Affirmed and Memorandum Opinion filed August 20, 2009.
In The
Fourteenth Court of Appeals
____________
NO. 14-08-00296-CR
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GIFFERT O=NEAL WILEY, Appellant
V.
THE STATE OF TEXAS, Appellee
On Appeal from the 185th District Court
Harris County, Texas
Trial Court Cause No. 1102795
M E M O R A N D U M O P I N I O N
Appellant Giffert O=Neal Wiley challenges his conviction for possession of between four and 200 grams of cocaine with intent to deliver. The jury found an enhancement paragraph to be true and assessed punishment as confinement for 25 years. Appellant contends the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support the jury=s finding that he knowingly possessed cocaine. Appellant further contends the trial court erred by denying his (1) request for a Batson hearing; (2) motion to suppress evidence; and (3) motion for mistrial following improper jury argument by the State. We affirm.
Background
Pasadena Police Officer J. C. Rock observed appellant driving on State Highway 225 without a front license plate on his 1994 Ford Crown Victoria on February 1, 2007. Officer Rock pulled up beside appellant on the left and drove ahead to verify that appellant=s car had no front license plate.
When Officer Rock pulled up beside appellant, appellant looked at him and immediately decelerated. Officer Rock slowed down to approximately 30 to 35 miles per hour to remain beside appellant before eventually pulling over and allowing appellant to pass him. After appellant passed, Officer Rock pulled back onto the highway and followed him. Appellant took the next exit off of the highway, at which point Officer Rock activated his lights and stopped appellant.
As Officer Rock approached appellant=s car after it was stopped, he could see a temporary dealer tag through the rear windshield. Appellant was accompanied by one passenger sitting in the front passenger seat. During the stop, Officer Rock asked appellant to sign a consent form so that he could search appellant=s car. Appellant refused, and Officer Rock called for a police canine unit to respond to the scene.
Approximately 20 minutes after Officer Rock=s call, Officer Richard Bagwell of the Pasadena Independent School District Police Department arrived with his police canine. The canine walked around appellant=s car twice and alerted officers to search the driver=s door and driver=s side taillight section for narcotics.
Police searched the inside of the driver=s door and found no narcotics or contraband. Appellant stated that he did not have a key to the trunk of his car. Police opened the trunk without a key. During their search of the trunk, police noticed that a section of the trunk lining near the driver=s side taillight was pulled loose. Officers lifted this loose lining and discovered a clear plastic bag containing 11 grams of crack cocaine rocks. The entire traffic stop lasted approximately 43 minutes.
Appellant was charged by indictment with possession of between four and 200 grams of cocaine with intent to deliver. The indictment included an enhancement paragraph asserting that appellant had been convicted on January 15, 2003 of felony possession of between one and four ounces of cocaine. Appellant faced a statutory range of punishment between five and 99 years if the enhancement paragraph were found to be not true; if the paragraph were found to be true, the minimum punishment increased to confinement for 15 years. See Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. _ 481.112(d) (Vernon Supp. 2009); Tex. Penal Code Ann. __ 12.32(a), 12.42(c)(1) (Vernon Supp. 2009).
On April 4, 2007, appellant filed a first amended motion to suppress his statements and any physical evidence seized by police during the February 1, 2007 traffic stop. The trial court withheld ruling on this motion until it held a hearing outside the jury=s presence after both sides presented their cases in appellant=s trial. The trial court orally denied appellant=s motion after this hearing.
Trial began on March 31, 2008. The State used peremptory challenges to strike 10 venirepersons. At the conclusion of voir dire, appellant objected to the State=s use of peremptory challenges to strike six members of ethnic or racial minority groups from the venire panel. See Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1986). The trial court overruled appellant=s Batson challenge without a hearing.
During the guilt/innocence phase of trial, Officers Rock and Bagwell testified for the State, as did Pasadena Police Officers Tracy Marshall, Phillip Rhule, and Marco Vela. Appellant=s wife testified as the lone defense witness.
Officer Rock testified that he did not see appellant=s temporary dealer tag while appellant was driving. Officer Rock further testified that his dashboard video camera recorded his traffic stop of appellant. This video was published to the jury without audio as Officer Rock described for the jury what the video showed.
Officer Rock testified that appellant spoke quickly and stuttered during the stop, and that he stated several times without prompting that he Ajust got the car.@ Officer Rock testified that appellant=s temporary dealer tag was lying flat on the rear dashboard, and that he did not see it until he walked up to the stopped car.
Officer Rock also testified that appellant initially told him that he did not know his passenger=s last name, and that he had known his passenger Afor a long time.@ Officer Rock testified that later during the stop appellant said that he believed his passenger=s last name was Williams, which was correct. Officer Rock testified that appellant=s initial indication that he did not know the last name of a passenger he claimed to have known Afor a long time@ Araise[d] a red flag@ in his mind. Officer Rock testified that he asked appellant to sign a consent to search form, and that appellant refused because AI just bought the car. I don=t know what=s in it.@
Officer Rock testified that he called for a police canine unit to respond to the scene after appellant refused to consent to a search of the vehicle. Officer Rock testified that he did so A[b]ecause I just felt a reasonable suspicion@ based on his interaction with appellant during the stop. Officer Rock testified that he formed this reasonable suspicion because appellant (1) appeared nervous; (2) spoke quickly; (3) initially stated he did not know the last name of his passenger whom he claimed to have known Afor a long time@; (4) seemed evasive in answering questions; and (5) stated multiple times without prompting that he had just bought the car the day before.
