State v. Ross

2007 NMCA 126, 168 P.3d 169, 142 N.M. 597
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 29, 2007
DocketNo. 26,239
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 2007 NMCA 126 (State v. Ross) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Ross, 2007 NMCA 126, 168 P.3d 169, 142 N.M. 597 (N.M. Ct. App. 2007).

Opinion

OPINION

SUTIN, Chief Judge.

{1} Defendant Ronnie John Ross was convicted by a jury of driving while intoxicated, contrary to NMSA 1978, § 66-8-102 (2004) (amended 2005); aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer, contrary to NMSA 1978, § 30-22-1.1 (2003); failure to maintain a traffic lane, contrary to NMSA 1978, § 66-7-317 (1978); and driving on the wrong side of a roadway, contrary to NMSA 1978, § 66-7-308 (1978). Defendant appeals, arguing that the district court fundamentally erred by making a certain comment to the jury, that the district court erred in refusing to grant his motion to suppress the results from a blood alcohol test, and that the district court erred by refusing to grant Defendant’s motion for a directed verdict on the charge of aggravated fleeing. We reverse Defendant’s conviction for aggravated fleeing and affirm his remaining convictions.

BACKGROUND

{2} On June 20, 2004, an officer of the Farmington Police Department responded to a call about a possible drunk driver. He located the vehicle in question and started to follow it. He saw the vehicle drift out of its lane, at which point he activated his emergency lights and siren in an attempt to stop the vehicle. However, Defendant, the driver of the vehicle, did not pull over and instead drove away from the officer. Defendant drove down a center turn lane, nearly striking a median, and then drove eastbound in a westbound lane of traffic. Another vehicle had to abruptly stop in order to avoid colliding with Defendant. Shortly thereafter, Defendant pulled into a parking lot, proceeded northbound, then turned westbound, and parked in a parking space on the north side of the lot. Defendant attempted to quickly get out of his vehicle, ignored the officer’s order to remain in the vehicle, and the officer sprayed him with pepper spray (OC spray), took him to the ground, and held him with his firearm at a low-ready position until backup arrived. There were four passengers still in the vehicle. Once backup arrived, the officer handcuffed Defendant and advised him of the New Mexico Implied Consent Act. NMSA 1978, §§ 66-8-105 to -112 (1978, as amended through 2003) (amended 2005 and 2006). According to the officer, Defendant “acknowledged understanding the [ajdvisory” and “agreed to the blood draw.” Defendant told the officer that he was asthmatic, so the officer took Defendant to an emergency room for a blood draw and for treatment of the possible effects of the OC spray. At the emergency room, the officer again advised Defendant of the New Mexico Implied Consent Act. This time, Defendant responded by acknowledging that he understood and requested an attorney. The officer told Defendant that he did not have the right to consult with an attorney under the New Mexico Implied Consent Act. According to the officer, Defendant at this point agreed to the blood draw. The officer also testified that he requires individuals to respond to his request for consent by saying “yes” or “no” and that Defendant agreed to be tested.

{3} Defendant filed a pro se motion to exclude the results of the blood draw. His attorney also filed a motion to exclude the results. The court held a hearing on the matter. No testimony was taken, but defense counsel argued that Defendant’s request for an attorney constituted a refusal of the blood draw and that there was no signed consent form, so there was not sufficient evidence that the refusal was adequately cured. The State did not dispute Defendant’s contention that the request for an attorney was a refusal; rather it argued that Defendant, after requesting an attorney, affirmatively consented and thereby cured his refusal. The State never disputed Defendant’s contention that the request for an attorney was a refusal. The district court found that “Defendant did not refuse to submit to a blood draw.” The court denied the motion to suppress the results of the blood draw.

{4} The case proceeded to a jury trial. After the jury was selected, but before the rest of the jury pool was dismissed, the district court judge thanked the pool for their service and, in the presence of the jury, stated:

[W]e as Americans have more rights than any people in the world____We all have them, but the only way to protect them, you have to have some way to protect them, or to take action against somebody who violates your rights, this is the way you do that, this is the most important thing we do in courtrooms all across this country____This is how we really protect the constitution, so I appreciate your being here.

According to Defendant’s brief in chief, the judge looked at Defendant when discussing having recourse against someone who violated “your” rights. Defendant did not take any action to make the gesture a matter of record, nor did Defendant object based on the judge’s statement.

{5} At trial, the officer testified about the Farmington Police Department’s pursuit policy. He stated that the policy required that a pursuing officer be in a marked police vehicle with siren and emergency lights visible to the front for a distance of five hundred feet. He testified that pursuant to the policy he also must determine, before pursuit, whether the vehicle poses a threat to the general public and whether the driver is operating the vehicle in an inattentive or dangerous manner with willful, wanton disregard for others. The officer testified that he followed the policy. The officer also testified that he did not know whether the Farming-ton Police Department’s pursuit policy is pursuant to the Law Enforcement Safe Pursuit Act, NMSA 1978, §§ 29-20-1 to -4 (2003) (the Pursuit Act).

{6} After the State rested, Defendant moved for a directed verdict on the charge of aggravated fleeing and argued that the State failed to present sufficient evidence that the officer was following a procedure adopted pursuant to the Pursuit Act. The district court denied the motion. Defendant was convicted of driving while intoxicated, aggravated fleeing, failure to maintain a traffic lane, and driving on the wrong side of the roadway.

DISCUSSION

{7} Defendant appeals his convictions on three grounds. He argues that it was fundamental error for the district court to state to the jury pool that there must be recourse for someone violating “your” constitutional rights, while glancing at Defendant. He also argues that the district court erred in denying his motion to exclude the evidence of his blood alcohol content, contending that he refused to consent to the blood draw and that the State failed to prove the refusal was cured. Finally, he argues that the State failed to prove that the officer was following a pursuit policy that is in accordance with the Pursuit Act.

The District Court Judge’s Statement Did Not Constitute Fundamental Error

{8} Defendant argues that the district court judge made a statement indicating bias against Defendant to the jury pool, with the jury present, that Americans must have some way “to take action against somebody who violates your rights” and looked at Defendant when making that statement. Although Defendant did not object to the statement and did not make the judge’s glance toward Defendant a matter of record, he argues that the judge’s statement and glance constituted fundamental error because it created the appearance of partiality, and could have left the jury with the impression that the judge believed that Defendant was guilty.

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Related

State v. Martinez
New Mexico Court of Appeals, 2019
State v. Vest
428 P.3d 287 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 2018)
State v. Salazar
458 P.3d 485 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 2018)
State v. Chavez
2016 NMCA 016 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 2015)
State v. Garcia
2009 NMCA 107 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 2009)
State v. Ross
168 P.3d 169 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 2007)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2007 NMCA 126, 168 P.3d 169, 142 N.M. 597, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-ross-nmctapp-2007.