Nieto v. State

• Citation: 499 N.E.2d 280
• Decision Date: 05 November 1986
• Docket Number: No. 34A02-8603-CR-113,34A02-8603-CR-113
• Parties: Eloy NIETO, Appellant (Defendant), v. STATE of Indiana, Appellee (Plaintiff).
• Court: Indiana Appellate Court

Page 280

499 N.E.2d 280

Eloy NIETO, Appellant (Defendant), v. STATE of Indiana, Appellee (Plaintiff).

No. 34A02-8603-CR-113.

Court of Appeals of Indiana,

Second District.

Nov. 5, 1986.

James R. Fleming, Howard County Public Defender, Kokomo, for appellant.

Linley E. Pearson, Atty. Gen., Michael Gene Worden, Deputy Atty. Gen., Office of Atty. Gen., Indianapolis, for appellee.

BUCHANAN, Chief Judge.

CASE SUMMARY

Defendant-appellant Eloy Nieto (Nieto) appeals his convictions of battery against a law enforcement officer, a class A misdemeanor, ¹ and resisting a law enforcement officer, a class A misdemeanor, ² claiming that the evidence was insufficient to prove in each crime that an officer was engaged in the execution of his official duty.

We affirm.

FACTS

The facts most favorable to the trial court's judgment indicate that on July 13, 1985, at approximately 12:30 a.m., Larkin Fourkiller (Fourkiller), a police officer with the city of Kokomo, received a telephone call at his home from a friend, Ruby Gomez (Gomez), regarding a domestic dispute between her mother, Aurora Gomez (Aurora), and Nieto. Fourkiller learned that the altercation was at Aurora's home on Union Street in Kokomo. Although Fourkiller was off-duty at the time, he proceeded to the Union Street residence. Fourkiller arrived in his personal automobile and was dressed in plain clothing.

Fourkiller observed Nieto arguing with Aurora and her daughter, Mary Gomez. Nieto, who knew Fourkiller was a police officer, became aggressive and boisterous. Fourkiller advised Nieto to calm down and not hit the women anymore. Nieto challenged Fourkiller to a fight, shoved him, and struck him in the face. Fourkiller thereafter defended himself and finally was able to hold Nieto to the ground in an attempt to subdue him.

At that time, Fourkiller told Nieto he was under arrest. Nieto continued to struggle to get away and attempted to kick and hit Fourkiller. Officer James Bohannon (Bohannon) testified that when he arrived on the scene he observed Fourkiller struggling to subdue Nieto. Bohannon attempted to handcuff Nieto. When Fourkiller released his grip, Nieto charged Fourkiller and Bohannon. Notwithstanding continued resistance, Nieto was finally handcuffed by Fourkiller and Bohannon and taken into custody.

ISSUE

Nieto raises one issue for our consideration:

Was the evidence sufficient to support the convictions?

DECISION

PARTIES' CONTENTIONS --Nieto contends that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions of battery against a law enforcement officer and resisting law enforcement because Fourkiller was not engaged in the execution of his official duty.

The State responds that the evidence was sufficient to support the convictions because the nature of the act performed by Fourkiller was within the scope of his duties as a Kokomo police officer.

CONCLUSION --The evidence was sufficient to support the convictions of battery against a law enforcement officer and resisting law enforcement.

The statutes under which Nieto was convicted provide:

"[A] person who knowingly or intentionally touches another person in a rude, insolent, or angry manner commits battery, a Class B misdemeanor. However, the offense is: a Class A misdemeanor ... if it is committed against a law enforcement officer ... while the officer is engaged in the execution of his official duty...."

Ind.Code 35-42-2-1(1).

"A person who knowingly or intentionally ... forcibly resists, obstructs, or interferes with a law enforcement officer ... while the officer is lawfully engaged in the execution of his duties as an officer ... commits resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor."

IC 35-44-3-3(a)(1).

Fourkiller was regularly employed as a police officer for the city of Kokomo. It is undisputed that Fourkiller was a Kokomo police officer on July 13, 1985. Appellant's Brief at 4. The question we must decide is whether Fourkiller was engaged in the execution of his duties as an officer at the time of the offenses.

Fourkiller was engaged in the execution of his official duties. An off-duty police officer can be engaged in the lawful discharge of his duties. E.g., McKinley v. State (1984), Ind.App., 465 N.E.2d 742; Tapp v. State (1980), Ind.App., 406 N.E.2d 296. This court announced the principle that "it is the nature of the acts performed and not whether the officer is on or off duty, in or out of uniform, which determines whether the officer is engaged in the performance of his official duties." Tapp, supra, at 302; see also Robey v. State (1985), Ind.App., 484 N.E.2d 628. IC 36-8-3-6(c)(4) (1982) provides that "[t]he police officers of a municipality shall ... suppress all breaches of the peace within their knowledge...." In Tapp, Judge Ratliff explained, albeit in dictum, that if a police officer had observed a fracas in the parking lot of a shopping center the police officer would have "considered it his or her duty to attempt to restore the peace." Id. at 302. Therefore, we conclude that when a police officer, whether in uniform or not, takes it upon himself to enforce the law in order to maintain peace and order for the benefit of the public, the...