Officer Rock testified that Officer Bagwell arrived with his canine approximately 20 minutes after Officer Rock requested assistance from a canine unit. Officer Rock further testified that he did not instruct the canine or Officer Bagwell to concentrate on any particular section of appellant=s car. Officer Rock testified that the canine alerted officers to check the driver=s door and the driver=s side taillight section.
Officer Rock testified that appellant did not provide a key to the trunk of the car. Officer Rock testified that he found no narcotics or contraband inside the driver=s side door of appellant=s car. Officer Rock also testified that numerous air fresheners were in the interior of appellant=s car.
Officer Rock testified that he noticed that the lining of the trunk was loose and not affixed to the car. Officer Rock further testified that when he moved the loose lining and looked underneath it, he found a clear plastic bag containing rocks of what he suspected to be crack cocaine. Officer Rock testified that the contents of the bag were approximately the size of a golf ball.
The State next called Officer Marshall, who testified that appellant appeared nervous and stuttered Aquite a bit@ when speaking to Officer Rock during the stop. Officer Marshall also testified that he heard appellant tell Officer Rock that he had just purchased the car the previous day. Officer Marshall further testified that he could not read anything on appellant=s temporary dealer tag until he walked up to the stopped car and saw it on the rear dashboard.
Officer Marshall corroborated Officer Rock=s testimony that appellant refused to sign a consent to search form and that Officer Rock then called for a canine unit to respond to the scene. Officer Marshall also corroborated Officer Rock=s testimony that appellant provided police with no key to the trunk of his car and stated that he had no key.
Officer Marshall testified that he assisted in searching the trunk of appellant=s car after the canine finished inspecting the car. Officer Marshall further testified that there were approximately 15 air fresheners located in the trunk of appellant=s car. Officer Marshall testified that Officer Rock found a bag of crack cocaine approximately the size of a golf ball on the driver=s side of the trunk of appellant=s car. Officer Marshall further testified that he dealt primarily with appellant=s passenger, and that he found a crack pipe in the possession of appellant=s passenger.
The State next called Officer Bagwell, who testified that he had worked for six years with the canine that inspected appellant=s car. Officer Bagwell described the training and testing that he and his canine undergo to execute their duties as a police canine unit. Officer Bagwell testified that his canine is trained only to detect marijuana, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine without distinguishing between the four substances.
Officer Bagwell further testified that he is Avery aware@ of what his canine=s signals and mannerisms are to alert officers to search a location for narcotics and contraband. Officer Bagwell testified that he did not instruct his canine to focus on any particular section of appellant=s car during the February 1, 2007 traffic stop. Officer Bagwell also testified that his canine alerted officers to search the driver=s door and driver=s side taillight section of the trunk.
Officer Bagwell testified that no narcotics or contraband were found in the driver=s door of appellant=s car, and that it was possible that the canine detected narcotics residue on the door that was not visible to the naked eye. Officer Bagwell further testified that the panel of the driver=s door was loose and not properly affixed to the frame of the door. Officer Bagwell also testified that he and his canine had been involved in A[q]uite a few narcotic stops@ and located narcotics Atucked away in panels, under carpets, seat cushions, things like that.@
Officer Bagwell corroborated the testimony of Officers Rock and Marshall regarding the location of the crack cocaine found in appellant=s trunk. Officer Bagwell also corroborated Officer Rock=s testimony that several air fresheners were located within the interior of appellant=s car.
The State next called Officer Rhule, who corroborated the testimony of Officers Rock and Marshall that appellant had a temporary dealer tag on his rear dashboard that he could not read through the rear windshield until he approached the stopped car. Officer Rhule also corroborated Officer Rock=s testimony that appellant=s car had a rear license plate but no front license plate.
Officer Rhule testified that he saw the drugs in appellant=s trunk after Officer Rock located them. Officer Rhule corroborated Officer Marshall=s testimony that numerous air fresheners were found in the trunk of appellant=s car. Officer Rhule also corroborated the testimony of Officers Rock and Bagwell that several air fresheners were located within the interior of appellant=s car.
The State next called Officer Vela, who corroborated the testimony of Officers Rock, Bagwell, and Rhule that several air fresheners were located within the interior of appellant=s car. Officer Vela also corroborated the testimony of Officers Marshall and Rhule that numerous air fresheners were found in the trunk of appellant=s car. Officer Vela testified that appellant=s use of numerous air fresheners was consistent with attempting to hide narcotics.
After the State rested its case, appellant called his wife Felicia Wiley to testify. Wiley testified that she and appellant purchased the Crown Victoria from a private individual using her federal income tax refund. Wiley further testified that she filed her federal income tax return Aright at the beginning of February@ 2007. Wiley also testified that the car did not have current license plates or inspection stickers on it when she and appellant purchased it.
Wiley testified that neither she nor appellant had a key to the trunk of the car, and that she believed that Athe key to the trunk goes to the key to the door.@ Wiley further testified that she and appellant had placed numerous air fresheners within the car because rain had entered it through a window that was stuck open, causing the car to have Aa mildew smell on the inside of it.@ Wiley also testified that she had been convicted of murder in Harris County in 1994.
The jury found appellant guilty as charged in the indictment and found the enhancement paragraph to be true, and sentenced appellant to confinement for 25 years. The trial court signed its judgment on the jury=s verdict and sentence on April 2, 2008. Appellant appeals from this judgment.
