State v. Keserich

[Cite as State v. Keserich, 2014-Ohio-5120.]

COURT OF APPEALS
ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STATE OF OHIO : JUDGES:
: Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J.
Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, J.
: Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
-vs- :
:
ERIK M. KESERICH : Case No. 14-COA-011
:
Defendant-Appellant : OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Municipal Court, Case
No. 13-TRC-07726

JUDGMENT: Reversed; Vacated and Remanded

DATE OF JUDGMENT: November 19, 2014

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant

THOMAS R. GILMAN TOD A. BRININGER
133 South Market Street 1801 Watermark Drive
Loudonville, OH 44842 Suite 350
Columbus, OH 43215

RUSSELL S. BENSING
1370 Ontario Street
1350 Standard Building
Cleveland, OH 44113
Ashland County, Case No. 14-COA-011 2

Hoffman, P.J.

{¶1} On September 29, 2013, Loudonville Police Officer Joseph Peters

stopped Appellant, Erik Keserich, for a faulty license plate light. Following an

investigation and field sobriety tests, Appellant was charged with operating a motor

vehicle while under the influence, in violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(A), a third such

offense in six years, in violation of R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(H); no license plate light, in

violation of R.C. 4513.15; and cracked windshield, in violation of R.C. 4513.02.

{¶2} On November 12, 2013, Appellant filed a motion to suppress, claiming an

illegal stop, no reasonable suspicion to justify the administration of field sobriety tests,

and no probable cause to arrest. Appellant further challenged the officer's substantial

compliance with the field sobriety tests. A hearing was held on January 14, 2014. By

judgment entry filed February 25, 2014, the trial court granted in part and denied in part

the motion, finding the stop was justified and probable cause existed to arrest

Appellant, but found the administration of the horizontal nystagmus test was

noncompliant and Appellant was not properly advised of his Miranda rights. As a

result, the trial court suppressed the results of the test and any statements made after

arrest.

{¶3} On March 18, 2014, the state dismissed the R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(A) OVI

charge and Appellant pled no contest to the remaining charges. By judgment order

filed April 28, 2014, the trial court sentenced Appellant to one hundred eighty days in

jail, sixty days suspended.

{¶4} Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this Court for

consideration. Appellant assigns as error:
Ashland County, Case No. 14-COA-011 3

I

{¶5} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN

OVERRULING DEFENDANT'S MOTION TO SUPPRESS, IN DEROGATION OF

DEFENDANT'S RIGHTS UNDER THE 4TH AND 14TH AMENDMENT TO THE

UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION."

I

{¶6} Appellant claims the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress

because Officer Peters lacked reasonable suspicion based upon articulable facts to

justify the administration of the field sobriety tests. We agree.

{¶7} There are three methods of challenging on appeal a trial court's ruling on a

motion to suppress. First, an appellant may challenge the trial court's findings of fact.

In reviewing a challenge of this nature, an appellate court must determine whether said

findings of fact are against the manifest weight of the evidence. State v. Fanning, 1

Ohio St.3d 19 (1982); State v. Klein, 73 Ohio App.3d 486 (4th Dist.1991); State v.

Guysinger, 86 Ohio App.3d 592 (4th Dist.1993). Second, an appellant may argue the

trial court failed to apply the appropriate test or correct law to the findings of fact. In

that case, an appellate court can reverse the trial court for committing an error of law.

State v. Williams, 86 Ohio App.3d 37 (4th Dist.1993). Finally, assuming the trial court's

findings of fact are not against the manifest weight of the evidence and it has properly

identified the law to be applied, an appellant may argue the trial court has incorrectly

decided the ultimate or final issue raised in the motion to suppress. When reviewing

this type of claim, an appellate court must independently determine, without deference

to the trial court's conclusion, whether the facts meet the appropriate legal standard in
Ashland County, Case No. 14-COA-011 4

any given case. State v. Curry, 95 Ohio App.3d 93 (8th Dist.1994); State v. Claytor, 85

Ohio App.3d 623 (4th Dist.1993); Guysinger. As the United States Supreme Court

held in Ornelas v. U.S., 517 U.S. 690, 116 S.Ct. 1657, 1663 (1996), "…as a general

matter determinations of reasonable suspicion and probable cause should be reviewed

de novo on appeal."

