State v. Sampson

827 P.2d 1061, 65 Wash. App. 9, 1992 Wash. App. LEXIS 146
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedApril 13, 1992
DocketNo. 26551-2-I
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 827 P.2d 1061 (State v. Sampson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Sampson, 827 P.2d 1061, 65 Wash. App. 9, 1992 Wash. App. LEXIS 146 (Wash. Ct. App. 1992).

Opinion

Scholfield, J.

James Sampson appeals his conviction on one count of attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, RCW 46.61.024. We affirm.

Facts

At about 8:15 p.m. on November 18, 1989, Blaine police officers James Jones and Ernest MacMurray were on patrol in the city of Blaine, Washington. They were in uniform and riding in a fully marked patrol car. The officers observed a motorcycle traveling at a high rate of speed in a 25 m.p.h. zone. The officers attempted to follow the motorcycle and get a "pace" to determine its actual speed. As the officers accelerated to catch up, the motorcycle also accelerated.

At speeds of approximately 50 to 60 m.p.h., the officers were initially able to maintain a steady distance behind the motorcycle. As Officer Jones activated the overhead emergency response lights, the motorcycle lurched forward as if accelerating. After radioing the dispatcher that a possible pursuit was in progress, MacMurray turned on the siren. [11]*11The pursuit went through a residential area with several intersecting side streets. The motorcycle passed through several stop signs without stopping.

At one point, the motorcycle slowed down on the gravel shoulder of the road, trying to turn around. Officer Jones angled the patrol car across the roadway in a position head on with the motorcycle, in an effort to block its path. The motorcycle turned and came across the roadway in front of the patrol car, and as Jones spun the car around to try to follow, the right front bumper of the car came within 6 inches of the rear wheel of the motorcycle. Jones testified that the motorcycle gained a pretty good lead on him after the turnaround.

As the pursuit continued, Jones testified that the motorcycle reached speeds of about 95 m.p.h. as it headed eastbound on H Street toward the intersection of Highway 543. The motorcycle went through the intersection — marked by both stop signs and flashing red lights — at what Jones estimated to be about 80 m.p.h. The speed limit in the area was 25 m.p.h. Jones testified that his police car built up speed after clearing the intersection, again reaching speeds of 95 m.p.h. However, he indicated that he was unable to keep up with the motorcycle.

The chase occurred at night. It ultimately involved several Blaine police units and covered approximately 6.4 miles. One of the officers involved in the chase, Officer John Brand, testified that the motorcycle took a "spill" in a construction area behind a gas station, and the rider was unable to get it started again. Brand stated that when he arrived at the scene where the motorcycle had stopped, the driver just put his hands on his head as if to surrender. The driver was later identified as the appellant, 20-year-old James Sampson.

Sampson testified that he had been going to a friend's house when the incident occurred. He stated that he had a helmet on and could not hear anything as he was "out in the open", and could not see behind him due to the positioning of his mirrors. Sampson testified that he had driven past his friend's house, and then attempted to turn around and come [12]*12back into the driveway. Sampson testified that he did not see the police car until he turned the motorcycle around. He stated that the police car was coming straight at him and did not look like it was going to stop. Sampson testified that he accelerated to get out of the way of the police car, and then "kind of panicked" and kept on going. The police car, Sampson added, slid over his friend's yard and flew out of control into a grassy area.

Sampson disputed the testimony of the officers regarding his rate of speed. He testified that he never got the motorcycle out of third gear, so he could not have been exceeding 75 m.p.h. Sampson stated that he slowed from about 75 to 35 m.p.h. to cross the intersection at H Street and Highway 543, using his front brake and downshifting to slow down. The compression from downshifting, Sampson testified, caused his rear wheel to lock up, and he left a skid mark about 75 feet long at the intersection. Sampson testified that he did not stop at the intersection, but he did check to see if any cars were coming.

Sampson acknowledged his actions were "stupid". However, he stated that he could control a motorcycle and was in complete control dining the entire chase. He testified that he did not consider his actions to be reckless and that he could have taken precautions had another vehicle or pedestrian been in danger. He acknowledged that he did not have a driver's license at the time and that his attempt to evade the police was in part motivated by a desire not to get a ticket.

At the close of the case, defense counsel indicated to the court that, after reading the State's instructions, he added to his proposed instructions an instruction based on State v. Sherman, 98 Wn.2d 53, 653 P.2d 612 (1982). Counsel indicated that a Sherman instruction was necessary to inform the jury that the wanton and willful disregard element of attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle must be shown by both an objective and subjective standard, and that circumstantial evidence of the manner of driving creates only a rebuttable inference that the defendant had a [13]*13wanton and wiflftd disregard for the fives and property of others.

After a brief recess, the court told counsel that the last instruction provided (presumably the Sherman instruction) would be placed in front of the negligent driving instruction and after the intent instruction. Defense counsel asked if the instruction was there yet, and the clerk replied that he had not yet compiled the instruction. The court stated, "He's going to add that to our stacks here while I'm giving the instructions. That's where it's going to go."

The jurors were then brought in, and the court read them the instructions. Although it is unclear whether the court orally read a Sherman instruction to the jury, the record indicates that no Sherman instruction was ever included in the written packet given to the jury.

In closing argument, defense counsel argued that the only issue in the case was the characterization of Sampson's state of mind. He went through the elements of the attempting to elude charge, discussing and defining the elements of willfully and wantonly. He argued that Sampson had been only negligent, and urged the jury to find him guilty of the offenses of operating a vehicle in a negligent manner and failing to obey a police officer.1

The jury found Sampson guilty of attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle. This appeal followed.

Failure To Give Sherman Instruction The crime of attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, or felony flight, is defined as follows:

Any driver of a motor vehicle who wilfully fails or refuses to immediately bring his vehicle to a stop and who drives his vehicle in a maimer indicating a wanton or wilful disregard for the lives or property of others while attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, after being given a visual or audible signal to bring the vehicle to a stop, shall be guilty of a class C felony.

RCW 46.61.024, in part.

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Bluebook (online)
827 P.2d 1061, 65 Wash. App. 9, 1992 Wash. App. LEXIS 146, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-sampson-washctapp-1992.