Analysis
Appellant challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence supporting the jury=s finding that he knowingly possessed cocaine. Appellant also contends that the trial court erred by denying his (1) request for a Batson hearing; (2) motion to suppress evidence; and (3) motion for mistrial following improper jury argument by the State. We address each challenge in turn.
I. Legal Sufficiency
Appellant challenges the legal sufficiency of the evidence supporting the jury=s finding that he knowingly possessed the cocaine found in the trunk of his car on February 1, 2007. In reviewing legal sufficiency of the evidence, an appellate court will examine the evidence in the light most favorable to the State to determine whether any rational finder of fact could have found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979); Clayton v. State, 235 S.W.3d 772, 778 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). When reviewing the legal sufficiency of the evidence, we consider all evidence which the jury was permitted, whether rightly or wrongly, to consider. Moff v. State, 131 S.W.3d 485, 488 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004). This court does not sit as another juror and may not re-evaluate the weight and credibility of the evidence or substitute its judgment for that of the fact finder. Dewberry v. State, 4 S.W.3d 735, 740 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999).
Reconciliation of conflicts in the evidence is within the exclusive province of the fact finder. See Mosley v. State, 983 S.W.2d 249, 254 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998) (en banc). The appellate court=s duty is not to reweigh the evidence, but to serve as a final due process safeguard ensuring only the rationality of the fact finder. See Williams v. State, 937 S.W.2d 479, 483 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996). An appellate court faced with a record of facts that supports conflicting inferences must presume _ even if not obvious from the record _ that the finder of fact resolved any such conflicts in favor of the State, and must defer to that resolution. Jackson, 443 U.S. at 326; Clayton, 235 S.W.3d at 778.
To establish knowing possession of a controlled substance, the State must prove that the defendant exercised actual care, control, and management over the contraband, and that he knew the substance in his possession was contraband. King v. State, 895 S.W.2d 701, 703 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995). If the defendant does not have exclusive possession of the contraband, independent facts and circumstances must link the defendant to the contraband. Poindexter v. State, 153 S.W.3d 402, 406 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005).
Texas courts have recognized a non-exclusive list of links that may be used to determine whether a defendant knowingly possessed contraband. Evans v. State, 202 S.W.3d 158, 162 n.12 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006) (citing Olivarez v. State, 171 S.W.3d 283, 291 (Tex. App.BHouston [14th Dist.] 2005, no pet.)). The number of linking factors present is not as important as the Alogical force@ they create to prove the crime was committed. Evans, 202 S.W.3d at 162; Olivarez, 171 S.W.3d at 291.
A link generates a reasonable inference that the defendant knew of the contraband=s existence and exercised control over it. Roberson v. State, 80 S.W.3d 730, 735 (Tex. App.CHouston [1st Dist.] 2002, pet. ref=d). The use of links in our analysis is Aa shorthand expression of what must be proven to establish that a person possessed some kind of drug >knowingly or intentionally.=@ Brown v. State, 911 S.W.2d 744, 747 (Tex. Crim. App. 1995).
Evans and Olivarez list the following links which courts have recognized, either singly or in combination, as sufficient to establish knowing possession of contraband: (1) the defendant=s presence when a search is conducted; (2) whether contraband was in plain view; (3) the defendant=s proximity to and accessibility of contraband; (4) whether the defendant was under the influence of contraband when arrested; (5) whether the defendant possessed other contraband when arrested; (6) whether the defendant made incriminating statements when arrested; (7) whether the defendant attempted to flee; (8) whether the defendant made furtive gestures; (9) whether there was an odor of contraband; (10) whether other contraband or drug paraphernalia were present; (11) whether the defendant owned or had a right to possess the place where contraband was found; (12) whether the place where contraband was found was enclosed; (13) whether the defendant was found with a large amount of cash; and (14) whether the defendant=s conduct indicated a consciousness of guilt. Evans, 202 S.W.3d at 162 n.12; Olivarez, 171 S.W.3d at 291.
The jury heard ample evidence establishing multiple links between appellant and the crack cocaine found in his trunk: (1) appellant owned and was driving the vehicle in which the drugs were found; (2) Officers Rock and Marshall testified that appellant appeared nervous and spoke rapidly and stuttered while conversing with Officer Rock; (3) Officers Rock and Marshall testified that appellant stated several times without prompting that he Ajust got the car@; (4) Officer Rock testified that appellant claimed to have known his passenger Afor a long time@ but initially was unable to provide his passenger=s last name, which Araise[d] a red flag@ in Officer Rock=s opinion; (5) appellant refused to consent to a search of his car; (6) Officer Rock testified that appellant seemed evasive in answering questions; (7) the testimony of multiple officers that numerous air fresheners were located within the trunk and interior of appellant=s car, and Officer Vela=s testimony that such use of air fresheners was consistent with that of someone attempting to hide narcotics; (8) appellant=s passenger was found to be in possession of a crack pipe; (9) the testimony of multiple officers that the police canine alerted them to the presence of narcotics on the driver=s door and near the driver=s side taillight, combined with Officer Bagwell=s testimony that the canine could have detected residue on the driver=s door, which had a loose panel; and (10) the testimony of multiple officers that the crack cocaine was found in a clear plastic bag hidden under the lining of the trunk, which had been pulled loose and was no longer affixed to the car.
Viewing all of this evidence in the light most favorable to the State, a rational fact finder could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant knowingly possessed the 11 grams of crack cocaine found in the trunk of his car on February 1, 2007. See Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319; Clayton, 235 S.W.3d at 778; Evans, 202 S.W.3d at 162 n.12; Olivarez, 171 S.W.3d at 291.