{¶8} "Requiring a driver to submit to a field sobriety test constitutes a seizure

within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment. Courts have generally held that the

intrusion on the driver's liberty resulting from a field sobriety test is minor, and the

officer therefore need only have reasonable suspicion that the driver is under the

influence of alcohol in order to conduct a field sobriety test." State v. Bright, 5th Dist.

Guernsey No. 2009-CA-28, 2010-Ohio-1111, ¶ 17, citing State v. Knox, 2nd Dist.

Greene No. 2005-CA-74, 2006-Ohio-3039.

{¶9} This appeal involves a very focused and direct set of facts. Officer Peters

testified he stopped Appellant's vehicle at approximately 2:00 a.m. for "[n]ot having a

license plate light illuminating a license plate." T. at 5, 6-7. Upon making contact with

Appellant, Officer Peters noticed Appellant's eyes were "bloodshot and watery." T. at

7. Appellant admitted to Officer Peters he had consumed two drinks of alcohol. T. at

7-8. Based on these facts, Officer Peters decided to conduct field sobriety tests. T. at

8. Officer Peters did not detect an odor of alcohol as Appellant's four to five

passengers were all smoking and all he could smell was smoke, but once Appellant

stepped out of the vehicle prior to performing the field sobriety tests, Officer Peters

detected an odor of alcohol on Appellant's person. T. at 8-9.
Ashland County, Case No. 14-COA-011 5

{¶10} Appellant argues because there was no evidence of impaired driving and

Officer Peters only testified to bloodshot watery eyes and his admission of alcohol

consumption, there were insufficient articulable facts to justify the administration of the

field sobriety tests. Appellant argues he was able to retrieve his driver's license and

information, was in a smoked filled vehicle with four to five other people, and was able

to navigate and respond to Officer Peters's requests. T. at 31, 32-33, 37-38.

{¶11} In determining whether an officer has reasonable suspicion to justify the

administration of field sobriety tests, we must look at the totality of the circumstances

and a number of factors. State v. Evans, 127 Ohio App.3d 56 (11th Dist.1998). The

Evans court explained at fn. 2:

Without citing the numerous cases which have been canvassed, it

may be said these factors include, but are not limited to (1) the time and

day of the stop (Friday or Saturday night as opposed to, e.g., Tuesday

morning); (2) the location of the stop (whether near establishments selling

alcohol); (3) any indicia of erratic driving before the stop that may indicate

a lack of coordination (speeding, weaving, unusual braking, etc.); (4)

whether there is a cognizable report that the driver may be intoxicated; (5)

the condition of the suspect's eyes (bloodshot, glassy, glazed, etc.); (6)

impairments of the suspect's ability to speak (slurred speech, overly

deliberate speech, etc.); (7) the odor of alcohol coming from the interior of

the car, or, more significantly, on the suspect's person or breath; (8) the

intensity of that odor, as described by the officer ("very strong," "strong,"

"moderate," "slight," etc.); (9) the suspect's demeanor (belligerent,
Ashland County, Case No. 14-COA-011 6

uncooperative, etc.); (10) any actions by the suspect after the stop that

might indicate a lack of coordination (dropping keys, falling over, fumbling

for a wallet, etc.); and (11) the suspect's admission of alcohol

consumption, the number of drinks had, and the amount of time in which

they were consumed, if given. All of these factors, together with the

officer's previous experience in dealing with drunken drivers, may be taken

into account by a reviewing court in determining whether the officer acted

reasonably. No single factor is determinative.

{¶12} It appears four of the enumerated factors were present in this case. It was

2:00 a.m. on Sunday morning following a Saturday night; Appellant's eyes were

bloodshot and watery; he had an odor of alcohol on his person; and he admitted to

alcohol consumption.

{¶13} The law in Ohio remains it is not illegal to consume alcohol and then

operate a motor vehicle. Only if the driver's ability to operate the vehicle is appreciably

impaired or the driver tests above a per se level for alcohol in his or her system does a

person violate the law.

