-S57019-17

was legally parked, and that Officer Robinson testified that he detained

Fuller based on a “hunch.” Id. at 12-13. Under these circumstances, Fuller

claims that the evidence seized from the vehicle should have been

suppressed. Id. at 14.

      In its Opinion, the trial court set forth the appropriate standard of

review, addressed Fuller’s claims, and concluded that they lack merit. See

Trial Court Opinion, 5/4/17, at 4-6. We agree with the sound reasoning of

the trial court, as set forth in its Opinion, and affirm on this basis as to

Fuller’s claims of error.   See id.     We additionally point out, in detail, the

evidence supporting the trial court’s determination that Officer Robinson had

conducted   an   investigatory   stop    of   Fuller,   supported   by   reasonable

suspicion, and a protective sweep of the vehicle.

      At the suppression hearing, Norristown Police Officer Kevin Fritchman

(“Officer Fritchman”) testified that, while patrolling in his vehicle, he

observed an older male being punched by two other males. N.T., 1/17/17,

at 7. Upon stopping his vehicle, two of the males “took off running.” Id.

Upon Officer Fritchman’s inquiry, the older man told Officer Fritchman that

he had been assaulted. Id.

      Officer Fritchman described one of the two assailants as a short, black

male with a large beard. Id. Officer Fritchman followed the two assailants

in his vehicle. Id. at 8. While doing so, Officer Fritchman “called it out on

the radio that I just witnessed an assault.” Id. Officer Fritchman indicated

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J-S57019-17

that the two men “ran westbound towards Church Street and they made a

right onto Church going north.”      Id.   Over the radio, Officer Fritchman

described the one assailant as a short, black male with a large beard. Id.

at 8-9. When Officer Fritchman turned his vehicle onto Church Street, the

two men were no longer visible.     Id. at 9.    Thereafter, Officer Fritchman

came upon the location where Officer Robinson had stopped Fuller. Id. at

10.    Officer Fritchman observed Fuller exit from the vehicle, and further

observed Officer Robinson walk up to that vehicle. Id.

       Officer Robinson testified as to his background and credentials for

“[d]rug training and violent crime training.”    Id. at 19.   Officer Robinson

testified that he had heard Officer Fritchman’s radio description of having

witnessed two black males “beating up another black male at the corner of

East Marshall and Dekalb Street.” Id. at 20. According to Officer Robinson,

Officer Fritchman stated that a shorter black male with a full beard “took off

running west towards Church Street.”       Id.   Officer Robinson then heard

Officer Fritchman state his belief that one of the subjects “ran out to the 600

block of Swede Street.” Id. at 21. When Officer Robinson drove onto the

600 block of Swede Street, he observed a silver Chrysler PT Cruiser parked

on the west side of the street, with its lights off and three subjects in the

car.   Id.   Officer Robinson described the vehicle’s occupants as “a white

female, an older black male, and a black male with a full beard in the back

seat.” Id. There is no evidence that Fuller owned the vehicle.

                                     -4-
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      Officer Robinson pulled his vehicle in front of the parked PT Cruiser,

with his headlights shining into the vehicle. Id. at 21-22. When he did so,

he observed Fuller, sitting in the back passenger seat, bending down

towards the floor “like he was concealing something under the front

passenger seat.” Id. at 22, 23. Officer Robinson stated that he and Fuller

exited their vehicles at the same time. Id. at 43. As Fuller began walking

away from Officer Robinson, the officer drew his weapon and ordered Fuller

to “come here,” and then ordered Fuller to get down on the ground. Id.     As

soon as Officer Fritchman arrived at the scene, Officer Robinson testified

that he “went to the back seat of the car where I saw him reaching around

and I immediately observed two sandwich bags.            One contained a large

quantity of crack cocaine and the other one had packets of heroin and

powder cocaine in it.”     Id. at 22.   Officer Robinson testified that he was

concerned for his safety, as Fuller “might have stashed a weapon under the

front seat of that car.”   Id. at 23.    The Commonwealth then presented a

video recording from the police vehicle’s dash camera. Id. at 23-34. Officer

Robinson narrated the video, which depicted Fuller bending down towards

the floor of the vehicle. Id. at 32. When asked why he had detained Fuller,

Officer Robinson testified that he “believed [Fuller] was involved in the

assault that Officer Fritchman called out.” Id. at 23.

      On cross-examination, Officer Robinson clarified that he approached

the vehicle after securing Fuller, on the ground in handcuffs.      Id. at 49.

                                        -5-
J-S57019-17

Officer Robinson then opened the back passenger door, while the driver and

front-seat passenger remained in the vehicle, with their hands in view. Id.

at 55.   Officer Robinson testified that he stopped Fuller because Fuller

matched the description of the assailant, and was in the back seat of a

parked vehicle, in the area to which the assailant had just run. Id. at 58.