We overrule appellant=s issue regarding the legal sufficiency of the evidence supporting the jury=s finding that he knowingly possessed the crack cocaine Officer Rock found in the trunk of his car.
II. Factual Sufficiency
Appellant also challenges the factual sufficiency of the evidence supporting the jury=s finding that he knowingly possessed the cocaine found in the trunk of his car on February 1, 2007. Appellant=s factual sufficiency challenge comprises less than one page of his brief and contains no citations to the record or references to any specific evidence found in the record.
An appellant=s brief Amust contain a clear and concise argument for the contentions made, with appropriate citations to authorities and to the record.@ Tex. R. App. P. 38.1(i); see also McDuff v. State, 939 S.W.2d 607, 613 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997) (en banc). Failure to specifically argue how the evidence is factually insufficient under the proper standard of review, or to otherwise adequately brief one=s factual sufficiency argument under the rules of appellate procedure, waives the issue and presents nothing for review. See McDuff, 939 S.W.2d at 613; Gallegos v. State, 76 S.W.3d 224, 228 (Tex. App.CDallas 2002, pet. ref=d); James v. State, 48 S.W.3d 482, 487 (Tex. App.CHouston [14th Dist.] 2001, no pet.).
Appellant begins his factual sufficiency argument with the conclusory statement that AThere was factually insufficient evidence of knowing possession of cocaine by Appellant.@ Appellant then states that he does not waive his legal sufficiency challenge by also challenging the factual sufficiency of the evidence. Appellant then cites to one case for the proposition that courts may consider a list of specified factors in a factual sufficiency challenge regarding knowing possession of contraband, and to another case for the proposition that merely driving a car with contraband in the trunk does not by itself establish knowing possession. Appellant concludes his argument by reiterating that the evidence is factually insufficient to support the jury=s finding and requesting that we reverse his conviction and remand the cause for a new trial.
Appellant fails to cite to the record, propose a standard of review, highlight any evidence from the record, or apply the relevant law to any specific evidence from the record in the three-quarters of one page of his brief that he devotes to his factual sufficiency challenge. We therefore hold that appellant has insufficiently briefed his factual sufficiency challenge and presented nothing for our review with respect to this issue. See Tex. R. App. P. 38.1(i); McDuff, 939 S.W.2d at 613; Gallegos, 76 S.W.3d at 228; James, 48 S.W.3d at 487.
We overrule appellant=s issue regarding the factual sufficiency of the evidence supporting the jury=s finding that he knowingly possessed the crack cocaine Officer Rock found in the trunk of his car.
III. Denial of Request for Batson Hearing
Appellant challenges the trial court=s finding that he failed to establish a prima facie showing of racial discrimination and was therefore not entitled to a Batson hearing. The State is prohibited from striking potential jurors solely on the basis of their race or ethnicity. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 35.261 (Vernon 2006); Batson, 476 U.S. at 89; see also U.S. Const. amend. XIV, _ 1. To establish entitlement to a hearing on a Batson challenge, a defendant must first establish a prima facie showing of racial discrimination. See Watkins v. State, 245 S.W.3d 444, 447 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008).
We will not overturn a trial court=s findings regarding the defendant=s ability to establish a prima facie showing of racial discrimination unless they are shown to be clearly erroneous. Hatchett v. State, 930 S.W.2d 844, 847 (Tex. App.CHouston [14th Dist.] 1996, pet. ref=d) (citing Williams v. State, 804 S.W.2d 95, 101 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991)). We review the voir dire record, the composition of the jury panel, any evidence offered to establish a showing of racial discrimination, and any explanations offered by the State. Contreras v. State, 56 S.W.3d 274, 279 (Tex. App.CHouston [14th Dist.] 2001, pet. ref=d) (citing Williams, 804 S.W.2d at 106, and Whitsey v. State, 796 S.W.2d 707, 713-14 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989)). Reversal is mandated only if our review results in a definite and firm conviction that the trial court erred. Id.
To establish a prima facie case under Batson, a defendant must show (1) that the State exercised its strikes to exclude members of a cognizable minority group from the venire; and (2) that this fact along with any other relevant facts and circumstances raise an inference that the State struck the venirepersons because of their race or ethnicity. See Batson, 476 U.S. at 96. The defendant need not share the struck venirepersons= race or ethnicity. Powers v. Ohio, 499 U.S. 400, 405-06 (1991). The mere striking of minority venirepersons, without more, does not establish a prima facie case under Batson. See Bean v. State, 816 S.W.2d 115, 119-20 (Tex. App.CHouston [14th Dist.] 1991, no pet.).
The following exchange took place prior to empanelling the jury:
DEFENSE COUNSEL: . . . we would object to the State=s use of peremptory challenges on six persons who are members of ethnic or racial minorities. We would point out that under [Texas Code of Criminal Procedure article] 35.261 that the defendant is a member of a minority racial group, and that is an African-American. We would object to the use of the peremptory challenges by the State against panel members No. 5, 25, 32, 37, 39, and 40, who are all members of either ethnic or racial minority groups, and were struck by the State of Texas. We would ask that those strikes by the State be set aside, and that those six people be allowed to sit on the jury.
TRIAL COURT: I don=t think you have a prima facie case.
