State v. Cole

• Decision Date: 28 May 1992
• Docket Number: CA-CR,No. 1,1
• Citation: State v. Cole, 838 P.2d 1351, 172 Ariz. 590 (Ariz. App. 1992)
• Parties: STATE of Arizona, Appellant, v. Alan Walter COLE, Appellee. 91-529.
• Court: Arizona Court of Appeals

Page 1351

838 P.2d 1351

172 Ariz. 590

STATE of Arizona, Appellant, v.Alan Walter COLE, Appellee.

No. 1 CA-CR 91-529.

Court of Appeals of Arizona Division 1, Department D.

May 28, 1992.

Review Denied Nov. 3, 1992.

[172 Ariz. 591] Richard M. Romley, Maricopa County Atty. by Gerald R. Grant, Deputy County Atty., Phoenix, for appellant.

Dean W. Trebesch, Maricopa County Public Defender by Helene F. Abrams, Deputy Public Defender, Phoenix, for appellee.

OPINION

EHRLICH, Judge.

The State of Arizona appeals from the trial court's order dismissing with prejudice the charge of escape in the first degree against Alan Walter Cole("defendant").We reverse the judgment.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

The vehicle in which the defendant was a passenger was stopped by police because of an expired temporary registration.In checking the defendant's identification, the officer discovered that the defendant had an outstanding probation violation warrant.The officer verified the defendant's identity and advised the defendant that he was under arrest.The defendant was sitting in the passenger's seat of the car with both feet outside.The officer clutched the defendant's right arm with both of her hands; the defendant stood up and stated that the warrant was not for him whereupon a second officer clutched his left arm.The defendant began waving his arms and physically dragged the two officers approximately 25 feet.The officers then grabbed the defendant's shirt, but it tore and he fled.The defendant later was apprehended and charged with one count of escape in the first degree, a class 4 felony.

The defendant moved to dismiss the charge.Relying on State v. Sanchez, 145 Ariz. 313, 701 P.2d 571(1985), he argued that because he did not submit to the custody of the officers and they did not have physical control over him as proven by his escape, his flight did not amount to the criminal offense of escape.The court granted the motion, explaining that "the Defendant was not under arrest 'by an actual restraint of the person ... or by his submission to the custody of the person making the arrest' as required in A.R.S. 13-3881 and Sanchez."The state appealed.

On appeal, the state asserts that the statutory definition of "custody," as the term is used in the escape statute, only requires a showing that the person making the arrest placed some physical restraint, not necessarily complete physical control, on an arrestee.It contends that Sanchez is factually distinguishable.

DISCUSSION

"A person commits escape in the first degree by knowingly escaping or attempting to escape from custody ... by: (1) Using or threatening the use of physical force against another person."A.R.S. § 13-2504(A)(emphasis added)."Custody" is defined as "the imposition of actual or constructive restraint pursuant to an on site arrest...."A.R.S. § 13-2501(3)(emphasis added)."[A]n arrest is made by an actual restraint of the person to be arrested, or by his submission to the custody of the person making the arrest."A.R.S. § 13-3881(A).In determining whether an arrest occurred, we consider the surrounding circumstances and decide whether a reasonable person in the defendant's position would have thought that he was being arrested.State v. Waicelunas, 138 Ariz. 16, 18, 672 P.2d 968, 970(App.1983).A significant consideration is the extent to which a person's "freedom of movement is curtailed and the degree and manner of force used."Id. at 19, 672 P.2d at 971.

In Sanchez, the police officer was pursuing the defendant around an automobile.145 Ariz. at 314, 701 P.2d at 572.The officer, who was ten to fifteen feet from the defendant, told the defendant that he was under arrest, but the defendant fled.Id.The defendant eventually was captured and charged with escape in the third degree.Id.¹In considering whether the defendant committed escape, the supreme court concluded that a person must be under arrest either by actual restraint or having submitted to the custody of the person making the arrest before he can escape.Id. at 315, 701 P.2d at 573.The court thereby eliminated "constructive restraint pursuant to an on-site arrest" as a method of establishing custody for purposes of escape.Id.;A.R.S. § 13-2501(3).Applying that standard, the court found that the defendant was not under arrest because he was neither under...