      Thus, the trial court’s findings are supported by the evidence of record,

and we discern no error of law in the conclusions reached by the trial court.

Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of sentence.

      Judgment of sentence affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 12/19/2017

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                                                                                       Circulated 12/05/2017 03:29 PM

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                IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF MONTGOMERYvC.O;U�TY/ ' '                   i   _:,,,., ..

                                    PENNSYLVANIA
                                  CRIMINAL DIVISION    2011 MAY -5 PM 3: 59

"•,·,
    ·,,.
           COMMONWEALTH OF                                                                     NO. 3819-16
           PENNSYLVANIA
                                                                                           484 EDA 2017
                v.

··,. J     TERRENCE FULLER

                                             OPINION

           SILOW, J.                                                       MAY _�_.., 2017

                 Terrence Fuller appeals from the judgment of sentence imposed after a

           bench trial at which he was found guilty of possession with intent to deliver

           and related offenses. For the reasons set forth below, the judgment of sentence

           should be affirmed.

           I.    FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

                 Officer Kevin Fritchman was driving an unmarked patrol car in

           Norristown, Montgomery County, around 10:30 p.m., on April 1, 2016, when

           he saw two men assaulting an elderly man.1 (N .T., 1 / 17 / 17, p. 7) The officer

           made a U-turn, at which time the two men fled. Id. Officer Fritchman gave

           chase in his vehicle and radioed a report of his observations, describing one of

           the assailants as a short black male with a large beard. Id. at 8. He also noted

           the direction in which the two men had fled. Id. at 9.

           1 The factual background is derived from the testimony of the Commonwealth's
           witnesses at the suppression hearing, both of whom this court found testified
           credibly.
               Officer Carl Robinson Jr. received the radio report while driving in his

         own unmarked police vehicle. Approximately one minute later, and about a

         block-and-a-half away from the assault, Officer Robinson saw three people

         sitting in a parked vehicle with the headlights off. Id. at 21, 37. The vehicle

         was located in the area toward which Officer Fritchman had stated the

. ,,;,   assailants had run and no one else was on the street. Officer Robinson shined

         the headlights of his patrol car toward the vehicle and observed a shorter black

         male with a beard in the backseat. Id. at 21-22. The backseat passenger

         (hereinafter "defendant") made a furtive movement, reaching down toward the

         floor of the vehicle. Id. at 22. Defendant then got out of the vehicle and started

         walking away. Id. Officer Robinson testified that the vehicle was parked in a

         high-crime area, he knows through his training and experience that suspects

         often conceal drugs and guns, he suspected at the time that defendant had

         been involved in the assault and he was concerned for his safety because he

         believed defendant may have stashed a weapon under the front seat. Id. at 22-

         23, 35-36.

               Officer Robinson ordered defendant to stop and drew his firearm for

         officer safety. Officer Fritchman, who since had arrived on the scene, detained

         defendant while Officer Robinson looked into the vehicle where he had seen

         defendant reach down. Id. at 22. He observed two sandwich bags containing

         what appeared to be cocaine and heroin. Id.

                                                  2
      Defendant was placed under arrest and later charged with possession

with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of heroin, possession of cocaine and

two counts of drug paraphernalia.P He filed a pre-trial motion to suppress,

which this court denied after a hearing. Defendant then proceeded to a trial by

judge and the court found him guilty of all charges. He received a total

sentence of two to four years in prison.

      Defendant did not file a post-sentence motion. He timely appealed and

filed a counseled concise statement of errors in accordance with Pennsylvania

Rule of Appellate Procedure 1925(b). The Pennsylvania Superior Court

subsequently ordered a Grazier hearing and this court determined that

defendant knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waived his right to be

represented by counsel. This court also granted defendant's oral request to file

a supplemental concise statement.

      Defendant filed a supplemental prose concise statement on April 24,

2017, that essentially restates the concise statement filed by counsel. Three

days later he filed an additional supplement to the prose concise statement.

II.   ISSUES

      Defendant raises the following issues in his supplemental prose concise

statements:

                    The trial court erred in denying [defendant's]
              suppression motion under [the] unique facts and
              circumstances of this case. The police did not have
              reasonable suspicion to detain [defendant] in such an

2The Commonwealth also charged defendant with possession with intent to
deliver heroin, but withdrew that count at trial.

                                           3
            intrusive manner, nor did they have probable cause to
            search the vehicle. The car was legally parked and the
            occupants were doing nothing wrong. (N. T. 1-1 7 -1 7,
            p. 57 lines 17-22). Neither was an investigative
            detention warranted nor was a subsequent search of
            the vehicle warranted. The only intrusion necessary
            was a mere encounter or request for information. The
            subsequent search of the vehicle which led to the
            seizure of evidence was not justified. [Defendant]
            raises the challenges under the United States and
            Pennsylvania Constitution[s].