DEFENSE COUNSEL: Okay. We would further show under a 1986 Supreme Court case that Texas has a history of racial discrimination, that Texas was one of the exclusive states that condoned slavery. Texas was one of the states that seceded from the Union in order to fight in the Civil War. There were battles in the Civil War that were fought on battle sites in Texas. Fast-forwarding to the 20th century, there has been a history of racial prejudice in Harris County, including even in the 21tst century, allegations of racial discrimination by representatives of the Harris County District Attorney=s office against the immediate past-elected District Attorney of Harris County who has resigned from office based in part on allegations of racism on his part, which was spread throughout his office. There have been numerous reports of persons, members of minority racial groups in the Harris County District Attorney=s office who have stated they feel uncomfortable.
TRIAL COURT: [Defense counsel], are you accusing [the prosecutor] C which, I guess, would be a racial C I just want to know if this prosecutor C
DEFENSE COUNSEL: Judge, I have known [the prosecutor] for quite some time.
TRIAL COURT: Here=s my deal. If you are not accusing [the prosecutor], I don=t need to take up this issue. All you have to do is answer that question.
DEFENSE COUNSEL: Judge, I=m not saying that [the prosecutor] individually is racist, however C
TRIAL COURT: Your objection is overruled. If you are not individually accusing [the prosecutor], we don=t need to have this conversation.
Appellant relies on appeal on this same argument in asserting that he established a prima facie case under Batson and was therefore entitled to a Batson hearing. Appellant does not rely on appeal upon any of the questions asked or statements made by the State during voir dire.
While the record indicates that appellant is African-American, it does not indicate the race or ethnicity of any of the venirepersons. Appellant asserts in his argument quoted above that six of the 10 venirepersons struck peremptorily by the State are members of racial or ethnic minorities, but this unsworn assertion does not constitute evidence. See Hatchett, 930 S.W.2d at 847; Dutton v. State, 836 S.W.2d 221, 224 (Tex. App.CHouston [14th Dist.] 1992, no pet.). The record is equally silent with respect to the race and ethnicity of the venirepersons empanelled.
Under the circumstances of this case, appellant has not provided this court with a record sufficient to raise in our minds a definite and firm conviction that the trial court erred in finding that appellant did not establish a prima facie showing under Batson. See Contreras, 56 S.W.3d at 279; see also Hatchett, 930 S.W.2d at 847 (appellant=s argument that State exercised peremptory challenges to strike four African-American venirepersons, without more, did not mandate reversal of trial court given record=s silence regarding racial composition of all venirepersons, including those struck); Dutton, 836 S.W.2d at 224 (record that does not affirmatively indicate race of venirepersons, including those challenged, Ais insufficient to support appellant=s claim that a prima facie case was ever established@). Appellant cannot establish clear error by the trial court on this record, and we therefore cannot reverse the trial court=s ruling. See Hatchett, 930 S.W.2d at 847.
We overrule appellant=s issue regarding the trial court=s denial of his request for a Batson hearing.
IV. Denial of Motion to Suppress
Appellant challenges the trial court=s denial of his motion to suppress his statements and any physical evidence seized by police during the February 1, 2007 traffic stop. Appellant asserts that the trial court erred because (1) he did not violate the Texas Transportation Code; (2) his detention during the traffic stop was unreasonable in length; and (3) the canine who alerted officers to check his car for contraband was too unreliable to give rise to probable cause for the search and appellant=s consequent arrest.
The State contends that the trial court did not err because (1) Officer Rock had reasonable suspicion to believe that appellant had violated the Transportation Code when he initiated the traffic stop, and once Officer Rock=s reasonable suspicion for this initial violation evaporated he had reasonable suspicion regarding another violation; (2) appellant=s detention was not unreasonable in length under the circumstances; and (3) appellant was precluded from asserting unreliability of the police canine to support his motion because he did not include this ground for suppression in his April 4, 2007 written amended motion.
We generally review a trial court=s denial of a motion to suppress for abuse of discretion. Oles v. State, 993 S.W.2d 103, 106 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999); State v. Vasquez, 230 S.W.3d 744, 747 (Tex. App.CHouston [14th Dist.] 2007, no pet.). The trial court is the sole judge of the credibility of witnesses at a hearing on a motion to suppress evidence and may choose to believe or disbelieve any or all of the witnesses= testimony.[1] Johnson v. State, 871 S.W.2d 744, 748 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994) (en banc); Wood v. State, 18 S.W.3d 642, 646 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). The trial court is also the sole trier of fact at a hearing on a motion to suppress and we are not to disturb any finding supported by the record. Flores v. State, 871 S.W.2d 714, 721 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993) (en banc).
As a general rule, we afford almost total deference to a trial court=s determination of the historical facts the record supports, particularly when those factual findings are based on an evaluation of the demeanor and credibility of witnesses. Guzman v. State, 955 S.W.2d 85, 89 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997) (en banc). We afford this same amount of deference to trial court rulings on application of law to fact questions if the resolution of those questions turns on an evaluation of demeanor and credibility of witnesses. Id.
In reviewing a trial court=s ruling on a motion to suppress, we review the evidence in the light most favorable to the trial court=s ruling. Gutierrez v. State, 221 S.W.3d 680, 687 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). When the trial court does not file any findings of fact, as here, we assume that the trial court made implicit findings of fact that support its ruling, so long as the record supports those findings. Id. The trial court=s ruling must be upheld if it is correct under any theory of law applicable to the case. Estrada v. State, 154 S.W.3d 604, 607 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005); Vasquez, 230 S.W.3d at 747.
