State v. Stewart

2022 Ohio 199

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: January 27, 2022
• Docket: 109867 & 109868
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as State v. Stewart, 2022-Ohio-199.]

COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

STATE OF OHIO, :

Plaintiff-Appellant, : Nos. 109867 and 109868 v. :

JAMES STEWART, ET AL., :

Defendants-Appellees. :

JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION

JUDGMENT: REVERSED AND REMANDED RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: January 27, 2022

Criminal Appeal from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Case Nos. CR-19-645843-A and CR-19-645843-B

Appearances:

Michael C. O’Malley, Cuyahoga County Prosecuting Attorney, and Tasha L. Forchione, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for appellant.

Regis E. McGann, for appellee James Stewart.

Cullen Sweeney, Cuyahoga County Public Defender, and Paul A. Kuzmins, Assistant Public Defender, for appellee Leeandrew Ealom. ON RECONSIDERATION1

EILEEN T. GALLAGHER, J.:

Plaintiff-appellant, the state of Ohio, appeals an order granting two

motions to suppress filed by defendants-appellees, James Stewart (“Stewart”) and

Leeandrew Ealom (“Ealom”) (collectively “appellees”). The state claims the

following error:

The trial court erred in granting James Stewart and Leeandrew Ealom’s motion to suppress.

We find merit to the appeal, reverse the trial court’s judgment, and

remand the case to the trial court for further proceedings.

I. Facts and Procedural History

Ealom and Stewart were charged in a nine-count indictment with three

counts of drug trafficking in violation of R.C. 2925.03(A)(2) as alleged in Counts 1,

3, and 5; four counts of drug possession in violation of R.C. 2925.11(A) as alleged in

Counts 2, 4, 6, and 7; and one count of possessing criminal tools in violation of R.C.

2923.14(A) as alleged in Count 8. Counts 1 through 8 included forfeiture of a scale,

a cell phone, a gun, and money. Counts 3 and 5 included firearm specifications

pursuant to R.C. 2941.141(A). In Count 9, Ealom, alone, was charged with improper

handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle in violation of R.C. 2923.16(E)(1).

1 The original decision in this appeal, State v. Stewart, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga Nos. 109867 and 109868, 2021-Ohio-2928, released on August 26, 2021, is hereby vacated. This opinion, issued upon reconsideration, is the court’s journalized decision in this appeal. See App.R. 22(C); see also S.Ct.Prac.R. 7.01. Stewart and Ealom each filed a motion to suppress, arguing that

Cleveland police did not have probable cause to initiate the traffic stop that led to

the discovery of contraband. They further argued that officers detained them

without reasonable suspicion and that the subsequent search of their vehicle was

unlawful.

The state opposed the motions to suppress, arguing the initial traffic

stop was lawful because Stewart, who was driving the vehicle, was driving erratically,

changed lanes multiple times without signaling, and later turned out of a gas station

parking lot without signaling. The state argued that changing lanes and turning

without a signal are violations of Cleveland Codified Ordinances (“C.C.O.”) 431.14.

Finally, the state argued that during the lawful stop, officers observed a firearm in

plain view, which justified a search for weapons that led to the discovery of

contraband in the vehicle.

Detective Joseph Hess (“Det. Hess”) testified at the suppression

hearing that he and Detective Christopher Allen (“Det. Allen”) were patrolling an

area near East 140th Street and Kinsman on November 8, 2019, at approximately

4:12 p.m., in a police vehicle equipped with lights and sirens. Sergeant Jarrod

Durichko (“Sgt. Durichko”) was also patrolling the area in an undercover vehicle.

Sgt. Durichko notified Detectives Hess and Allen that he observed a white Jeep

Compass driving erratically and changing lanes multiple times without signaling.

(Tr. 19.) The Jeep traveled eastbound on Union Avenue and turned into a gas station

located at East 140th Street and Kinsman Road. As Detectives Hess and Allen approached the location, Sgt. Durichko

notified them that the same vehicle exited the gas station and turned onto the

roadway again without signaling. (Tr. 20.) By that time, Detectives Hess and Allen

had reached the location, pulled behind the Jeep, and initiated a traffic stop. (Tr.

