People v. Alexander, Docket No. 7411

• Decision Date: 27 August 1970
• Docket Number: No. 1,Docket No. 7411,1
• Citation: 182 N.W.2d 1,26 Mich.App. 321
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Robert Steve ALEXANDER, Defendant-Appellant
• Court: Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US

Page 1

182 N.W.2d 1

26 Mich.App. 321

PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Robert Steve ALEXANDER, Defendant-Appellant.

Docket No. 7411.

Court of Appeals of Michigan, Division No. 1.

Aug. 27, 1970.

Released for Publication Jan. 5, 1971.

Earl A. Mossner, Southfield, for defendant-appellant.

Frank J. Kelley, Atty. Gen., Robert A. Derengoski, Sol. Gen., Dominick R. Carnovale, Chief, Appellate Div., William L. Cahalan, Pros. Atty., Luvenia D. Dockett, Asst. Pros. Atty., for plaintiff-appellee.

Before HOLBROOK, P.J., and FITZGERALD and T. M. BURNS, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

At 10:00 p.m. on May 15, 1967, two Detroit policemen patrolling in an unmarked car, observed an automobile travelling slowly with its lights off. The patrolmen stopped the car. Approaching it on foot, the officers noticed an unusual amount of activity by the defendant, a passenger in the rear of the vehicle. One of the officers shined a flashlight on the defendant who was seen trying to place several 'handrolled' cigarettes under the seat. The officer noted that the cigarettes were of a type he, in his experience as a policeman, had frequently found to be marijuana. The occupants of the car were ordered out of the automobile. The officer then observed a substance all over the back seat which appeared to be marijuana. ' (I)t was a chopped-up weed, green in color, with seeds, little, light-green seeds.'

On appeal, the defendant argues that the police lacked probable cause to make the arrest and subsequent search of the car.

When the constitutional validity of an arrest is challenged on appeal, it is the function of the reviewing court to determine whether the facts available to the officers at the moment of the arrest would warrant the belief that an offense had been committed. Beck v. Ohio (1964), 379 U.S. 89, 85 S.Ct. 223, 13 L.Ed.2d 142; People v. Sansoni (1968), 10 Mich.App. 558, 159 N.W.2d 858; People v. Wolfe (1967), 5 Mich.App. 543, 147 N.W.2d 447; People v. Harper (1962), 365 Mich. 494, 113 N.W.2d 808.

'In dealing with probable cause, however, as the very name implied, we deal with probabilities. These are not technical; they are the factual and practical considerations of everyday life on which reasonable and prudent men, not legal technicians, act.' Brinegar v. United States (1949), 338 U.S. 160, 175, 69 S.Ct. 1302, 1310, 93 L.Ed. 1879, 1890; see also People v. Harper (1962), 365 Mich. 494, 113 N.W.2d 808.

Looking at the facts available to the policeman in this case, we are satisfied that the officer had probable cause to make the arrest. The police lawfully stopped an automobile for driving at night with its lights off. While the vehicle and its passengers were lawfully detained, the defendant visibly attempted to hide handrolled cigarettes of a type frequently associated with marijuana.

The conduct of an accused suspect when lawfully detained is one of the factual circumstances which will justify a warrantless arrest, as in the case where the defendant seeks to avoid apprehension and to destroy what would be evidence against him. People v. Cruz (1964), 61 Cal.2d 861, 40 Cal.Rptr. 841, 395 P.2d 889; People v. Jackson (1968), 98 Ill.App.2d 238, 240 N.E.2d 421.

Next the defendant argues that the prosecution failed to call a Res gestae witness.

Normally, in criminal proceedings the prosecution is under a positive duty to endorse and call all Res gestae witnesses. People v. Dickinson (1966), 2 Mich.App. 646, 141 N.W.2d 360; People v. Kayne (1934), 268 Mich. 186, 255 N.W. 758. Yet, as this Court has noted in the past, the prosecution may be excused from producing a particular witness if it makes a showing of due diligence. People v. Kern (1967), 6 Mich.App. 406, 149 N.W.2d 216. This question of diligence is a matter within the discretion of the trial court, subject to being overturned on appeal only for clear abuse. People v. Tiner (1969), 17 Mich.App. 18, 168 N.W.2d 911; People v. Kern, Supra; People v. Hunley (1946), 313 Mich. 688, 21 N.W.2d 923; People v. Gibson (1931), 253 Mich. 476, 235 N.W. 225.

In this case the prosecution offered testimony that the witness was twice unsuccessfully subpoenaed. The first time it was learned that the witness was in Germany. The second time it was discovered that he was in Seattle, Washington. Another reason offered for the unavailability of the witness was the large number of adjournments.

The court under these facts excused the prosecution and gave an instruction to the jury on the prosecution's duty to produce Res gestae witnesses. We find no abuse of judicial discretion.

Defendant also asserts that it was error for the prosecutor on final argument to state that no contradiction to the people's testimony has been offered by the defense, and further to state that, '(a)nd he, as we stand here, appears alone fully to know what happened, that is, the defendant Alexander.' We agree. M.C.L.A. § 600.2159 (Stat.Ann.1970 Cum.Supp. § 27A.2159). However, where, as here, the court fully covers the point in its instruction to the jury, potential prejudice is thereby cured. People v. Baker (1967), 7 Mich.App. 471, 152 N.W.2d 43; People v. Parker (1943), 307 Mich. 372, 11 N.W.2d 924; see...