                   Did the Lower Court err as a matter of law by
            concluding that [defendant] was subjected to an
            investigative detention and not an actual arrest
            without probable cause?

III.   DEFENDANT IS NOT ENTITLED TO RELIEF ON HIS CHALLENGE TO
       THE DENIAL OF HIS MOTION TO SUPPRESS.

       Defendant's supplemental concise statements, when read in conjunction,

challenge this court's conclusion that he was subjected to a lawful

investigatory detention that ripened into probable cause to arrest. His

challenge does not warrant relief.

       The Pennsylvania Superior Court's standard of review when assessing a

challenge to the denial of a motion to suppress

            is limited to determining whether the suppression
            court's factual findings are supported by the record
            and whether the legal conclusions drawn from those
            facts are correct. Because the Commonwealth
            prevailed before the suppression court, [the Superior
            Court] may consider only the evidence of the
            Commonwealth and so much of the evidence for the
            defense as remains uncontradicted when read in the
            context of the record as a whole. Where the
            suppression court's factual findings are supported by
            the record, [the Superior Court is] bound by these
            findings and may reverse only if the court's legal
            conclusions are erroneous.

                                       4
(iii
:::1   Commonwealth v. Simmen, 58 A.3d 811, 814 (Pa. Super. 2012) (quoting

       Commonwealth v. McAdoo, 46 A.3d 781, 783-84 (Pa. Super. 2012) (citations

       omitted). "The suppression court has sole authority to assess the credibility of

       the witnesses and is entitled to believe all, part or none of the evidence

       presented." Simmen, 58 A.3d at 817.

                 Pennsylvania recognizes three levels of police interactions with civilians:

       mere encounter; investigative detention; and arrest. An officer is permitted to

       detain an individual in order to conduct an investigative detention where the

       officer

                       reasonably suspects that the individual is engaging in
                       criminal conduct. This standard, less stringent than
                       probable cause, is commonly known as reasonable
                       suspicion. In order to determine whether the police
                       officer had reasonable suspicion, the totality of the
                       circumstances must be considered. In making this
                       determination, [courts] must give due weight to the
                       specific reasonable inferences the police officer is
                       entitled to draw from the facts in light of his
                       experience. Also, the totality of the circumstances test
                       does not limit [the] inquiry to an examination of only
                       those facts that clearly indicate criminal conduct.
                       Rather, even a combination of innocent facts, when
                       taken together, may warrant further investigation by
                       the police officer.

       Commonwealth v. Foglia, 979 A.2d 357, 360 (Pa. Super. 2009) (internal

       citations and quotation marks omitted). The Superior Court has found that an

       extremely nervous individual's furtive movements of leaning forward and

       appearing to conceal something under his seat during a nighttime stop

       provides a sufficient basis for a protective sweep of the area in which the

       individual was seated. Commonwealth v. Buchert, 68 A.3d 911, 916-17 (Pa.

                                                   5
{:1Ji
('.I
fil
�:i         Super. 2013). "Evasive behavior also is relevant in the reasonable-suspicion

            mix." Foglia, 979 A.2d at 361.
i[Jii
                  Here, approximately a minute after receiving a report of an assault that

            had been witnessed by a fellow officer, and while in a high crime area at
"\."··,..

            nighttime about a block away from where the assault had occurred and in the

            general location where the two assailants had run, Officer Robinson saw a man

            matching the description of one of the assailants sitting in the back seat of a

            parked vehicle. Immediately upon Officer Robinson shining his headlights on

            the vehicle, which also contained two front seat passengers, the back seat

            passenger reached down under the seat in front of him. The back seat

            passenger then got out of the car and began to walk away.

                  The totality of these circumstances gave Officer Robinson ample

            reasonable suspicion to believe the back seat passenger was engaged in

            criminal activity. He, therefore, conducted a lawful detention for investigative

            purposes. Officer Robinson, for the purpose of officer safety, then lawfully

            checked the back seat area of the vehicle where defendant had reached down.

            See Buchert, supra. The controlled substances and paraphernalia found in

            that area were lawfully seized during the protective sweep. Only then was

            defend ant placed under arrest.

                                                    6
(:1
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i:!   IV.     CONCLUSION

              Based upon the foregoing, this court properly denied defendant's motion

      to suppress. As such, his judgment of sentence should be affirmed.

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      Sent on <::>J.$1 if
      to the follo ing:
      Clerk of Courts
      District Attorney's Office, Appeals Division
      Terrence Fuller, prose (GZ-7578)
             SCI Graterford
             PO Box 244
             Graterford, PA 19426

      I hereby certify that I have forwarded a copy of the within Opinion to defendant
      at the above address by certified mail return receipt requested and regular
      mail.

      �     tfia!Secr)ij

                                               7