20.) Sgt. Durichko did not conduct the traffic stop because he was in an undercover

vehicle.2 (Tr. 20.)

Det. Allen approached the driver’s door and spoke to Stewart while Det.

Hess approached the passenger side door and spoke with Ealom. (Tr. 21.) Det. Hess

spoke with Ealom for approximately four minutes and then asked him to exit the

vehicle for safety purposes and to facilitate communication. (Tr. 21.) As Ealom was

exiting the vehicle, Det. Hess asked Ealom if he had any weapons on his person. (Tr.

22, 57.) Ealom replied: “Yes. I have a concealed carry.” (Tr. 22, 71.) Det. Hess then

observed a gun in the front-passenger door panel. (Tr. 22-23, 58.) Thereafter, Det.

2 Traffic stops should generally be conducted by a uniformed officer in a marked car. Parma Hts. v. Nugent, 92 Ohio Misc.2d 67, 75, 700 N.E.2d 430 (M.C.1998). When undercover officers observe traffic violations and call in uniformed officers, who saw nothing of the original traffic violation, to initiate the traffic stops, police often uncover crimes, but at a price that negatively affects the relationship between police officers and citizens. The United States Justice Department and the city of Cleveland entered into a consent decree in 2015, to rebuild community trust with the city’s police department. As part of that effort, the police department implemented substantial police training initiatives. Det. Hess started his employment with the Cleveland Police Department approximately six years before the incident giving rise to this case. Thus, most, if not all, of his training would have been after the consent decree. He testified that he has initiated “hundreds” of traffic stops for traffic violations. Det. Hess also testified that he has had specialized training investigating narcotics, and “on-the-job” training that aids him in the performance of his job. Hess placed Ealom in handcuffs for officer safety because Ealom failed to notify the

officers that he had a concealed weapon. (Tr. 23-24.)

Det. Hess rendered the weapon safe and searched the passenger

compartment of the vehicle “for other weapons.” (Tr. 25.) During the search, Det.

Hess found multiple cell phones and a large roll of blank lottery tickets. (Tr. 25.)

Det. Hess, who is a member of the Fourth District Vice Unit, testified based on his

training and experience that these items were common “indicators of drug

trafficking.” (Tr. 25.) He explained that a blank roll of lottery tickets “is one of the

No. 1 packaging materials for narcotics. It’s up there with plastic baggies.” (Tr. 26.)

Det. Hess also found a digital scale with drug residue inside a pouch fastened to the

back of the front passenger seat. (Tr. 27-28.)

After finding the scale, the officers determined they had probable

cause to search the rest of the vehicle. (Tr. 27.) In the back seat, the detectives found

a hairbrush with a hidden compartment containing a bag of heroin and a bag of

cocaine. (Tr. 28-29.) Detectives Hess and Allen then placed Stewart and Ealom

under arrest and cited Stewart with a change of course violation pursuant to

C.C.O. 431.14.

In granting the motions to suppress, the court concluded that the city’s

change of course ordinance only applies to public streets and, therefore, does not

apply to parking lots where Stewart turned onto Union Avenue. The trial court’s

written decision did not address the other alleged traffic violations, namely changing

lanes without signaling and erratic driving. The court determined that because Stewart did not violate any traffic ordinance by turning from a private parking lot

onto a city street, the police had no reasonable justification for initiating the traffic

stop of Stewart’s vehicle and, therefore, the traffic stop violated the Fourth

Amendment. The state now appeals the trial court’s judgment pursuant to Crim.R.

12(K).

II. Law and Analysis

A. Standard of Review

This court reviews a decision on a suppression motion under a mixed

standard of review. “In 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 evaluate witness

credibility.” State v. Curry, 95 Ohio App.3d 93, 96, 641 N.E.2d 1172 (8th Dist.1994).