A. Violation of Transportation Code
Appellant contends on appeal that Officer Rock=s initial traffic stop of February 1, 2007 was invalid. Appellant further asserts that once Officer Rock saw appellant=s temporary dealer tag while approaching appellant=s car, Officer Rock should have immediately determined that appellant was not violating the Transportation Code despite the absence of a front license plate on his car and terminated the traffic stop before interacting with appellant. Appellant does not contend on appeal that Officer Rock lacked reasonable suspicion to request to search appellant=s vehicle or to initiate an investigation of the vehicle by a police canine unit.
The State contends that Officer Rock had a reasonable suspicion (1) to initiate the traffic stop based on the lack of a front license plate on appellant=s car and the testimony that appellant=s temporary dealer tag was not visible to officers until they approached appellant=s parked car; and (2) that appellant committed a second violation of the Transportation Code that allowed him to continue the traffic stop upon seeing appellant=s temporary dealer tag because the tag was improperly displayed.
A driver violates the Transportation Code if he drives a car on a public highway during a registration period without displaying license plates at the front and rear of the car. Tex. Transp. Code Ann. _ 502.404(a), (e) (Vernon Supp. 2009). A vehicle that is not yet registered in Texas may be issued a temporary 30-day permit in lieu of registration. Id. _ 502.354(a), (b) (Vernon 2007). A driver violates the Transportation Code if he drives an unregistered car on a public highway without properly displaying a temporary permit in the rear window of the car Aso that the tag is clearly visible and legible when viewed from the rear of the vehicle.@ Id. _ 502.354(f), (h) (Vernon 2007).
A police officer is warranted in initiating a traffic stop if the officer has reasonable suspicion that the person stopped has committed a traffic violation. Garcia v. State, 43 S.W.3d 527, 530 (Tex. Crim. App. 2001); Walter v. State, 28 S.W.3d 538, 543 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). Reasonable suspicion exists if the officer has specific articulable facts under the totality of the circumstances that, when combined with rational inferences from those facts, would lead the officer to reasonably suspect that a person has engaged in criminal activity. Garcia, 43 S.W.3d at 530.
We use a bifurcated standard of review in determining whether reasonable suspicion existed under the totality of the circumstances. Id. We give almost total deference to the trial court=s determination of historical facts and application of the law to fact questions that turn on credibility and demeanor; we review de novo application of law to fact questions that do not turn upon credibility and demeanor. Id. The State need not establish with absolute certainty that a crime has occurred in order to establish reasonable suspicion. Id.
The State presented ample evidence that Officer Rock reasonably suspected that appellant violated Transportation Code section 502.404, validating the initial traffic stop: (1) Officer Rock=s testimony that appellant was driving his car on a public highway in Texas without displaying a license plate on the front of the car; (2) Officer Rock=s testimony that appellant told him that the front license plate was in the trunk of the car; (3) testimony from multiple officers that appellant=s temporary dealer tag could not be seen until they approached appellant=s parked car because it was lying flat on the rear dashboard; and (4) Officer Rhule=s testimony that appellant=s car had no front license plate. See Tex. Transp. Code Ann. _ 502.404(a), (e); Garcia, 43 S.W.3d at 530; Walter, 28 S.W.3d at 543.
The testimony from Officers Rock, Marshall, and Rhule that appellant had a temporary dealer tag lying flat on his rear dashboard that could not be seen or read until they approached appellant=s stopped car provided evidence that Officer Rock reasonably suspected that appellant violated Transportation Code section 502.354, validating the continuance of the traffic stop. See Tex. Transp. Code Ann. _ 502.354(f), (h); Garcia, 43 S.W.3d at 530; Walter, 28 S.W.3d at 543.
Viewing the above evidence under the bifurcated standard of review found in Garcia, we cannot say that the trial court erred in implicitly finding that Officer Rock had reasonable suspicion to (1) initiate a traffic stop of appellant for violating Transportation Code section 502.404; and (2) continue his traffic stop based upon appellant=s violation of section 502.354.[2] See Garcia, 43 S.W.3d at 530. Thus, we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion in denying appellant=s motion to suppress based upon appellant=s contention that he did not violate the Texas Transportation Code. See Oles, 993 S.W.2d at 106; Vasquez, 230 S.W.3d at 747.
B. Unreasonable Length of Detention
Appellant contends that his detention of 20 minutes while waiting for a police canine unit to arrive was unreasonable under the United States and Texas constitutions. Appellant further contends that the entire length of the February 1, 2007 traffic stop C approximately 43 minutes C was unreasonable. The State contends that both the detention and the total length of the stop were reasonable under the circumstances of this case.
A[A]n investigative detention must be temporary and last no longer than is necessary to effectuate the purpose of the stop. Similarly, the investigative methods employed should be the least intrusive means reasonably available to verify or dispel the officer=s suspicion in a short period of time.@ Florida v. Royer, 460 U.S. 491, 500 (1983); Davis v. State, 947 S.W.2d 240, 244 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997) (en banc). Any continued detention beyond the reason for the initial traffic stop must be based on articulable facts which, taken together with reasonable inferences from those facts, would warrant a person of reasonable caution to conclude that the individual stopped was engaged in criminal activity C i.e., reasonable suspicion. Davis, 947 S.W.2d at 244-45.
