State v. Larrick

2023 Ohio 4663
Ohio Court of Appeals·Decided December 21, 2023·No. 23 CA 000007·Published

Opinion

COURT OF APPEALS

GUERNSEY COUNTY, OHIO

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO JUDGES:

Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J.

Plaintiff-Appellee Hon. John W. Wise, J.

Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.

-vs-

Case No. 23 CA 000007

TRAVIS A. LARRICK

Defendant-Appellant OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Criminal Appeal from the Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 23-CR-134

JUDGMENT: Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: December 21, 2023

APPEARANCES: For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant

DAVE YOST MICHAEL GROH OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL 1938 East Wheeling Avenue MICAH R. AULT Cambridge, Ohio 43725 ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL 615 West Superior Avenue, 11th Floor Cleveland, Ohio 44113

Wise, J.

{¶1} Defendant-Appellant Travis A. Larrick appeals his convictions on one count each of Assault on a Peace Officer, Obstructing Official Business, Resisting Arrest, Aggravated Disorderly Conduct, and Disrupting Public Services, entered in the Guernsey County Court of Common Pleas following a jury trial.

{¶2} Plaintiff-appellee is the State of Ohio.

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE

{¶3} For purposes of the appeal, the relevant facts and procedural history are as follows:

{¶4} On September 27, 2022, the Guernsey County Grand Jury returned a five-

count indictment, charging Appellant Travis A. Larrick with:

Count One: Assault on a Peace Officer, in violation of R.C.

§2903.13(A), §2903.13(C)(5), a felony of the fourth degree;

Count Two: Obstructing Official Business, in violation of R.C.

§2921.31(A), §2921.31(B), a felony of the fifth degree;

Count Three: Resisting Arrest, in violation of R.C. §2921.33(B), §2921.33(O), a misdemeanor of the first degree;

Count Four: Assault on a Peace Officer, in violation of R.C.

§2903.13(B), §2903.13(C)(6), a felony of the fourth degree;

Count Five: Aggravated Disorderly Conduct, in violation of R.C.

§2917.11(A)(2), a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

{¶5} (T. at 16-17, 20).

Guernsey County, Case No. 23 CA 000007 3

{¶6} On October 28, 2022, a superseding indictment was filed, identical to the first indictment, except it contained a sixth count, charging Appellant with Disrupting Public Services, in violation of R.C. §2909.04(A)(1), §2909.04(C), a felony of the fourth degree. (T. at 20).

{¶7} On January 10, 2023, a three-day jury trial commenced. At trial, the jury heard the following testimony:

{¶8} Appellant’s aunt, Jeannine Larrick, testified that on May 29, 2022, Appellant spent the day drinking and driving cars into ditches on their property. (T. at 316-317, 381). Appellant then got into a verbal altercation with his aunt and his grandmother, who called the police. (T. at 317, 373-374). While his grandmother was speaking with the police, Appellant ripped the phone cord from the wall which disconnected the call, and then left the residence in a vehicle. (T. at 317-319, 374, 382).

{¶9} Ohio State Highway Patrolman Joshua Zaugg located a white Ford Taurus sitting in the middle of the road a short distance from the residence with no one inside the vehicle. (T. at 208). The vehicle was not registered and had no license plates, so Trooper Zaugg called for a tow truck and began to inventory the vehicle. (T. at 209-210).

{¶10} Guernsey County Deputy Devin Ryan was headed to the residence where the altercation occurred when he saw Trooper Zaugg sitting in his cruiser near the white vehicle. (T. at 384). Deputy Ryan briefly stopped, and then headed to the residence to speak with Appellant's family. (T. at 384-386). After speaking with the grandmother and the aunt, Deputy Ryan returned to the scene of the vehicle to assist Trooper Zaugg. (T. at 384-386).

Guernsey County, Case No. 23 CA 000007 4

{¶11} Upon arrival, Deputy Ryan saw Trooper Zaugg standing near the vehicle having a conversation with Appellant. (T. at 386). Appellant was argumentative and belligerent with law enforcement as numerous neighbors watched the altercation. (T. at 180, 186, 196, 387, 391-392). Appellant had slurred speech, an odor of alcohol, and appeared to be under the influence of something. (T. at 213, 403, 536). He repeatedly told officers to “go fuck” themselves and was trying to pick a fight with the officers. (T. at 193, 259, 304, 388). Officers told him to leave or he would be arrested for disorderly conduct. (T. at 458-459). Appellant left the scene but continued to scream obscenities at the officers as he left, calling them “faggots” and making other sexually explicit comments directed at law enforcement. (T. at 389). He also told officers to take off their badges which they believed was an invitation to fight. (T. at 402). However, Appellant eventually left at about the same time as the tow truck driver arrived on scene to remove the vehicle from the roadway. (T. at 390).

{¶12} While the officers were communicating with the tow truck operator, Appellant returned to the scene. (T. at 390). Appellant attempted to enter the vehicle and was told that he could not because it was being towed. (T. at 214, 390). Appellant stated he was taking the vehicle, although he had previously been told he was not allowed to take it. (T. at 459). Appellant continued to swear at law enforcement, refused to comply with their commands, and behaved aggressively toward them. (T. at 215, 459).

{¶13} Throughout the encounter, Appellant made aggressive actions towards the officers, taking everything out of his pockets and throwing it toward their feet and taking a posturing with one foot forward in what Trooper Zaugg described as a bladed stance. (T. at 304). After being denied entry into the vehicle, Appellant told officers that he was going back to the residence where the domestic dispute had just occurred, and started walking in that direction after officers had previously told him he was not permitted to return there that evening. (T. at 391-392).

{¶14} Deputy Ryan was following Appellant when Appellant suddenly spun and turned on him. (391-392, 405). Deputy Ryan took Appellant to the ground, but Appellant managed to escape and started running away from the officers. (T. at 391-392). Trooper Zaugg dove at him, missed, and lost his body camera in the process. (T. at 216). Deputy Ryan chased Appellant through several yards as neighbors watched the commotion. (T. at 391-392). As Deputy Ryan neared Appellant, Appellant took a fighter's stance and began swinging at him. (T. at 393). The tow truck driver saw Appellant punching, kicking, and throwing haymakers during the incident. (T. at 332-333). Deputy Ryan again took him to the ground and was able to place him in handcuffs with the assistance of Trooper Zaugg. (T. at 217, 393).

{¶15} Officers then carried Appellant to the vehicle and attempted to place him in the backseat. (T. at 393-394). However, Appellant kept holding onto the exterior of the car and would not cooperate. (T. at 394). At that point, Trooper Zaugg went around to the other side of the vehicle with the intention of pulling Appellant onto the seat. However, a canine cage on that side of the back seat prevented him from doing so. (T. at 217, 394).

{¶16} Meanwhile, Deputy Ryan pulled on Appellant, his hands came loose from the vehicle, and the weight of both men landed on top of Deputy Ryan's knee, which twisted in the wrong direction. (T. at 394). Deputy Ryan immediately felt severe pain in his left knee. (T. at 394-395). Deputy Ryan was able to remove the cartridge from his

Guernsey County, Case No. 23 CA 000007 6

Taser and “drive stun” Appellant with it, after which the officers eventually got Appellant into the back seat of the vehicle. (T. at 395).

{¶17} Appellant continued to yell and swear from inside the cruiser. (T. at 219).

Ohio State Highway Patrol Lieutenant Melanie Appleman transported Appellant to the jail after the incident. (T. at 481-482). Appellant remained agitated and confrontational throughout the trip and was even combative with the officers working at the station. (T. at 482, 489-490).

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