Therefore, a reviewing court must accept the trial court’s findings of fact in ruling

on a motion to suppress if the findings are supported by competent, credible

evidence. State v. Burnside, 100 Ohio St.3d 152, 2003-Ohio-5372, 797 N.E.2d 71,

¶ 8. Accepting the facts as true, the reviewing court must independently determine,

without deference to the tri al court, whether the trial court properly applied the

substantive law to the facts of the case. Id. An appellate court reviews the trial

court’s application of the law to its factual findings under a de novo standard. State

v. Belton, 149 Ohio St.3d 165, 2016-Ohio-1581, 74 N.E.3d 319, ¶ 100. B. The Traffic Stop

The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which is enforceable

against the states through the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment,

provides: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and

effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no

warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause.” Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U.S. 643, 655,

81 S.Ct. 1684, 6 L.Ed.2d 1081 (1961). Article I, Section 14 of the Ohio Constitution

has language almost identical to the Fourth Amendment and affords the same

protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. State v. Robinette, 80 Ohio

St.3d 234, 245, 685 N.E.2d 762 (1997).

There are, however, exceptions to the Fourth Amendment’s warrant

requirement. Although stopping an automobile and detaining its occupants

constitutes a “seizure” under the Fourth Amendment, “a traffic stop is

constitutionally valid if an officer has a reasonable and articulable suspicion that a

motorist has committed, is committing, or is about to commit a crime.” State v.

Mays, 119 Ohio St.3d 406, 2008-Ohio-4539, 894 N.E.2d 1204, ¶ 7, citing Delaware

v. Prouse, 440 U.S. 648, 663, 99 S.Ct. 1391, 59 L.Ed.2d 660 (1979). See also Dayton

v. Erickson, 76 Ohio St.3d 3, 11, 665 N.E.2d 1091 (1996)(“[W]here an officer has an

articulable reasonable suspicion or probable cause to stop a motorist for any

criminal violation, including a minor traffic violation, the stop is constitutionally

valid * * *.”). It is well established that “‘[a] police officer may [initiate] a traffic stop

of any motorist for any traffic infraction, even if the officer’s true motive is to detect

more extensive criminal conduct.’” State v. Hrtsyak, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

108506, 2020-Ohio-920, ¶ 21, quoting State v. Bennett, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

86962, 2006-Ohio-4274 (emphasis sic). “‘[C]ourts determine whether any violation

occurred, not the extent of the violation.’” Cleveland v. Martin, 2018-Ohio-740, 107

N.E.3d 809 (8th Dist.), quoting State v. Hodge, 147 Ohio App.3d 550, 2002-Ohio-

3053, 771 N.E.2d 331, ¶ 27 (7th Dist.).

Detectives Hess and Allen stopped Stewart’s car because Sgt.

Durichko advised them that Stewart was “driving erratically and switched lanes

multiple times without signaling” and because they turned out of a gas station onto

the roadway without signaling. (Tr. 19.) C.C.O. 431.14, governs “Signals Before

Changing Course, Turning, or Stopping,” and provides, in relevant part:

No person shall turn a vehicle * * * or move right or left upon a highway unless and until such person has exercised due care to ascertain that the movement can be made with reasonable safety, nor without giving an appropriate signal in the manner hereinafter provided.

C.C.O. 431.14(a)(1). Thus, C.C.O. 431.14(a)(1) requires one to use a turn signal when

moving from right or left upon a highway. C.C.O. 401.61 defines the term “highway”

as synonymous with the word “street” and includes “the entire width between the

boundary lines of every way open to the use of the public as a thoroughfare for

purposes of vehicular travel.” The trial court concluded that the stop of Stewart’s Jeep violated the

Fourth Amendment because Stewart was not required to use a turn signal when

turning out of the gas station parking lot onto a public street. The trial court

concluded that no traffic violation occurred. However, even if a police officer is

mistaken in his belief that a traffic violation occurred, the police officer’s mistaken

belief, if objectively reasonable, may constitute reasonable suspicion to justify a

traffic stop. State v. Spellacy, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 106909, 2019-Ohio-785, ¶ 24-