To establish reasonable suspicion, an officer must be able to articulate something more than an unparticularized suspicion or Ahunch.@ United States v. Sokolow, 490 U.S. 1, 7 (1989). The determination of reasonable suspicion must be based on common sense judgments and inferences about human behavior. Illinois v. Wardlow, 528 U.S. 119, 125 (2000). Following the initial traffic stop, an officer may rely on all facts ascertained during the course of his contact with the stopped individual to develop articulable facts that justify further detention. Razo v. State, 577 S.W.2d 709, 711 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1979); Sims v. State, 98 S.W.3d 292, 294 (Tex. App.CHouston [1st Dist.] 2003, pet. ref=d).
Officer Rock testified to the following facts ascertained throughout the course of the February 1, 2007 traffic stop which gave rise to his reasonable suspicion that appellant possessed a controlled substance: (1) appellant immediately decelerated upon seeing Officer Rock pull up beside him, forcing Officer Rock to slow to approximately 30 to 35 miles per hour and eventually pull over to allow appellant to pass him; (2) appellant took the very next exit off of the highway after passing Officer Rock; (3) appellant appeared nervous and spoke rapidly and stuttered while conversing with Officer Rock; (4) appellant stated several times without prompting that he Ajust got the car@; (5) appellant claimed to have known his passenger Afor a long time@ but was initially unable to provide his passenger=s last name, which Araise[d] a red flag@ in Officer Rock=s opinion; (6) appellant refused to consent to a search of his car; (7) appellant seemed evasive in answering questions; and (8) numerous air fresheners were located within the interior of appellant=s car. Officer Rock also testified outside the jury=s presence that he saw an offender identification card in appellant=s wallet, and that appellant told Officer Rock he had been incarcerated previously for a drug-related crime. Based upon these facts, Officer Rock was justified in further detaining appellant for a reasonable suspicion that he possessed a controlled substance. See Razo, 577 S.W.2d at 711; Sims, 98 S.W.3d at 294.
Once Officer Rock=s justified reasonable suspicion was established, he was required to employ the least intrusive means reasonably available to verify or dispel his suspicion in a short period of time. See Royer, 460 U.S. at 500; Davis, 947 S.W.2d at 244. Appellant cites no case law other than Royer to support his contention that his detention was unreasonably long under the circumstances in this case; rather, he attempts to distinguish the cases relied upon by the State at trial.
The State cites numerous federal and state cases on appeal which appellant does not distinguish. In each of these cases, the court held that a detention longer than the 43-minute wait appellant experienced was reasonable under similar circumstances to those found here. See United States v. Bloomfield, 40 F.3d 910, 917 (8th Cir. 1994) (en banc) (60-minute wait for canine unit to arrive following traffic stop not unreasonable where officer requested canine unit approximately six minutes after stopping defendant; Alocal government police forces and the state highway patrol cannot be expected to have drug dogs immediately available to all officers in the field at all times@); United States v. Frost, 999 F.2d 737, 741-42 (3d Cir. 1993) (80-minute wait for canine unit to arrive to investigate airline passenger=s luggage not unreasonable where officers requested canine unit Aas soon as@ passenger refused to consent to search); Strauss v. State, 121 S.W.3d 486, 492 (Tex. App.CAmarillo 2003, pet. ref=d) (75-minute wait for canine unit to arrive following traffic stop not unreasonable where canine unit was not immediately available and had to be secured from another law enforcement agency); Josey v. State, 981 S.W.2d 831, 841-42 (Tex. App.CHouston [14th Dist.] 1998, pet. ref=d) (90-minute lapse between time of initial traffic stop and canine unit=s investigation of vehicle at police station not unreasonable where officers diligently engaged in other investigatory procedures C securing scene, checking defendant=s identification, etc. C during time lapse, and where appellant=s lack of cooperation further attributed to time lapse).
Officer Rock testified that he requested a canine unit to respond to his traffic stop of appellant only after appellant refused to consent to a search of the vehicle. Officer Marshall corroborated this testimony. The canine unit had to be secured from another law enforcement agency C the Pasadena Independent School District Police Department. In light of the case law described above, we hold that the trial court did not err in concluding that appellant=s wait of 20 minutes for Officer Bagwell=s arrival and total detention of 43 minutes was reasonable under the circumstances of this case. See Bloomfield, 40 F.3d at 917; Frost, 999 F.2d at 741-42; Strauss, 121 S.W.3d at 492; Josey, 981 S.W.2d at 841-42.
C. Unreliability of Police Canine
Appellant contends that officers lacked probable cause to search his car based upon the results of the police canine=s investigation because the canine was unreliable. The State asserts that appellant is precluded from arguing this issue on appeal because it was not included in his written motion to suppress; the trial court barred appellant from arguing this issue during the suppression hearing for the same reason. Appellant did not object to the trial court=s admonition that it would not hear argument on this issue, and does not challenge on appeal the trial court=s refusal to hear this argument.
As a prerequisite to presenting a complaint for appellate review, the record must show that (1) the complaint was made to the trial court by a timely objection or motion that stated the grounds for the complaint; and (2) the trial court ruled or refused to rule on the objection or motion. Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a). The failure to present a complaint in a written motion to suppress or during the suppression hearing waives that complaint for appellate review. See id.; Jackson v. State, No. 01-07-00859-CR, 2009 WL 1886174, at *3-*4 (Tex. App.CHouston [1st Dist.] July 2, 2009, no pet.).
Because appellant failed to present his complaint regarding the asserted unreliability of the police canine to the trial court, either through his written motion to suppress or during the suppression hearing, he has waived this complaint and presents nothing for review. See Tex. R. App. P. 33.1(a); Jackson, 2009 WL 1886174, at *3-*4.
We overrule appellant=s issue regarding the trial court=s denial of his motion to suppress evidence.