{¶14} While it is evident Appellant exhibited certain indicia of alcohol impairment,

the law is clear that the totality of circumstances must be considered.

{¶15} Of utmost significance to our decision is the fact the arresting officer did

not observe any moving violation, let alone a de minimus one, regarding Appellant's

operation of his vehicle. The stop was based solely upon an equipment violation.

{¶16} We find the fact the stop occurred at 2:00am on a Sunday morning is of

import, but not of much significance. We conclude the admission of consumption of
Ashland County, Case No. 14-COA-011 7

two alcoholic drinks is significant, but not determinative, given the status of the law in

Ohio regarding drinking and driving. A smell of an odor of alcohol on the Appellant is a

factor of significance,1 but is not surprising given his admission of consumption of two

alcoholic drinks. These two factors are cumulative in effect; they do not have a

synergistic effect on a reasonable grounds determination.

{¶17} The fact Appellant's eyes were bloodshot and glossy is certainly a factor.

In a case similar to the facts sub judice, State of Ohio/City of Fairfield v. Lucking, 12th

Dist. Butler No. CA2002-12-303, 2004-Ohio-90, we note our brethren from the Twelfth

District stated:

"However, we find that glassy, bloodshot eyes are generally

accepted as classic indicia of intoxication. ***Furthermore, the fact that

there may have been another explanation for appellant's glassy, bloodshot

eyes does not diminish the relevance of these factors regarding the

question of whether the officer reasonably suspected appellant was

intoxicated."

{¶18} We disagree. We find the fact Appellant was found in a car with four or

five other passengers in it who were smoking does diminish the relevance of this

factor. Even the arresting officer conceded under the circumstances the conditions of

Appellant's eyes could have been caused by something other than alcohol.

{¶19} That there were other circumstances which served to diminish reasonable

suspicion of intoxication should not be discounted when applying a totality of the

circumstances analysis. The fact Appellant did not fumble or have other difficulty

1
There was no testimony by the officer regarding the intensity of the odor of alcohol. Tr.
at 8-9.
Ashland County, Case No. 14-COA-011 8

producing his license, registration and/or proof of insurance (often cited by prosecutors

as an indicia of intoxication) is an indicator Appellant was not intoxicated. Likewise, the

fact Appellant had no problem exiting his vehicle, and exhibited no clues of impairment

in his normal walking are factors demonstrating a lack of alcohol impairment. Further,

Appellant's ability to respond appropriately to the arresting officer's requests diminishes

a reasonable suspicion of intoxication.

{¶20} Appellant's assignment of error is sustained. We reverse the trial court's

judgment on Appellant's motion to suppress, vacate Appellant's conviction and

sentence and remand the matter to the trial court for further proceedings.

By Hoffman, P.J.

Delaney, J. concurs,

Farmer, J. dissents.
Ashland County, Case No. 14-COA-011 9

Farmer, J., dissents

{¶21} I respectfully dissent from the majority's opinion that appellant did not

exhibit indicia of intoxication, despite the fact that he was in a smoked filled vehicle that

could impact bloodshot, watery eyes.

{¶22} Under the totality of the circumstances test as applied by the majority

(Evans, supra), I would find the bloodshot, glassy eyes, together with the factors of 2:00

a.m. on Sunday morning, admission of alcohol consumption, and odor of alcohol on

appellant's person were sufficient to support Officer Peters's decision to pursue the

issue and conduct field sobriety tests, agreeing with my brethren from the Twelfth

District in State of Ohio/City of Fairfield v. Lucking, supra, at ¶ 11 ("the fact that there

may have been another explanation for appellant's glassy, bloodshot eyes does not

diminish the relevance of these factors regarding the question of whether the officer

reasonably suspected appellant was intoxicated ").

{¶23} I am loath to comment on what number of factors needs to be present to

justify field sobriety testing. Each case will stand or fall on the particular facts presented

and not rest on mathematical calculations. In this case, I find the totality of the

circumstances, coupled with the "on the road" judgment call of Officer Peters, to be

sufficient to justify the testing.

{¶24} I would affirm the conviction.