32 . See also State v. Leder, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2018-10-072, 2019-Ohio-

2866, ¶ 19, quoting State v. Kirkpatrick, 2017-Ohio-7629, 97 N.E.3d 871, ¶ 6 (1st

Dist.) (“‘[a] police officer’s objectively reasonable belief that a traffic violation has

occurred, including reasonable mistakes of law, can constitute reasonable suspicion

to justify a traffic stop.’”); State v. Petty, 4th Dist. Washington Nos. 18CA26 and

18CA27, 2019-Ohio-4241, ¶ 27 (Officer’s erroneous, but reasonable, belief that a

traffic violation occurred provided reasonable suspicion to justify a traffic stop.).

Cleveland police issued Stewart a traffic ticket for turning out of the

gas station without signaling. (Tr. 50-52.) The police, therefore, believed that

turning out of the gas station without signaling constituted a violation of C.C.O.

431.14. This court recently held that pulling out of a gas station without using a turn

signal is a violation of C.C.O. 431.14 and that such a traffic violation is a valid basis

to effectuate a traffic stop. State v. Marneros, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 109258, 2021-

Ohio-2844, ¶ 25. Therefore, despite the trial court’s conclusion to the contrary, the officers had a reasonable belief that Stewart committed a traffic violation, and they

had reasonable suspicion to stop Stewart’s vehicle.3

Although Detectives Hess and Allen did not witness the traffic

violation, police may initiate investigatory stops based on the observations of other

officers or citizens. Lyndhurst v. Brickel, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 72322, 1998 Ohio

App. LEXIS 2334 (May 28, 1998); Beachwood v. Sims, 98 Ohio App.3d 9, 14, 647

N.E.2d 821 (8th Dist.1994). Therefore, the traffic stop of Stewart’s Jeep was

constitutionally valid because Sgt. Durichko observed Stewart turn out of a gas

station without signaling, and he had reasonable belief that the turn without

signaling constituted a traffic violation. There was also testimony, not addressed by

the trial court, that Stewart illegally changed lanes without signaling.

Because the trial court found the traffic stop was unlawful, it did not

analyze the legality of the interaction between the detectives and appellees following

the initial stop. “[A]n appellate court limits its review to issues actually decided by

the trial court in its judgment.” Lycan v. Cleveland, 146 Ohio St.3d 29, 2016-Ohio-

422, 51 N.E.3d 593, ¶ 21. Although an appellate court may make factual conclusions

if the record provides a sufficient basis for review, we may not make legal

3 Although the state did not cite Marneros in its brief, the state argued, among other things, that “[e]ven if detectives were mistaken that Stewart violated Cleveland Codified Ordinance § 431.14 or the evidence would be insufficient to prove the elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt, detectives had an objectively reasonable belief that a traffic violation occurred, thus constituting reasonable suspicion to justify the traffic stop.” (State’s merit brief p. 9.) Thus, the state not only argued in the trial court that turning out of the gas station without signaling was a valid basis for the traffic stop, it disputed the trial court’s interpretation of C.C.O. 431.14 in its merit brief. conclusions, such as whether the police had probable cause to search Stewart’s

vehicle, for the first time on appeal. Id.; Philbin v. Cleveland, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga

No. 105767, 2018-Ohio-100, ¶ 26 (remanding case to trial court to consider the

merits of an issue raised for the first time on appeal.)

We, therefore, sustain the sole assignment of error and reverse the

trial court’s judgment. We remand the case to the trial court to consider whether

Ealom promptly informed police that he had a concealed weapon and, thus, whether

police had probable cause to search Stewart’s vehicle following a lawful traffic stop.

It is ordered that appellant recover from appellees costs herein taxed.

The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the

common pleas court to carry this judgment into execution.

A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27

of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

EILEEN T. GALLAGHER, JUDGE

SEAN C. GALLAGHER, A.J., and CORNELIUS J. O’SULLIVAN, JR., J., CONCUR