V. Denial of Motion for Mistrial
Appellant challenges the trial court=s denial of his motion for mistrial following the State=s improper comment on his silence during closing argument of the punishment stage of the trial. We review the denial of a motion for mistrial for clear abuse of discretion. Ocon v. State, 284 S.W.3d 880, 884 (Tex. Crim. App. 2009). A trial court does not abuse its discretion unless its decision falls outside the zone of reasonable disagreement. Id. We view the evidence in the light most favorable to the trial court=s ruling. Id.
A mistrial should be granted only when residual prejudice remains after less drastic alternatives C like instructing the jury to disregard inadmissible evidence or comments C have been explored. See id. at 884-85. Only offensive or flagrant comments warrant reversal when an instruction to disregard has been issued. See Wesbrook v. State, 29 S.W.3d 103, 116 (Tex. Crim. App. 2000). Instructions to the jury are generally considered sufficient to cure improprieties that occur during trial, and we generally presume that a jury will follow the trial court=s instructions. Gamboa v. State, ___ S.W.3d ___, ___ (Tex. Crim. App. 2009).
We may consider the following factors in determining whether improper jury argument warrants a mistrial: (1) the severity of the misconduct (the magnitude of the prejudicial effect of the State=s comment); (2) the measures adopted to cure the misconduct (the efficacy of the trial court=s curative instructions); and (3) the certainty of the punishment assessed absent the misconduct (the strength of the evidence supporting the sentence). See Archie v. State, 221 S.W.3d 695, 700 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007).
During closing argument in the punishment phase of appellant=s trial, the State commented that appellant Anever took responsibility like a man for his actions.@ Appellant immediately objected to the comment as an improper reference to appellant=s silence in violation of Texas Code of Criminal Procedure article 38.08. See Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 38.08 (Vernon 2005). Appellant=s objection was sustained and the jury was instructed to disregard the offending comment. Appellant moved for a mistrial, which the trial court denied.
The State concedes on appeal that the comment at issue violated article 38.08, but contends that the trial court=s instruction to disregard was sufficient to cure the violation. The comment in question marked the State=s only reference to appellant=s silence in six pages of closing argument during the sentencing phase of appellant=s trial. The State did not attempt to repeat or otherwise revive the issue of appellant=s silence, nor did the State argue any inferences that could be made based on appellant=s silence. Appellant immediately objected to the State=s improper comment; appellant=s objection was immediately sustained and an instruction to disregard given. The jury charge instructed the jury that it could not Arefer or allude to@ appellant=s silence during deliberations or otherwise consider it as a circumstance against him.
The State presented authenticated business records from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Harris County Sheriff=s Department during the punishment phase of trial establishing that appellant had two prior felony drug convictions and six misdemeanor convictions. Appellant presented no evidence during the punishment phase of his trial.
Appellant faced punishment of confinement ranging from five to 99 years if the enhancement paragraph were found to be not true; he faced a minimum of confinement for 15 years if the paragraph were found to be true. The State asked the jury to find the enhancement paragraph to be true and sentence appellant to confinement for 30 years. Appellant asked the jury to find the paragraph to be not true and give him the minimum sentence of five years. The jury found the paragraph to be true and sentenced appellant to confinement for 25 years C less than requested by the State and far less than the maximum sentence allowed.
Viewing the evidence in this case in the light most favorable to the trial court=s ruling, we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion in denying appellant=s motion for mistrial. See Ocon, 284 S.W.3d at 884-85; see also Archie, 221 S.W.3d at 700 (no abuse of discretion in denying motion when comment on appellant=s failure to testify was brief and immediately followed by sustained objection and instruction to disregard, and jury charge included instruction that jurors were not to Arefer to, allude to, or take into consideration the fact that appellant had not elected to testify@).
We overrule appellant=s issue regarding the trial court=s denial of his motion for mistrial.
Conclusion
The trial court=s judgment is affirmed.
/s/ William J. Boyce
Justice
Panel consists of Justice Anderson, and Justices Guzman and Boyce.
Do Not Publish C Tex. R. App. P. 47.2(b).
1 Both parties on appeal cite testimony and evidence from the State=s case-in-chief and the hearing on appellant=s motion to suppress. In addition, the record reflects that the trial court expressly relied on testimony given during the State=s case-in-chief in addition to Officer Rock=s testimony during the hearing in denying appellant=s motion; appellant did not object to this practice and does not challenge it on appeal. While generally we consider only the evidence presented during the suppression hearing when reviewing the denial of a motion to suppress, this general rule does not apply where, as in this case, the suppression issue was consensually litigated during trial. See Rachal v. State, 917 S.W.2d 799, 809 (Tex. Crim. App. 1996) (en banc); see also Gutierrez v. State, 221 S.W.3d 680, 687 (Tex. Crim. App. 2007). Because appellant did not object when the State presented evidence and questioned witnesses regarding the matters appellant sought to suppress C and in fact fully participated in the litigation of these matters by cross-examining the State=s witnesses about them C we consider testimony elicited during the State=s case-in-chief and during the suppression hearing regarding the matters found in appellant=s motion. See Rachal, 917 S.W.2d at 809.
2 We need not decide whether Officer Rock=s reasonable suspicion that appellant violated section 502.404 instantly evaporated upon seeing appellant=s temporary dealer tag because this same event immediately gave rise to reasonable suspicion that appellant violated section 502.354 by failing to properly display his temporary dealer tag. See Walter, 28 S.W.3d at 543.